Plumbing fixture

A plumbing fixture is a device which is part of a system to deliver and drain away water, but which is also configured to enable a particular use.

The most common plumbing fixtures are (listed by American plumbing term):

water closets (aka toilets in America, loos, toilets or lavatories in Britain)
urinals
lavatories (aka bathroom sinks)
kitchen sinks
utility sinks
bathtubs
showers
bidets

Each of these plumbing fixtures has one or more water inlets and a drain. In some cases, the drain has a device that can be manipulated block the drain to fill the basin of the fixture. Each fixture also has a flood rim, or level at which water will begin to overflow. Most fixtures also have an overflow, which is a conduit for water to drain away, when the regular drain is plugged, before the water actually overflows at the flood rim level. However, water closets and showers (that are not in bathtubs) usually lack this feature because their drains normally cannot be stopped.

Each fixture usually has a characteristic means of connection. Normal plumbing practice is to install a valve on each water supply line before the fixture, and this is most commonly termed a stop. The water supply to some fixtures is cold water only (such as water closets and urinals). Most fixtures also have a hot water supply. In some occasional cases, a sink may have both a potable and a non-potable water supply.

Lavatories and water closets normally connect to the water supply by means of a supply, which is a tube, usually of nominal 3/8" diameter, which connects the water supply to the fixture. For water closets, this tube usually ends in a flat neoprene washer that tightens against the connection, while for lavatories, the supply usually ends in a conical neoprene washer. Kitchen sinks, tubs and showers usually have supply tubes built onto their valves which then solder directly onto the water supply pipes.

All fixtures have traps in their drains. Traps are sumps, or pipes which curve back down then back up again so that they retain water and create an air seal between the ambient air space and the inside of the drain system. This prevents odors from fouling interior air and also prevents explosive sewer gas buildup. Each fixture drain must be vented so that negative air pressure in the drain cannot suck the trap dry, and so that positive air pressure in the drain cannot force gases past the water seal.

The actual initial drain part in a lavatory or sink is termed a strainer. If there is a removable strainer device that fits into the fixed strainer, it is termed a strainer basket. The initial pipe that leads from the strainer to the trap is termed the tailpiece.

Water closets have the trap built into the fixture itself. The closet is then supposed to seal to the flange of the drain pipe by means of a wax ring. These are traditionally made out of beeswax. However, their proper sealing depends on proper seating of the water closet, on a firm and secure base (floor), and on proper installation of the closet bolts which secure the closet to the flange, which is in turn supposed to be securely fastened to the floor.

Table of contents

1 Garbage disposer
2 Also see
3 External link

Garbage disposer

The garbage disposer was invented in 1927 by Architect John Hammes of Racine, WI. He founded the company In-Sink-Erator in Racine and is still at work making millions of garbage disposers a year. The function of the garbage disposer is to grind food (anything chicken bones, fruit, coffee grinds, meat) so that it can be sent down standard household plumbing without clogging. The device works by having attaching a small chamber underneath the drain of a sink. This chamber contains whirling glades and grinders. Once the food goes thru this chamber, it is flushed down the rest of the plumbing. Few tips for maintaining a garbage disposer include always using cold water when using it to allow it to cool correctly, items like chicken bones and ice cubes can actually sharpen the blade and are good for it however some items should not be put down a disposer including beef and pork bones, large amount or hot oil, stringy fiberours materials such as corn silk. If the disposer needs to be freshened up then you can grind a small lemon down it and that should help with any smells.

Garbage disposers have been referenced in the media occasasionially. The most recent example was in the television show "Seinfeld" when Kramer has a garbage disposer installed in his shower so we can prepare food there. This is of course not a recommended use for the product especially for those with long toes. In the horror movie "Phantasm", the lead star killed a monster fly like creature by putting it down a garbage disposer.

There has been some political issues with Garbage Disposers. For many years, New York city had banned their use. It was said they did not know how it would affect their sewage treatment process but many suspect that it was the garbage unions not wanting work taken away from them.

Also see

External link

Faucets: How They Work