Submitted by: Adriana Notton

When people began living in larger communities and then cities, the need for water and waste management had to be addressed. Plumbing in settlements is thought to have originated in ancient times. Communal baths and latrines have been found and date back to around 2700 BCE. The job of a plumber was more of an inventor in these early times.

The Romans engineered complex and innovative systems for bringing potable water to the home and removing the wastewater. It wasn’t until 100CE that Romans completed the infrastructure needed to handle the community’s water needs. The rich were the first to have these services.

Water was moved by gravity in ancient days, either by use of pipe or channel systems. These vehicles were made of clay, lead, stone, and bamboo. Today water is supplied and removed by system of high-pressure pumps moving water through pipes made of copper, brass, lead, steel, or plastic.

Lead, once a common material used for pipes, is no longer allowed in most industrial countries to deliver water. Studies found that lead was transferred from the pipes into the water and caused health issues in humans. Plumbing as a word originates from the Latin word plumbum – meaning lead – as pipes were made from this material.

When remodeling old homes lead pipes for potable water must be replaced with copper or plastic tubing. Galvanized steel also was used in some residential construction. These pipes too should be replaced, as there is a higher risk of corrosion that can inhibit water flow over time.

For the past three or four decades, copper has been the material of choice to plumb the interior of a home. Rising to nearly eighty-five percent of all household tubing, people swear by this material as being the standard.

However, plastic tubing has come into use and can provide benefits that copper cannot and so the debate has begun. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride or CPVC use has increased in residential construction since Polybutylene (PB) was banned in 1995 for failure issues. CPVC is cheaper, easier to install and handle, than copper tubing.

Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride has passed stringent testing to meet standards and code compliance for use in homes. CPVC is resistant to corrosion and abrasion. The smooth surface of plastic allows better water flow and lowers the noise of water moving through tubing. It can resist damage due from impact and has a factor of insulation. This tubing can be used when water is acidic and the material does not conduct electricity.

Copper has a long and great track record of durability for water that is not corrosive or acidic. This tubing can be used for water delivery and removal of wastewater. Ease of bending allows for less jointing in plumbing. Copper can handle higher internal working pressure and has a high resistance to fire.

The art of plumbing and the materials used to plumb have changed considerably over the long history of community living. When you are building or remodeling, spend time to do an online search to find an experienced plumber. Discuss what type of tubing is best suited for your home, use, and circumstance.

About the Author:

Toronto Plumbing

Company services offering plumbing drain cleaning services, emergency drain and cleaning products.

Source:

isnare.com

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