Modern plumbing innovations are changing the way people use water. Plunger Plumber offers convenience, savings, and better sanitation.
For example, smart toilets can flush themselves and have features like air drying, heated seats, and touch-free faucets to reduce germs.
Many of these innovations are also green, which is important for plumbing professionals to promote. These tools can improve customer service, increase technician efficiency, and help your business save money.
Several millions of kilometers of pipes lie buried beneath our streets, and it is very difficult for utility providers to monitor the condition of their assets. Traditionally, expensive sensors are used to measure the integrity of these assets. Still, they provide irregular measurements at specific points, resulting in a patchwork of data, making it very difficult for utilities to plan maintenance regimes for their asset networks.
A smart pipe concept is a very exciting prospect, and much research has been conducted into developing MEMS sensor devices suitable for buried conditions to make this type of system a reality. A smart pipe demonstrator unit has been planted with different communication systems and a range of sensors, including piezoelectric transducers, force sensors, light detection circuits, two-axis accelerometers, and randomly distributed temperature sensors, which are all hard-wired to a Smart Server capable of receiving the signals from these devices.
The MEMS sensors utilized in the smart pipe demonstrator unit survived burial. They demonstrated that they could respond to various excitations, such as the vibration of a revving car and even the impact of a tree falling on the pipe. However, this system is still some way away from commercialization as the sensor power consumption and the rate at which the sensors transmit their data require a breakthrough in energy-scavenging technology to make it a viable proposition. This would also significantly affect the system design parameters, influencing the choice of sensors and the MEMS system integration.
Tankless water heaters offer on-demand hot water to reduce energy costs and eliminate the need to store a large amount of hot water. They are powered by gas, electricity, or propane and work by heating the water only when needed. If you are considering a switch to a tankless water heater, check with your plumber for cost and installation details.
Upfront installation costs may be higher than a traditional tank water heater because you’ll need a professional to install the proper electric and gas systems. However, ongoing energy savings will offset the cost.
The basic way that tankless water heaters work is this: when you turn on your hot-water tap, a flow sensor (1) detects the water and sends a signal to the control panel (2). The conference opens the gas valve (5) that allows gas, and the heat exchanger (7) absorbs the water’s heat. A mixing valve (8) tempers the super-heated water that exits the exchanger. The water flows through a pipe (9) that delivers it to the fixture you’ve opened.
If the heater is far from the fixture, it can take some time for the water to reach optimal temperature. In this case, a recirculation pump can save energy by bringing the cold water from the pipes back to the heater and re-heating it before sending it to the faucet.
Another concern with tankless water heaters is mineral buildup. The small passageways of the heat exchanger can become clogged by scale, reducing efficiency and shortening lifespan. To prevent this, a professional should flush the system annually. This is typically a 20-minute task that includes cleaning and testing the unit and replacing water and air filters and checking the burner.
Trenchless sewer lines are a game changer in plumbing practices because they can repair or replace an existing buried line without the need for extensive digging. This technology uses pipe lining and pipe bursting techniques that can minimize the impact on your yard and street, saving you thousands of dollars in damage to your property.
Pipelining is a method that involves brushing or spraying a thick coating on the interior surface of your old, damaged pipe. This material is impregnated with an epoxy resin that hardens when it dries, making the entire inside of your sewer pipe as if it were brand new. This process is great for fixing cracks and other minor problems with your buried line. However, it cannot be used to fix large cracks or holes. This method is also less effective if your sewer line has more than two sharp bends.
Another trenchless technique, pipe bursting, is a more involved option that requires digging only two access holes – one at the point where your sewer line goes into your home and the other where it meets the sewer main. A machine breaks out the old pipe while simultaneously laying down a new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe in its place. This allows you to increase the diameter of your sewer line, improving sewage flow.
A third trenchless repair option is slip lining, which repairs your damaged pipes by inserting an epoxy-coated sleeve that is inflated when it’s put in place. This sleeve takes the shape of your existing pipe, creating a “pipe within a pipe.” It is perfect for fixing small leaks and cracks in your buried line. Slip lining can be used on straight sections of your sewer line, but not on ones that have a lot of sharp bends.
If snaking has not worked to remove a stubborn clog, your plumber may recommend hydrojetting. Hydrojetting is a process where water pressure reaches up to 4,000 pounds per square inch and blasts away any debris that is blocking a pipe or drain. A hose with a specialized nozzle is inserted into the pipe and as it rotates, jets of water are shot out at 360-degree angles to break up and remove blockages. The water also cleans the sides of the pipes to prevent future clogs and backups.
Hydro jetting is especially useful for old, corroded pipes. It can scour away years of buildup including mineral scale, food particles, grease, paper products and tree roots. This intense cleaning reduces the likelihood of future clogs and can even extend the life of your plumbing system.
The nozzle used in hydrojetting can be adjusted to focus on specific areas of the pipe. For example, a rotating head that is designed to cut through roots in sewer pipes can be attached to the end of the hose. For smaller jobs, there are also mini-jetters that can be used for drains and toilets.
A hydrojetting service usually begins with a camera inspection to determine the cause of the clog. The nozzle is then attached to the hose and directed into the pipe. It is inserted into a sewer drain access point called a clean out in the yard, which is a capped pipe that sticks up out of the ground. Larger jobs often require a plumber to crawl under your home and access the sewer lines through the basement.
Hydro jetting is the most powerful and effective drain-cleaning solution on the market. It’s chemical-free and is safe for your pipes as it relies on pressure rather than chemicals to remove debris. It can also be used for commercial buildings to clean out built-up grease and sludge in their drains and sewer lines.
Drain inspection cameras are a huge plumbing innovation that helps plumbers find what is really going on in a pipe. They work by attaching a small waterproof camera to a cable that can be pushed down a drain or sewer line. They can be used to see clogs, cracks, debris, and other issues that may not be visible without the camera.
The best drainage inspection cameras will offer high-definition video that is far superior to the old VHS standard. They are also often much more portable than older models and can be moved from one drain to another easily. This is especially helpful when a home or business experiences multiple drain line problems. Often, insurance companies will require a visual proof of the condition of a pipe before approving a claim.
One of the biggest benefits of a drain inspection camera is that it can help to identify even the most stubborn blockages. This is particularly true of clogs caused by tree roots, which can be difficult to locate and require extensive excavation to fix.
Using a drain inspection camera allows plumbers to get to the root of the problem quickly and efficiently. This can save both time and money for the homeowner. In addition, it can prevent additional damage to the property and its contents.
If you are thinking about buying a new home, a video inspection of the drains and sewer lines is a good idea. This will allow you to know if there are any serious problems that would require costly repairs. It will also give you a chance to negotiate with the seller or back out of the deal altogether.
