DIY Network

Plumbing: Introduction From "Blueprint for Home Building" episode DBHB-201

	Host Jeff Wilson discusses the plumbing in your new home in this week's episode of Blueprint for Home Building.
	Figure A

Plumbing is something most homeowners take for granted. You turn on the faucet and out flows the water. But where did it come from and how did it get there? These questions are answered by host Jeff Wilson as he looks at your home plumbing system, from the water source to your faucet.

The plumbing system to your home starts at the main water supply, which can either be from the city (a municipal source) or from a private source (well water, for example). Most homes in the United States receive their water through a municipal water supply. The water is treated at the facility before it's distributed for home use. Depending upon the quality of the water at the source, it may need to be filtered, disinfected or aerated.

Once the water has met the local standard for consumption, it's ready to leave the facility. Then water is then carried to your curb through a large pipe called the water main (figure A).

Note: Gravity is the force that allows the water to flow downhill. For the water to keep up its pressure, the diameter of the pipe is gradually reduced as the water flows downhill through the main to your curb.

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Water pressure -- in terms of homes or residences -- is the force exerted through pipe or tubing. It's measured in pounds per square inch. There is a water-service line (figure B) that comes up to the house, which is generally anywhere from 35 lbs. to 85 lbs.

There is another option for your water supply -- a private source such as a well, which comes from an underground aquifer where the water condenses at the water table underneath the earth's surface (figure C). You would have to access that if you didn't have a municipal water supply coming into your home already. You may need to choose a well if you're building in a remote area. Wells are more prominent where there's more moisture in the air, more rain and more condensation, which is generally on the East Coast.

The plumbing system for the house starts with the well outside, and it comes in through the outside wall, which has a pressure tank that helps balance the water pressure flow into the house. Water softener (figure D) is also added at this point. Wells have a lot of water that has iron, and the water softener does a good job of extracting this iron.

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Water quality is affected by a combination of natural processes, and most relate to the underground chemical composition. Some of these factors include:

• Physical composition,

• biological and

• radiological conditions.

Your well water contractor will test (figure E) for all of these factors and offer solutions for ensuring clean water supply to your new home.

Constructive Advice: If you're considering drilling a well for your new home, DIY suggests that you speak with a licensed contractor who specializes in wells.

Cost is contingent upon how deep the well needs to be in order to access the water table in your area. On average, it costs approximately $5,000 to build a new well. The cost would depend upon the location, the soil and your accessibility to the water source. After your initial construction costs, however, there will be no charge for your use of water by the government.

If your location meets the necessary conditions, having your own well could be your least expensive water option.

	Figure F
	Figure G

Plumbing System

Depending upon on the size of your new home and the number of fixtures, you could conceivably be running a mile of piping for your plumbing system. Keep in mind, also, that in the same space you'll be sharing with your electric and gas lines.

To ensure that the water gets to where you want it to go, a good plan (figure F) will keep you from being left high and dry. You need to figure where the fixtures (toilet, faucets, etc.) go and where you are going to put the sinks. Where is the laundry room going to be situated? Where are your showers and whatever else requires an inlet of water and an outlet?

All of this needs to be determined early because the plumbers are in first for drains, such as below-slab drains. Usually they are on the site before an electrician or a mechanical contractor to rough-in the drains in the basement and then they'll come back to do all the venting and drain pipes.

Your plumber comes out and lays out where the plumbing trenches (figure G) need to be before the foundation contractor come sin to actually dig the footings -- because the drain lines have to be done at the same time.

Laying the drain pipes in the foundation is called the ground works stage, which is the first stage of your plumbing installation.

If your home has natural gas, the plumber is responsible for installing that as well. Natural gas lines are installed during the top-out stage of the job, which is the rough framing stage. When you start seeing the studs go up that when the gas lines must be installed, the water pipes, etc.

In the next segment you'll learn that not all pipes are created equal.

GUESTS :

Anthony Grisolia
Building Performance Specialist
IBACOS, Inc.
Website: www.ibacos.com

Dana Bres
Research Engineer
US Department of Housing and Urban Development
451 7th St., SW
Washington, DC 20910
Phone: 202-402-5919
E-mail: dana.b.bres@hud.gov

Jack Tucker
Building Wisdom
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