Basic Bathroom Plumbing Practices

Fixtures

• Most bathrooms contain a toilet, a sink and a bathtub, shower or bath/shower combination. The first is connected solely to a cold water intake, while the rest are connected to both hot and cold water. All bathroom fixtures have drains that converge on a main drainpipe that empties into a municipal sewer system or a septic tank. Plumbers install toilets by setting them on top of a drain that is embedded in the floor and securing them with plumber's wax around the base of the toilet. Bathroom sinks are either set into the counter in the top of a cabinet, attached to a wall or supported by a pedestal.

Drains

• Bathroom drains are sometimes the source of trouble for homeowners. Baths and sinks can become clogged with hair, and toilets can clog or even overflow if someone puts inappropriate materials in them and tries to flush them. Most drains are fitted with baskets that fit over the entrance to the drain and prevent large items from entering the drain. Basic plumbing practices related to drains include clearing drains using a specialized, flexible tool called a snake and thawing out frozen drains using a variety of methods including heated electrical coils and heat guns.

Vents

• Bathroom drains need to be fitted with vents to prevent air locks and to avoid unpleasant smells accumulating in the bathroom. An air vent is attached to the drain and runs vertically through a wall and out the roof, where it is protected from rainwater by a hood. A vent is fitted with a one-way valve so that air under pressure can exit the plumbing pipes but can't come back in once it has gone out.

Hot Water

• Hot water is an essential part of a full bathroom plumbing system as it provides comfort and effectiveness for hand washing, bathing and showering. Most households have a hot water tank located in the basement with pipes running from it to the bathroom. Water is routed from the entry point of the household to the hot water tank. Some bathrooms feature tankless water heaters that are located in the bathroom itself. These appliances heat water on demand and save power because they don't have to maintain a reservoir of hot water.