Facts About Immediate Plumbing Issues : Define Piping Practices..........!!!

Piping Practices

The piping system must be installed correctly so that the system has the best chance of operating correctly. Factors such as expansion and contraction of the pipe when the system is heated and cooled must be taken into consideration before the installation is started. All piping expands when the system is heated from room temperature to the temperature of the circulating water. Copper pipe has a much higher coefficient of expansion than iron or steel pipe does. According to the IBR 100 Guide, a 100-foot length of steel pipe expands I inch when heated from room temperature to 200°F, whereas a 100-foot length of copper pipe expands 1.5 inch under the same conditions. Long piping runs expand so much that leaks can occur if expansion joints are not provided. Expansion and contraction also cause noise as the system warms up to temperature and cools down. Room for expansion can be provided in piping runs with expansion loops or expansion joints. Baseboard convectors are limited to length because of expansion. Manufacturers' recommendations must be followed when you select baseboard radiation because these systems may have long runs of units. Expansion joints may be recommended at intervals. The pipe must be reamed at all connections where it was cut during installation. The burr made by the pipe cutter restricts flow by causing turbulence and must be eliminated. A complete piping system will have many of these restrictions if good piping practices are not followed. Thread seal should be applied only to external threaded connections, as depicted in. If it is applied to the internal threaded connections, the thread seal will turn loose and be carried through the piping and cause problems such as plugged heat exchangers and strainers. Water pipes in the system should be exactly level or rise in the direction of the flow so that air that enters the system can move with the water. If the pipes are pitched downward in the direction of the water flow, air will trap in the high spots and restrict the water flow.

Each water system must have a method for draining the complete system in case of freezing weather when the heating & drain cleaning system may not be functioning. For example, if a building will be vacant for a long time, the complete system must be drained. Drain valves at all low points with a method of breaking the vacuum while draining will ensure that the system is empty. The vacuum break must be at the high point in the system. When a valve on the bottom of a system is opened to drain the system, a vacuum forms at the high points in the system as the water tries to drain. It is possible that all the water will not drain; some may be suspended in the system. These places where water remains will freeze in cold weather. Automatic air bleed valves can provide the necessary vacuum break. If there are no automatic bleed valves, the technician must open all manual bleed valves in order to drain the system completely. After a system is installed, the inside of the piping must be cleaned. Construction dirt, oil from threading the pipe, and pipe dope will be inside the piping. The boiler will have an oil coating on the inside that must be removed. It is recommended that the system be operated for several days after it is filled and leak tested. Then a special detergent should be added and circulated in the system for several more days. The system should then be drained and refilled several times to clean out the detergent and suspended oil. Finally, the system should be filled with water and water treatment provided by a company that specializes in water treatment. The water treatment contains additives for preventing rust and corrosion.