Once, state-of-the-art in plumbing was cast-iron drains and brass supply pipes. Now, those materials have been supplanted (for the most part) by PVC plastic, copper, and flexible cross-linked polyethylene, known as PEX. But whether the pipes are plastic, metal, or a combination of the two, it's the plumber's skill that determines how well the system works. A lot is at stake: One leaky joint can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. An undersize, improperly sloped drain will continually clog. And supply pipes that aren't anchored every 6 feet or so will rattle and thump every time a faucet is turned off.
There's more to proper plumbing than just following the codes and rules. Planning and installing a system that's quiet, efficient, and leak free is something of an art. You'll see it in the way a good plumber arranges pipes and valves for ease of maintenance, avoids wasting material or weakening framing, and takes care to wipe joints clean. "Too bad so much of our good work gets buried," Richard laments. Turn the page for a look at a system that meets his exacting standards.
The Pipe Network
Clean water enters a house at a pressure of 50-60 psi through the supply lines. Dirty water, pulled down by gravity, exits through the drainpipes, while air coming through the vents keeps the drains flowing smoothly. It's a wonderfully simple and durable setup. Valves may wear, hoses may break, and appliances will fail, but the underlying network of pipes should last as long as the house itself.
Turn Off the Taps
Modern plumbing has made it easier than ever for us to get clean water—and to waste it. "We have to change the mind-set that we can just turn on the water and let it run like Niagara Falls," Richard says. He considers the 1994 law mandating low-flow, 1.6-gallon toilets and 2.5-gallon-per-minute faucets and showerheads a step in the right direction. What about those pre-'94 water-wasters? Refitting them with dams, flow restrictors, and aerator devices can make them as water-efficient as a new fixture, or even more so.
