Most people envision their sinks, showers, and toilets when they think of plumbing. But Westfield Plumbing is much more than that.
Piping systems are networks of tubing and pipes that connect, mix, separate, transport, and control fluids. They are designed to serve specific purposes within industrial environments. Functionality must be the primary concern when developing these piping systems.
The water supply is the part of your plumbing that brings in clean, fresh water and removes wastewater. It’s very important to have an adequate and reliable water supply to keep your household functioning, especially during emergencies or if you need to do something as simple as flushing a toilet.
Water comes into your home through a large pipe called the main water line. This is usually a pipe located underground, running from the city to your house. If you think there might be a problem with your water supply, contact your local council. They can check the status of your mainline and see whether there’s been any recent works that may have affected it.
Once your water gets to your house, it passes through a system of pipes (hot and cold water lines) that travels throughout your entire home. If you notice that the water in your house isn’t as hot or as cold as it should be, it might be an issue with the pipes – which can easily get damaged or worn down over time.
Leaks in the supply line are also a common problem. This can lead to low water pressure, which is a problem for showers and flushing toilets. Because of the sensitivity of the water supply system, it’s best to have all leaks in the water supply line dealt with by a plumber.
Other issues with your water supply can include hard water, which is a build-up of dissolved minerals that can cause clogs and damage to pipes and fixtures. Your plumbing professional can test your water to determine whether you have hard water in your home. They can then advise you on what steps to take to resolve the issue.
Drainage
Plumbing is a vast network of pipes, drains, valves and fittings that deliver fresh water for drinking and other uses and carry away waste. It is the vital infrastructure that ensures our comfort and wellbeing, but many homeowners don’t give it much thought until something goes wrong. Clogged or slow-draining sinks, leaking showers and attics that smell musty are all signs of problems with your plumbing drainage.
When these problems arise it’s important to know what to do, and where to go for help. A professional plumber can thoroughly check your drains, grating and other drainage components to see what’s causing issues. Getting them fixed quickly is essential to avoid further damage and cost.
All the sinks, toilets and appliances in your house are connected to pipe systems. The freshwater plumbing system works with gravity and doesn’t need pressure, while the wastewater system does use a little bit of pressure to move things down. The wastewater pipe from your house connects to a larger sewer line in the street, which is connected to a network of sewers that all go to the sewage treatment plant. The septic system is another important part of your property’s drainage system.
Surface water drainage is for all the rainwater that collects around your property from gutters, lawns and other outdoor fixtures. This water is usually not considered harmful and can be diverted to a soakaway or stream. Foul water drainage is for everything that can’t be used in the cleanwater plumbing system, such as sanitary waste and other organic material. This can be sent to a wastewater treatment plant or, depending on the location of your property, into the stormwater system.
The drainage system can also be affected by things like ground movement or changes in soil conditions. When this happens, it’s possible that the pipes will crack or become dislodged. This can lead to a number of different problems, such as wastewater escaping from your home or water flooding in when it rains. A professional plumber can help you assess the situation and decide what needs to be done.
Force Mains
When it comes to sanitary sewer lines, gravity is usually the best way to move waste and sewage from homes and businesses into the main line. But sometimes, the landscape prevents this from happening, and that’s when a force main comes in handy. These are high-pressure pipes that use pumps to push sewage from a lower area up to an elevation where it can continue to flow toward the sewer treatment plant.
Engineers are responsible for determining whether or not a force main is needed in a certain location and what size of pipe will work. They also perform calculations to figure out how much pressure is needed to create and maintain a consistent and stable level of sewage flow. This information is used to help construct the proper sewer system design for a given area, with engineers making sure the force main will be able to carry the amount of sewage needed without experiencing any problems.
Since these pipes are high-pressure, they need to be properly designed and constructed to avoid issues such as excessive wear or failures from hydraulic shocks. They are also subject to the same types of damage as other sanitary sewer pipes, such as clogs and breaks and leaks. However, these pipes are often harder to access than other piping and require more complex excavation techniques.
Fortunately, new technologies can improve the reliability of force mains. For instance, smart-ball testing uses acoustic sensors to track the movement of wastewater in the pipe and highlight areas that have a higher risk of failure, so MSD can determine whether continued monitoring or speedy repairs are called for. This allows the agency to save money by addressing problem spots before they cause a complete system failure and avoid costly replacement costs.
Though force mains make up a small portion of the overall sewer pipe network, they are important to the operation of the entire system. That’s why it’s so important to continue developing new trenchless inspection and rehabilitation methods for this type of pipe. This will allow MSD to address these pipelines in a way that’s less expensive and more effective than traditional methods.
Septic Systems
A septic system is an alternative to public sewer for homes in rural Clallam County and other areas without access to municipal sewage treatment. Wastewater from the home drains into a buried septic tank and an absorption field. The septic system treats the wastewater on-site and doesn’t require as much maintenance or fees as a sewer system.
The septic tank is a large, water-tight container usually made of concrete or heavy plastic. It has two chambers separated by a partial wall. Wastewater flows into the larger first chamber from the house, and solids settle down to form a sludge layer. Liquids flow over the sludge into a smaller second chamber where naturally occurring anaerobic bacteria break down the sludge into carbon dioxide, water, and indigestible material. The septic tank also has a T-shaped outlet baffle to prevent sludge from flowing into the drainfield.
When the septic system is working properly, odors are rare indoors. If you notice a strong, rotten egg smell in your bathroom, it may indicate that the septic tank is leaking sewage into one of the drain lines. Outdoor odors near the septic tank or drainfield can also occur. These are caused by sewage seeping into the soil before it’s treated by the septic tank.
Problems with a septic system often stem from poor maintenance. A failing septic system can contaminate groundwater with untreated sewage, which is a health hazard for your family and neighbors. Failing septic systems can also pollute nearby waterbodies and shellfish beds with toxic chemicals and pathogens.
A septic system should be inspected by a professional to ensure that it’s operating correctly. However, you can do some basic maintenance to keep your septic system in good condition.
Use a slow-flow toilet tank valve and faucet aerators to reduce the water you consume daily. Spreading large loads of laundry over the week instead of doing them all at once can also help reduce the strain on your septic system.
