5 Concepts You Need to Know about Plumbing Science

Pre – Introduction to Plumbing Science

Let’s get excited about the art and  science of plumbing.  For water to get to you from the ground, a lot of science and engineering must happen.  Biology and chemistry are important to make water clean and safe to drink.  Physics is important for understanding how water moves around pipes.  Water quality impacts how well soap works and even how water drains.  

Let’s dive into the constant experiment that pipelines of the waterworks of your home. 

So here are 5 science concepts you should know about your plumbing.

Gravity

Gravity is the attraction between two objects.  It’s not intuitive, but you exert a pull on the Earth just as it pulls on you.   Gravity is what makes things have weight on earth.  The weight of water is used in a lot of plumbing.   For instance, gravity powers drains.  The weight of the water pushes causes the water to slide down the drain. 

Density

Density is the mass divided by volume. Higher density means thicker things.  The higher the density, the harder it is for liquids to flow.   Density also affects floating.  Water becomes less dense as it gets hotter till it becomes a gas.  Water is densest at 4 C.  

Pressure

Pressure is one of the most important factors plumbers need to know about.   If water pressure isn’t high enough than water won’t flow through pipes.  If water pressure is too high, then the pipes and containers might explode.  One way pressure is created is through the weight of water.  Looking back at gravity, water wants to move towards the earth.  Toilets make use of this effect.  Toilets are powered by gravity, which is why they work when the electricity is out. 

Chemistry

Plumbers need to know about the chemistry of the water.  Water is composed of 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen.  Water is good at absorbing other things into it.  Soap is less effective in  hard water because it can’t lather as well.  Hard water contains an excess of calcium.  Additionally, hardware causes build up in pipes.  

Corrosion

One of the biggest problems facing plumbing is corrosion.  Pipes go through a constant struggle against rusting. The chemistry of water affects how quickly pipes will rust.  Higher acidity and higher alkalinity lead pipes to corrode.  Additionally, acidic water will corrode lead in plumbing leading to plumbosolvency.  

Closing

So the next time you have to deal with an issue in your plumbing, you will be better prepared to understand the underlying science behind your issue.  You can use this knowledge to troubleshoot and repair your problem. But if you can’t fix it or don’t have time, then contact Master Plumbing and we will fix it for you.