Your Los Angeles Home’s Plumbing System and How It Works

What do you know about your plumbing system? Knowing about how this system works in your home can help you to understand how to best take care of it over time. The plumbing system in your home is composed of two separate subsystems. One of these subsystem brings freshwater in, and the other takes wastewater out. The water that comes into your home is under pressure. It enters your home under enough pressure to allow it to travel anywhere in the house -up the stairs, around corners, or wherever else it’s needed. As water comes into your home, it passes through a meter that registers the amount you use. The main water shutoff, or stop, valve is typically located close to the meter. In a plumbing emergency, such as an earthquake, it is of vital importance that you quickly close the main shutoff valve. Otherwise, when a pipe bursts, it can flood your house in no time. If the emergency is confined to a sink, tub, or toilet, however, you may not want to turn off your entire water supply. Therefore, most fixtures should have individual stop valves. Water from the main supply is immediately ready for your cold water needs. The hot water, however, requires another step. One pipe carries water from the cold water system to your water heater. From the water heater, a hot water line carries the heated water throughout the house – to the fixtures, outlets, and appliances that require hot water. A thermostat on the heater maintains the temperature you select by turning the device’s heating elements on and off as required. The normal temperature setting for a home water heater is between 140 degrees F and 160 degrees F, but 120 degrees F is usually adequate and is also more economical. Some automatic dishwashers may require higher temperature water, though many of these have a water heater within them that boosts the temperature another 20 degrees F. Being knowledgeable about the plumbing system in your home will save you thousands of dollars over time and also give you the quality of life you expect for yourself and your family.