Tnk Plumbing Toronto

A Brief History of Plumbing Part Two

lanrolfe — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:17:04 +0000

In Rome a system of eleven separate aqueducts was used to provide it’s citizens with water of varying qualities (the best was reserved for supplies). The ‘lower quality’ water wa then used by the public for baths and latrines (their word for toilets). These were again able to flush away human faeces and prevent the spreading of disease caused by discarded excrement (the Romans also used sea sponges attached to sticks instead of toilet paper). This human waste was then sent to the sewers and was eventually discarded into a nearby river or stream. Despite all this however the Romans would still often throw their faeces into the streets which really made the whole sewage system rather obsolete. Connecting these aqueducts and sewers were led pipes which though more efficient than the terracotta pipes in ancient Greece, nevertheless carried risks associated with led poisoning.

After the collapse of the Roman Empire many of the civilisations they’d invaded returned to their old ways. It was not until the 19^th Century that plumbing and sanitisation returned, and not until fairly recently that led pipes were replaced (some older houses still contain led pipes). Eventually the development of underground sewage systems separate from the main systems eliminated the need for open sewage ditches and cesspools.

A Brief History of Plumbing Part One

lanrolfe — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:16:18 +0000

Plumbing is one of the most important innovations for modern societies, a fact that’s all too apparent when observing cultures who have still not developed systems of sanitisation where disease and plague are rife. Today most countries utilise complex sewage systems and plumbing in their homes to combat these problems, though instances of plumbing have been around much longer.

The early routes of plumbing can be found in ancient ruins dating back as far as 4,000 years ago. In 1700 B.C. the Minoan Palace of Knossos for example (situated on the isle of Crete in Greece) utilised separate drainage systems made from terracotta pipes that emptied into large stone sewers. This enabled the palace to contain the worlds first flushing toilet system and also provided water for fountains and other water features. Other examples of very early water drainage exist in early Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt where pure water collected in wells and temples included baths with drains.

However it is ancient Rome that steals the attention of most historians and archaeologists when it comes to early sanitation, and they were one of the first to use a complex system like those we use in the West today. Interestingly much of this knowledge and practice was actually lost during the dark ages and was later re-learned.

How to Isolate the Water Supply

lanrolfe — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:15:34 +0000

If you’re undertaking a spot of DIY on your home then it’s highly likely you’ll need to isolate the water first. By ‘isolate’ we mean ‘turn off’ to prevent the water running through your home. The reasons for this should be fairly self explanatory if you consider that you’ll no doubt be dismantling your taps or pipes – leaving the water on will result in your getting rather wet and quite likely ruining your carpet.

To turn off your water supply then you need to find your stop tap (also known as a ‘stop cock’) which controls the flow of your water. In most houses there are two of these, with one controlling the main water supply and another controlling just the hot water. Normally the first of these can be found in the kitchen, while the other can be found near the boiler most likely in your airing cupboard. If you’re DIY will only effect the hot water (say you’re taking apart the hot tap for example) then you need only turn off the second of these. Other older houses may utilise a ‘gate valve’ which restricts water flow in a slightly different way and uses a circular tap.

Once you’ve isolated the water you should test that it’s been successful by running taps. This way you can also remove any water that remains in the pipes. Make sure if you’re taking apart pipes that you still lay a cloth or towel underneath. Once you’ve done your job then simply turn the water back on in the same manner.

How to Unblock the Bath

lanrolfe — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 06:14:53 +0000

The bathplug is a common victim of blockages, particularly if you or someone in your house has long hair. Even if that isn’t the case however, over time grime and dead skin can build up and form a blockage. It’s a fairly unpleasant thought, which is why it’s so important to be able to regularly clean it out and to unblock it quickly should it get jammed.

The first thing to do is to remove the bathplug and the filter that covers the whole. This filter is designed to catch stray hairs and other items too large to fit round the bends in the pipes, but often it can collect too much debris itself. Give it a wash and remove any tangled hairs and it’s possible this will be enough to solve the problem on its own.

If it’s not however then the chances are that something is stuck in the actual drain. Try using a pen or ruler and have a poke around to see if you can find the source of the problem, it may be that you can clear it yourself this way and chances are you’ll find it around the bend. If this doesn’t work you can try using a plunger (with a bit of water around the bottom of the tub) which will apply pressure to the blockage and hopefully pull it out that way.

If none of this works one last trick you can try is to use the shower head on high pressure and try aiming this directly down the plug hole. Often this is forceful enough to blast any debris out of the way.

How to Unblock Your Sink

lanrolfe — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:14:30 +0000

Clogging the kitchen sink is a common and highly unpleasant occurrence that can put you behind on your chores and leave the place looking untidy. Often the culprit is a build up of food, peel or cuttings or something you tried against your better judgement to wash away. Fortunately however it’s usually a pretty simple task to unclog it and drain the sink so that you can continue with your work.

The first thing to try is poke something down the plug hole such as a pen or a toothbrush (make sure it’s not one you intend to use later) to see if you can locate the source of the problem and potentially dislodge it. If you can’t find any problems within the sink however then it’s possible that the problem is too far down to reach. For these instances you need to use a plunger to apply pressure to the problem. Fill the sink just a little then pug the plunger over the hole then pump as hard and fast as you can to try and suck out anything that might be stuck.

Depending on how firmly wedged the blockage is however it is of course possible that this won’t work either. In this case you should isolate the water supply then try unscrewing the pipes under the sink (you can access these via the cupboard underneath it). This way you can reach in yourself and remove items by hand if necessary. Make sure you screw the pipes back securely before re-starting the water.

If a blocked sink is something you struggle with regularly then you may want to look into a waste disposal system, which will use blades to chop items up smaller as they go down the sink. This makes it unlikely that things will get stuck and enables you to chop or peel over the sink.