^{Photo by Mathias Reding}

Everyone needs a clean source of water. But with the current developments of society, gathering it might already be a handful for people. They need a system that can filter clean water from polluted ones easily. Hence, the invention of plumbing fixtures.

In 2017 alone, 1.2 million people died from unsafe water. While water is essential to people’s survival and quality of life, if the provision is dirty, it might as well be considered useless. In between keeping themselves and their surroundings clean, clean water is vital for health and safety. Without a good source, water can become contaminated, propagating minor to severe diseases like fever, diarrhea, and hepatitis. However, finding and collecting clean water is easier said than done.

A plumbing system is vital for communities to receive clean water. This ensures that families receive an ample supply with ease and a clean and safe resource. While turning on the tap to get water is a straightforward process for residents, behind it is a pretty complex structure. A plumbing system isn’t only made up of a direct pipe that drives the water source in and out of the household through a lone faucet. Instead, it comprises various other fixtures that help branch out and distribute the water throughout the house.

What are Plumbing Fixtures?

The primary role of the plumbing system is to transport water in and out of the household. Hence, plumbing fixtures are any device that provides this purpose, primarily focusing on the bathroom as the space having the most of these utilized. These fixtures include typical household components like sinks, toilets, faucets, and showers, essential and highly functional attachments within the house. When necessary, homeowners might consider moving or installing new fixtures to suit their needs better. But doing so requires knowledge and skills.

Homeowners who think doing a DIY on their plumbing needs is too much of a hassle can always contact plumbing companies. Companies like Handshakers Construction LLC specialize in plumbing services and fixtures installation in Cincinnati and can assist with any plumbing-related tasks. Equipped with the right tools and expertise, these companies can help accurately install these plumbing fixtures.

However, attempting to do it themselves is still doable. They can smoothly do the installation themselves if they’re comfortable and have experience working with pipes. Here’s how:

Preparing the Bathroom

Before anything else, the bathroom and every necessary article must be prepared. This includes purchasing which fixture homeowners want to install and choosing which specific type and setup suit their demands more. If the installation is meant to replace old fixtures, homeowners should ensure that the new plumbing fixtures fit the available configuration holes of the initial and original ones. Different fixtures have different numbers and configuration holes. Hence, homeowners should ensure these settings match the old and new fixtures for a smooth replacement.

Placement of Plumbing Fixtures

Before anyone starts hammering away or removing anything, the layout must be planned. Homeowners should first draft and figure out where these fixtures will be positioned to help lay out where plumbing lines will be. This process will also help homeowners identify where to cut and drill, ensuring no leaking or damage throughout the process.

Water Lines

After the layout has been planned and settled, it’s time to install the water lines. Standard bathrooms typically need at least five water lines for each fixture: sink, shower, bathtub, and toilet. This procedure can get pretty complicated for non-professionals, as each attachment separately follow an intricate system. After settling everything, the pipes must be smoothened using sandpaper before being sold into the main water line.

Drain Lines

A plumbing system is meant to transport water in and out of the household, or else there would be too much flooding within the house. Installing the fixtures means the water already has a way in. It’s also critical to provide it a way out through drain lines. These lines come in different sizes, varying on the type of plumbing fixture it’s supposed to support. When attaching these pipes, it’s crucial to direct them toward the primary drain line.

Install the Fixtures

Now that every other structure supporting the fixtures “behind the scenes” has been installed, the main accessories must be added. The different fixtures are installed in different manners using various tools. A difficulty that most homeowners encounter during this process has to do with their plumbing setup. The accessibility of where they’re installing these fixtures can influence the ease of installation.

Fortunately, homeowners don’t have to fret despite the possible complexities and complications of the installation. They can always refer to the instructions provided by the fixtures’ manufacturers. These step-by-step processes aim to assist throughout the process.