The Drain Waste Vent System - Essay Example

Plumbing System Introduction People who live in luxurious houses of today’s modern world surely have an idea about how much comfort a good plumbing system can offer. There is no inconvenience greater than the one when something wrong happens with the plumbing system. We salute our plumbing system when we ponder upon the fact that how much ease we are enjoying while doing dishes, washing clothes, taking shower, cleaning up the house, or using the toilet. It is important to understand the concepts of plumbing system so that one knows what questions to ask from a plumber the next time he comes around to repair a leaky flush tank. We will describe, in this paper, the drain-waste-vent system which is the main portion of the overall plumbing system. Drain-Waste-Vent System Drain-waste-vent (DWV) system is a framework of pipes that are supposed to carry water and waste to a septic tank or gutter line. As is clear from the name, the DWV system includes three sets of lines. Drain lines accumulate water from lavatories, wash basins, water sinks, bathe showers and laundry tubs. Waste lines gather waste from toilets. Vent lines tire out cesspit gases and supply the required air pressure that help wastes flow down the lines without restraint. Drain and waste lines move the collected water and waste sliding down, as a result of gravity, right from the plumbing fixture toward the public sewage system or “septic tank” (Karre, 2005). Pipes used in DWV System Pipes that are used in all the three sets of DWV lines are made with enough diameters that should eliminate the risk of blockage of waste in the pipes. The diameter may range from one to four inches. Waste lines that are supposed to carry waste have four inch pipes. Drain lines have pipes that are two inches wide because water has fewer chances to get blocked in a pipe. Previously, the drain pipes were mostly made of lead, nut nowadays these are made of copper, plastic or cast iron. Galvanized iron is mostly used for manufacturing vent pipes. How it Works? Every house must have at least one main stack which is a vertical pipe that runs from the roof straight to the main gutter or septic tank. Water and waste collected from toilets, tubs, sinks, basins etcetera runs through horizontal pipes that join with the main vertical pipe from where it is carried down to the sewer system. The horizontal pipes have a bit tilted inclination so that water and waste runs easily to the main stack (Carey & Carey, 2000). It is also necessary that the waste lines should have unclogging point or cleanouts at several spots. It is a small fitting done in the waste line which helps a plumber to clean up the line easily if a waste blockage occurs. Venting To make the plumbing system more efficient, each drain in the building must have a vent line which help in exhausting sewer gases or “supply air to the pipes to keep things running smoothly” (HomeTips, LLC, 2010). A vent pipe acts just like a hole in a can. More simply put, it allows air to follow the collected water in drain pipes to help it flow easily. If there is no venting in the plumbing system, then the water will slosh up in the drain pipe just like water cannot come out smoothly from a thin inverted bottle. What is a Trap? An important thing to keep in mind is that a good plumbing system should not allow foul smell of sewer gases to enter the building. The solution is putting traps on drains. Now, what is a trap? Most simply put, it is an arched segment of a drain pipe that gets filled with water thus acting as a seal to foul odors. This water gets changed every now and then when a plumbing fixture is used. We call the trap that runs through the wall as a P-trap and the one that runs through the floor is named as an S-trap. That is interesting, isn’t it? Is Plumbing System Green? According to Milani (2001, August 25), “a green material is one that simultaneously does the most with the least, fits most harmoniously within ecosystem processes, helps eliminate the use of other materials and energy, and contributes to the attainment of a service-based economy”. A plumbing system can most definitely be considered as green as it helps build a green structure. “In 1994, the National Energy Policy Act was passed in the United States…set standards on all plumbing fixtures forcing them to become more water and energy efficient” (Plumbers™ Success International, LLC, 2008). Since waste and used water gets carried off out of the house very conveniently, the risk of health hazards is completely diminished. The indoor environment remains healthy and fresh contributing to the residents’ happiness, comfort and freshness. The outdoor environment is also not affected due to proper sewage system. Pollution is reduced because waste is not exposed to open air at any point in the plumbing system. There is reduced usage of resources like money, water and energy. Thus, by incorporating green building principles while designing the plumbing system, the drainage and sewage system is made very effective and convenient. What Makes the Plumbing System Green? A green plumbing system does not have leaky fixtures like drippy faucets and nozzles. This helps saving the water resource. Money is also saved because we do not have to spend off and on to fix the leaky faucets. Aerators can be used inside faucets that control the flow of water. Using high efficiency showerheads and flush tanks cut down the waste of water. A whole-house water filtration system can also be installed with the plumbing system so as to filter the water. To increase the life of the plumbing lines, they are coated with epoxy from inside. Epoxy sticks to the inner walls of plumbing pipes and hardens them so that they do not get weakened. These features contribute towards the greenness of the plumbing system, especially the DWV system. Conclusion Having a house and maintaining it may be a hassle especially when the issue is about the plumbing system of the house. The DWV system provides great convenience and comfort to the residents as it helps maintain the green nature of the building. A green plumbing system is highly recommended if one wants a trouble-free drainage of water and fast exposing off of toilet waste. The network is easy to understand and expedient. Of course, the pipes need maintenance and replacement with time, but if the plumbing system is installed using green principles, then the life of the pipes and lines must have been increased requiring less maintenance. After all, this is what greenness is all about! References Carey, J., & Carey, M. (2000). The drain, waste and vent system. Home Maintenance for Dummies. United States: John Wiley & Sons. HomeTips, LLC. (2010). How the home plumbing system works? HomeTips.com. Retrieved February 9, 2010 from http://www.hometips.com/how-it-works/plumbing-house.html Karre, A. (2005). Drain-waste-vent system. The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing. Chanhassen, Minnesota: Creative Publishing International, Inc. Milani, B. (2001, August 25). What is a green material? Building Materials in a Green Economy. Retrieved January 23, 2010 from http://www.greeneconomics.net/BuildMatEssay.html#Introduction Plumbers™ Success International, LLC. (2008). Turn Your Plumbing System Green. Retrieved February 9, 2010 from http://www.greenscreenedplumbing.com/turngreen.aspx Read More