Centerpiece Of The Bathroom: The Shower
Most people use their shower every single day: to get ready for work in the morning, to clean up after working out, or to relax after a long day. But nobody thinks twice about the plumbing behind it all... until something goes wrong. The shower can be a hotspot for plumbing issues.
The Unseen Household Plumbing System
The average plumbing system is a network of pipes and fittings hidden inside the walls and floors. Everyone depends on this network to deliver hot or cold water to their fixtures and efficiently remove waste.
The plumbing system begins at the water main, a plastic or copper pipe ½" to 1 ½" in diameter. This pipe supplies the entire home with water from a municipal treatment source.
From the main, the water is diverted throughout the house via copper, plastic, or PEX pipes. Water is supplied to sinks, toilets, tubs, and appliances such as the water heater, washing machine, or dishwasher. Each fixture is connected to the water line by supply lines and valves that control the water flow.
Each fixture that receives water also has drains, which are usually made of wide plastic pipe. All drains flow downward by the force of gravity, ending up in the main sewer line underneath the house. The main sewer line is a large plastic pipe that carries all wastewater away to the municipal sewer main beneath the street.
The Specifics of Bathroom Plumbing
Every bathroom has a sink and a toilet, and full baths have one centerpiece: the shower. All three fixtures draw water via supply lines, and each has its own drain.
The sink and shower use both hot and cold water, enabling the user to adjust the water temperature. The toilet uses only cold, untreated water.
Beneath the bathroom floor is a large drain pipe that sends the wastewater down to the main sewer line. Each drain for the sink, shower, and toilet connects to this pipe. Also, a vertical pipe runs up inside the wall to the roof that vents the drain pipe. This vent stack allows the necessary suction for wastewater to flow downward.
A Guide To Shower Plumbing
Because most people rely on their shower every day, it might be good to understand its plumbing in case something goes wrong. The shower stall has two main features: the showerhead and the drain (Bathtubs have the additional feature of a spout).
The shower is supplied by two water pipes: one for cold water coming straight from the water main, and one for hot water, which comes from the hot water tank. These supply pipes can't be seen, as they lay underneath the bathtub, but they are commonly made of copper, cream-colored CPVC, or red and blue PEX tubing. Each supply line has its own shutoff valve in case of an emergency.
The two supply lines meet at the faucet, where the handle or handles control the temperature of the water. When turning the handles, valves are opened, which allow water to pass through. The water then is then sent up through a single vertical pipe to the showerhead or comes out of the bathtub spout.
The water goes down the tub drain, through a P trap, and into the larger drain pipe under the floor. The entire process should take mere seconds unless something is wrong.
Problems that might arise with a shower include:
- Low water pressure
- Sputtering showerhead
- Leaky fixtures
- A clogged drain
Get Prompt Assistance From Carmine's
Carmine's Plumbing, Heating, & Air Conditioning has long been Danbury, CT's fastest plumbing service company. Their team of technicians is NATE certified and offer flat-rate pricing, and the fastest 24/7 emergency plumbing response in the area.
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