Plumbing & Fittings

Plumbing, from the Latin for lead (plumbum), is the skilled trade of working with pipes and tubing for fluids such as water, sewage, steam and natural gas. Plumbing originated during the ancient civilizations such as Persian, Chinese, Indian and Roman civilizations as they developed public baths and needed to provide fresh water and drainage. The piping used to convey the water and waste was often made of lead. Since lead is highly toxic if consumed and dangerous to the environment, nearly all modern manufactured plumbing products and materials are lead free.

A plumber is someone who installs or repairs piping systems, plumbing fixtures and equipment such as water heaters and boilers.

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Pressure washers or power washers are used for cleaning dirt, stubborn stains, grime and dust from almost all kinds of surfaces including glass, wood, concrete, fiber and steel via high pressure water flow.

Pressure washers have a lot of parts for effective functioning. The main parts in a pressure washer are the electric or gasoline-powered engine attached to a pump. This pump compresses the water and builds up pressure. The hose has a trigger that has the option of spraying the water either in short bursts or as a continuous spray. The power of the washer depends on the strength of the pump. The nozzle or the tip is also a very important component. This tip can be adjusted at different angels for adjusting the pressure of the water. The smallest angle generates the highest pressure. Larger angles up to 40 degrees are for generating sprays covering larger surface area.

Pressure washers also contain a detergent injector that helps to steadily mix the detergent with the water. Other main parts in a pressure washer are the hose, hose reels, valves, heating and cooling components and other plumbing and electrical fittings.

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PexSupply.com specializes in products for Radiant Heat and PEX Plumbing Systems. We have access to PEX Products from a variety of manufacturers. With a wide range of product options, detailed product information, and attentive customer service, PexSupply.com is your all-in-one solution for radiant heat design.

Mold in the Kitchen can be the Result of Plumbing Problems

Some people believe that mold is a basement problem or possibly it will appear on an outer wall. The facts are mold is not that choosey, it will happily develop anywhere the conditions are right. Leaky plumbing will make the inner part of the lower cupboards moist. The wet wood is exactly the kind of base for fungus to grow on. There are molds that will grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. Mold spore are everywhere just waiting to grow. There is no real way to get rid of all mold and mold spores from your home. The only way to control mold growth is to control the moisture level in your home.

There are many pieces of plumbing in the kitchen that can spring a leak. Either the supply lines or the drain lines can erode and begin to weep then drip and finally run. Often these growing problems go unnoticed until the last stage. Longstanding moisture from the weeping and dripping is all the water necessary to provide the growth conditions. Now do not get in a panic if you have a pipe spring a leak and you catch it in a week or so. It is very unlikely that this would be long enough to establish a mold culture.

When you find a leak there are a few basic steps to follow. First close the water supply valve to the area. There is probably a zone shut-off valve or for that area of your home. If the valve does not stop the water close the main water valve for the house Now mop up the water and dry out the area, maybe use a fan if there is a lot of moisture. Now address the leaky item. If the faulty part is a faucet or a supply riser line, you will be able to replace it yourself. However if it is one of the soldered in pipes, you may be well advised to hire a plumber to replace it. Often amateurs will create more problems when trying to solder new pieces into old pipe systems.

Some repairs are easier to do than others are. Many just take time and some are a major hassle. Particularly difficult are those that involve working on pipes that are hidden behind walls or under floors. If in doubt wire a professional. If a small section of a line springs a leak, it is likely that the whole pipe needs replacement. Fix all plumbing problems immediately it is best for the home.

If you keep on top of moisture problems and run your kitchen fan whenever cooking causes steam, you should never have a mold problem in your kitchen. This not only saves you money but more important, it is healthier for you and your family.

Jim Stewart has been involved with home construction and improvement for over 40 years as a tradesman, contractor and site supervisor and has seen the entire spectrum of home improvement. Jim is a student of the industry and gladly passes on what he has learned. Jim is now the also the publisher of http://www.best-kitchens.com/ and http://www.Basement-Central.com/

Jim can be contacted at Homes42005@yahoo.com

Different Types of Plumbing Professionals

What are the different types of plumbing professionals? Different types of license? What each type of plumbing professional is licensed to do?

The choice you make on what type of plumbing professional you should hire to do work for you is often contingent on what kind of work you want done.

Some plumbers specialize in installing new pipes into new houses while other plumbers may specialize in installing new pipes into new commercial buildings. Some plumbers specialize in fixing pipes in residences while others may specialize in fixing problems in larger buildings. Some plumbers may have very focused specialization such as a plumber who excels in working on fire suppressing sprinkler systems. And some plumbers specialize in installing natural gas lines, installing natural gas appliances and fixing natural gas lines. Plumbers that specialize in natural gas line work are sometimes called gas fitters.

Most plumbers know how to unclog a drain. But if you are looking to hire a plumber to do a big job, it is smart to look for a plumber who specializes in the kind of work you need done. No matter what kind of plumbing work needs to be done, people should always make sure the plumber they hire to do water pipe work of gas line work has been licensed by the state or the appropriate local authorities.

In most states there are several levels of a plumbing license an individual plumber can hold. In some states a plumbing license states the holder of the license is certified to work on water pipes and on natural gas lines and in other states separate licenses are awarded for water pipe work and natural gas line work.

The different levels of plumbing license indicate the amount of experience a plumber has. Many states award a master plumbing license, a journey pluming license and an apprentice plumbing license. Master plumbing licenses are awarded to plumbers who have held a journey license for a certain amount of time and have accumulated a certain amount of hours working as a licensed journey plumber. In order to get a master plumbing license, the plumber also normally has to pass a state-sanctioned test. In most states, a journey plumbing license is awarded to those who have held an apprentice plumbing license and have trained for a certain amount of hours with a master plumber. A state-sanctioned test must be passed in order to receive a journey license in most states. An apprentice license normally is awarded to those who have just begun training as a plumber and often the only requirement that someone needs to get one is that they have to be of a certain age.

Licenses to become certified to work on natural gas lines and install natural gas appliances work much the same way that plumbing licenses do. There are master natural gas fitter licenses, journey natural gas fitter licenses and apprentice natural gas fitter licenses.

Some states award separate certifications for propane gas fitters and natural gas fitters. Master natural gas fitters and master plumbers are certified to work on most any project that an average person will ever need a plumber to do. Journey plumbers often work with master plumbers and can do some work themselves.

?Dapeem.com 2006. To find a plumbing professional in a city near you, please visit the Dapeem.com Yellow Page Directory located at http://plumbing.dapeem.com.