When building a new house or cottage, it is important not only to supply gas and electricity there, but also to organize the supply of water - this will add comfort to the countryside. Another situation often happens (now in city apartments) - the old water supply system fails due to decay. Condensation forms on it, elements leak, rusty water flows from the tap. The pipes are in such a condition that it is scary to breathe on them. Both in the first and in the second case, it is necessary to complete the installation of the water supply system , with the replacement of new modern materials. To do this, you can use the services of specialists. But such work is not too complicated and quite do-it-yourself, which, incidentally, will allow a good save.
Scheme for private households
One should not neglect such a serious nuance as the development of a water supply system scheme for building a house. Do not come up with excuses that you need to get water only in the bathroom and kitchen.
As soon as it became necessary to install a water supply system, this problem should be solved immediately. In the case of private home ownership, you must immediately think over and draw a diagram. In this case, it is important to take into account each component: the number of consumers, the collector system, pumping equipment, and heater. The diagram indicates where and how the components of the water supply will be located, how the pipes will pass. It is recommended to additionally indicate the distance of passage. This will significantly facilitate the calculation of the required number of pipes.
Two types of circuits
Two schemes can be distinguished, on the basis of which water pipes are organized. This is a series-connected circuit and a collector-based circuit.
The first solution is perfect for small summer houses, where up to two people live, and water consumption is very small. For a full-fledged cottage where the family constantly lives, such a scheme will be ineffective. And the problem here is the following - water moves along the main artery of the water supply throughout the cottage. A tee is installed near each of the water consumers and a branch in its direction. If water will be used in several places at once, then at the farthest of consumers the water pressure will be very weak and will not be able to satisfy the minimum needs.
The second, collector circuit, is that the pipes are diverted to each consumer. And on the other side, the elements are connected to a common collector. This will equalize the pressure anywhere in the cottage or at home. Of course, there will be losses, but they are small. As a rule, they are associated with the fact that the pumping station is often removed.
The choice of a second wiring diagram when installing a water pipe with your own hands makes the event more expensive. This is due to the need for more materials. But the result is worth the cost. The collector circuit has many advantages.
Water supply elements
Any modern water supply system consists of the following parts:
- First of all, this is the source from which water will be taken.
- Next, the water must be raised - for this, pumping equipment is used.
- The source and pump are connected through a pipe.
- The latter is equipped with a non-return valve so that water cannot escape back to the source.
- Since a collector circuit is recommended for organizing a water supply system, a hydraulic accumulator is needed - it is in it that the pump will pump water.
- Experts recommend equipping the outlet pipe with a tee with stop valves after the battery. So it turns out two conclusions. The first will be used to supply drinking water, the second - for unfiltered water for technical needs.
- The drinking water pipe is then connected to the purification system. After the mini filter station, a tee is also mounted. Its function is to divide the total water from the collector into cold and hot.
- The cold water supply system is connected directly to the collector. Each pipe that connects to consumers must be equipped with shutoff valves.
- Communications for the supply of hot water are connected to the boiler. Then this pipe must be connected to a common hot water tank - from this collector, hot water will be distributed throughout the cottage or house.
Naturally, this is a typical scheme. During the installation of the water supply system in a private house, other elements can be added to the scheme.
Installation work in cottages
In the process of organizing a water supply system, the most dirty thing is to make holes in the wall and floor. As for everything else, the work will take enough time, but will not require serious physical effort.
The first and most important thing after the development of the scheme is the selection of pipe material. There are several options:
- copper pipes;
- metal-plastic products;
- of steel;
- from PVC.
Let's take a closer look at them.
Copper
This is one of the best solutions, but also the most expensive in cost. Copper is not afraid of corrosion, is not susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, it is not destroyed by microorganisms. In addition, copper pipes normally withstand increased pressure in the system, do not respond to temperature changes, do not respond to harmful impurities from water, and almost instantly transfer heat to the room. These are not pipes - this is the ultimate dream. The only negative is the price, not affordable for everyone.
Metal plastic
This is an aluminum pipe protected by polyethylene on the outside and inside. Polyethylene has a smooth surface, which does not allow the accumulation of various deposits. The outer protective layer protects the aluminum base from ultraviolet radiation. The main minus is that such a pipe is afraid of high temperatures. In addition, the material is sensitive to freezing. A pipe equipped with fittings is not recommended to be bent in any way.
Steel
This is the most suitable material for installing water supply. The material is durable, strong, but at the same time it is subject to corrosion.
It is also important that at each stage of installation such a pipe needs to be cut and cooked, and this is a rather laborious process.
Polypropylene
Installation of water pipes from polypropylene pipes is a popular solution. This material is chosen when they want to get a reliable and high-quality, but at the same time inexpensive system. The pipe is characterized by high performance, it does not oxidize, is easy to install, the joints do not need frequent inspection and revision. This makes it possible to confidently hide the pipe under a layer of plaster.
But there is still a minor drawback - a special apparatus will be needed to install a plastic water supply.
The size
When arranging a water supply system, not only the material of which the pipe is made is important, but also its diameter. Insufficient internal size will lead to turbulization of the water flow - the water will move with a loud noise. In a water supply, a stream of water moves at a speed of 2 meters per second. Based on this figure and choose the appropriate diameter.
Trunk length also affects sizing. If the distance of the pipeline is less than 30 meters, then experts recommend a pipe with a diameter of 25 mm. A product with a size of 32 millimeters is suitable for systems longer than 30 meters. In the case of short water pipes, whose length is less than 10 meters, a product with a diameter of 20 millimeters will be quite enough.
Collector pipe diameter
To get a high-quality plumbing system, you must correctly select the diameter of the collector pipe. The collector will provide simultaneous operation of several points of water consumption. To determine the diameter, simple calculations are performed.
So, one tap passes about 5-6 liters per minute through itself. So, a pipe of 25 millimeters will let 30 liters pass in a minute. If the size is selected 32 mm - then 50 liters. A 38 millimeter pipe passes 75 liters per minute.
Compound
Do-it-yourself installation of a polypropylene water pipe should start with welding. The pipe is cut into pieces of the required size. Next, note the depth of welding - this is 16 millimeters. But in the case of another pipe, this depth may be different. The junction is cleaned of dirt. Suitable nozzles are installed on the device for connection, and then the device is heated to a temperature of 260 degrees.
The pipes to be connected are pushed onto the nozzles to the existing mark. However, they cannot be rotated. When they are wound up and moving on the nozzles, it is necessary to count 7 seconds. Then the nozzles can be removed. Next, the products are connected and held for a couple of seconds.
Wiring
When the process of connecting the pipes to each other is over, it is time to begin installing the water supply inside the room. Experts recommend starting work with water consumers.
Water pipes are connected to the latter via adapters. A crane is installed between the consumer and the transition fittings. Next, the pipe is laid to the collector. To allow access for repair, approximately 25 millimeters retreat from the wall.
If the products pass in the corners, they are circumvented so that there is at least 15 millimeters from the outer corner to the pipe, and 40 millimeters from the inner corner. If necessary, connect the parts at an angle of 90 degrees using fittings and adapters.
Other work
DIY plastic water pipe installation is almost complete. It remains only to connect the water main to the pumps, and then to the filter system and to the boiler.
Plumbing in the apartment
The process of arranging water supply in an apartment is simpler than in private households. In cottages have to invent everything from scratch. In apartments, most often, old pipes simply change to new ones. It is enough to select and purchase them, and the scheme is already there, and you do not need to think about anything.
Everything that is written in the article for private houses is also relevant in the case of installation of a water supply system in an apartment. For apartments, the diameter of the pipe and their number are calculated according to the same principle. Installation is also carried out using a soldering iron and fittings.