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About PLUMBING
Plumbing may be defined as practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, appliances, and appurtenances in connection with sanitary or storm drainage facilities, the venting system, and the public or private water supply systems. Plumbing generally does not include the trade of drilling water wells, installing water softening equipment, or the business of manufacturing or selling plumbing fixtures, appliances, equipment, or hardware. A plumbing system consists of three separate parts: an adequate potable water supply system, a safe, adequate drainage system and ample fixtures and equipment.
Background Factors
The generalized inspection of a home is concerned with a safe water supply system, an adequate drainage system, and ample and proper fixtures and equipment. This explains features of a residential plumbing system and the basic plumbing terms the inspector must know and understand to identify properly housing code violations involving plumbing and the more complicated defects that he will refer to the appropriate agencies.
Noisy Pipes - Quick Banging After Hot or Cold Water is Turned Off
It doesn't matter where the faucet is -- the kitchen, bath, shower, washing machine, garden hose bib, etc. If you hear a quick banging when hot or cold water is cut off suddenly, that's water hammer. Water is not compressible but air is, so installing hammer risers should solve the banging problem. Think of them as shock absorbers for your pipes.
Noisy Pipes - Groaning or Creeping Noises when Hot Water Is in Use
It doesn't matter where the faucet is -- the kitchen, bath, shower, washing machine, etc. It is not uncommon to have pipe noise when the hot water is being used. Pipes expand when hot water is flowing through them and contract when they cool off later. So, if you hear a creeping, groaning noise during and/or after using hot water, you're hearing the expansion and contraction of the pipes. More precisely, you're hearing the pipe scraping against something as it expands or contracts. The cure: strap the pipe more tightly or give it a plastic housing to slide in.
Noisy Pipes - Gurgling Sound in Drain Pipes
If your drains are gurgling, there's insufficient trap. If your trap is a standard trap, the reason it may not be trapping the water properly is that the vent is not allowing enough air into the system quickly enough behind the trap to prevent the water from being sucked on through it. The cure: install a standard trap if there isn't one. If there is a standard trap, provide a larger vent pipe, a vent pipe closer to where the drain enters the wall and/or joins the main stack, or a more direct route to a roof vent. This is, for most of us, a job for the professional.
Noisy Pipes - Knocking Radiator or Steam Pipes
Knocking radiator sounds can be caused by a number of different factors. First, remember that you're working with steam or very hot water, so be cautious if you do any fixes yourself! There are some fixes you can take care of yourself, whether you're a renter or owner, or you can figure out that the problem will require a pro. More: Noisy knocking radiator pipes
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