Easy Plumbing Knowledge

Hello dear DYI'ers! Wishing you here a great Wednesday! In the last post we covered a few different types of shutoff valves for water piping systems. We covered some of the main disadvantages and advantages of each system. In summary, we covered three types of valves: gate valves, ball valves, and globe valves. We learned that gate valves are pretty good for the beginning of water piping systems, while globe valves are not, as they restrict water flow. In addition, we learned that ball valves can be used whenever you use a gate valve, with added benefits of more durability and ease of use. Today, in continuation of our control valves saga, we will learn more about three additional control valves.  1) Stop and Waste Valves This type of valves reuses the design of a glove valve, which,  as we covered int he previous post, use a compression mechanism that can be fixed easily and inexpensively. The difference is that these type of valves incorporate a screw that can be ...

Hello friends from all over the world! Today we continue on our post series regarding water piping. To recap, we have cover how to cut piping from different materials, how to join pipes with fittings, and the difference between different types of piping materials. It has been a very interesting journey indeed. Today we will focus on control valves. We will cover the different types of shutoff valves/control valves. We will analyze the advantages and disadvantages of each control valve as some valves certainly do not belong in certain parts of the plumbing system or under certain scenarios. Let's get started friends! 1) Gate Valves This type of valve has an internal gate mechanism that allows for unrestricted flow of water. It is most commonly used near the meter or pressure tank of the plumbing system. These types of valves are not meant to be used frequently. In addition, they have one big enemy. Kryptonite. Jk. It is hard water with its minerals that can totally render a ...

Hello team! In last post we covered the basics of cutting and fitting CPVC tubing. We learned about removing the surface glaze that the tubing has, cutting the plastic tubing with a plastic-pipe-cutting shears, and then joining all the plastic tubing with cement. Now, it is interesting to ask, what is the differences (advantages and disadvantages) of using different types of piping materials: metal vs plastic. Copper pipes are the most common type of plumbing piping material. They are specially resistant to corrosion and can be used for both cold and hot water. One disadvantage with copper piping is that they need to be soldered. CPVC is easy to install, is generally low-cost, its light weight and it is easy to cut. CPVC piping also can withstand high temperature and is fire resistant. Part of the easier installation with CPVC pipes is that they do not need to be soldered. Galvanized piping used to be very popular with residential plumbing projects but can be prone to rus...

Good afternoon cool cats and kittens (lol)! In today's blog post we will cover the steps about cutting and fitting made out of Chlorinated PolyVinyl Chloride (CPVC). CPVC has been used in potable water the 1950s and is easy to install and relatively inexpensive. So, let's dive right into it. 1) The first step is to cut the plastic tubing. For this there are several tools that you can use. You can use a tubing cutter, a hacksaw, or a more specialized tool known as a plastic-pipe-cutting shear set. Very creative name. Almost close to Tiger King! Jk. But how do you use a plastic-pipe-cutting shears. First, mark the tubing and, then, in a perpendicular fashion, place the shears and squeeze until you have cut the tubing. 2) The next step is to assemble all the components so that you can mark them. That way, with all the movement of the components later on before being set into place with cement, you won't lose track of how they are supposed to be connected. 3) The ne...

Hello dear friends, How is everyone doing this fine Wednesday? The last few weeks have been tough due to the lock down in certain cities and areas. We find ourselves in a time of learning amidst a situation that we had not encountered before, at least not with the level of technological advance and connectivity. Indeed, interesting times lie ahead. In this time of learning, it is also a good time to keep learning about our plumbing. In previous posts we have covered about copper piping, galvanized steel piping, black steel piping, and also how to connect different types of piping, in addition to the tools and techniques to cut pipes. In addition, we have learned about the benefits of insulating pipes. In today's blog post, we we learn some basics about another type of piping....... plastic water piping. First, let's begin with the material that plastic water pipes are made out of: CPVC. This chemical is not new. It has been around for a long time. Now, what are are some...

Hello dear friends, In the last posts we have learned a lot more about piping, including the dangers of lead piping and also how to work with joining pipes that are made out of different materials to avoid electrolysis. In this blog, we will cover the benefits of insulating water pipes. 1) When you insulate pipes, it is more difficult for cold air to get inside of the pipe. It is this cold air getting into a pipe that can cause it to freeze and if a pipe bursts after it freezes over, this can cause expensive damages to your home. When water gets really cold, it turns to ice, and then it expands, which then causes the pipe to burst. You can avoid all of this by applying insulation to your dear pipes. 2) Another advantage of insulating the pipe system in your home is that when water moves from the place where it was heated to your faucets and shower, it travels through the piping system in your home. And through its adventures and travels, it is possible that i loses heat. So, wh...

Now that we are on the topic of piping - from copper piping to galvanized steel piping - let's learn a little more about a type of piping that your home may have and that can cause serious damage to your health and those of your loved ones. This type of piping would be lead piping. There is a close connection between lead and plumbing. In fact, the chemical symbol for lead is Pb, which stands for plumbum. Indeed, there is a strong connection between lead and plumbing! Lead was used extensively in ancient Rome. It was used in plates, wine vessels, and, of course, in water piping. It was even used as a preservative for wine. It was even used in cosmetic products and even condiments. Lead continued to be used - in part because of it being inexpensive and in part because of it being malleable - for lead piping. It was used in the American colonies and then in to bring water to homes in the United States. Up to 70 percent of urban areas used lead pipes by the 1900's. It was u...