Question

What is plumbing ? What are the requirements for doing plumbing works and moisture insulation in bathrooms. Also how are installed and inspected later, what are the risks associated with their installation and what would be the safety measures then? What is the right sequence to follow while installing such materials?

Answer 1

Plumbing is the system of pipes,drains,fitting valves installed for the distribution of potable water for drinking, heating and washing,and waterborne waste removal.

Bathrooms have abundance of moisture and that means a potential for mold and wood rot. Dry, adequate insulation can help prevent those problems. General requirements for proper plumbing works and proper drainage includes

• Exterior bathroom walls must be able to dry : cold climate wall assembly dries to the exterior (vapour barrier is placed to the interior of the wall while permeable sheathing on the exterior) and exact opposite in case of hot or humid climate.
• Plumbing lines belong indoors
• Seal all gaps to keep moisture in its place
• Design exhaust ducts to terminate outdoors and not in unconditioned indoor areas such as attics or crawl spaces
• Keep recessed lights inside conditioned air space: covering walls and ceilings with drywall before building the soffit creates an air barrier between conditioned and unconditioned spaces
• Double seal vulnerable joints to make sure all the water stays in the tub

Installing a new bathroom with toilet,sink and tub is challenging. It needs thorough understanding and knowledge of plumbing system and techniques. Developing a sound plan is utmost needed. Individual events in the installation are:

• Bathroom specifications: specifications for the placement of plumbing fixtures and dimensions of pipes are intended to make sure the required comfort levels and adequate supply of water
• Running drain and vent lines: always do this step before going fir supply pipes
• Installing a bathroom vanity sink: optional
• Installing a pedestal sink: if one cannot go for a vanity sink , pedestal sink itself is enough
• Hooking up the showers
• Installing bath tub
• Installing shower enclosure: a corner shower involves building one wall while middle shower requires two walls.
• Building a wet wall: dig a trench and make a connection to the main drain line and frame a wall that encloses the drain and vent lines
• Installing a water closet

Regular inspection helps spotting the risk and rectifying the problem. Bathrooms are more susceptible to have plumbing problems as gets lots of use by everyday. The risks spotted on inspection and its solution is given below:

• Faucets: it's the sink,tub and shower faucets that most often needed attention in bathroom. Check them regularly for leaks. Replace bad washers or cartridges to remedy dripping faucets. Hidden water pipe leaks often reveal themselves with the sign of water damage in the room below the plumbing lines.
• Drains: tub, shower and sink drains in a bathroom are especially prone to soap and hair clogs. It's good idea to snake out the branch drains to remove clogs before they become full blockages
• Toilets: a toilet has many working parts and any one of them can wear down and cause problems. A toilet that continues to run rather than shutting off at the end of the flush cycle is wasting a lot of water. Fixing a running toilet is remarkably easy. If you notice water seeping around its base, then it is likely that the wax ring that seals the toilet base to he drain opening has worn out and need to be replaced.
• Caulk seals: they are not actually the part of plumbing but when caulking fails, it allows water from a bathtub or shower to get behind walls and under floors, and the resulting water damage can be catastrophic. periodically check all caulk beads along floor and walls to make sure it is intact.