Plumbing

Plumbing and Heating: Are They Related?

Plumbing basically is the piping for conveying fluids all around the home or building.  It uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks and other things necessary for moving water and other fluids in and out.  Heating, known as HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), includes all systems that are responsible for supplying a breathable and comfortable environment within homes and buildings.  They are often believed to be related to each other, so let’s find out if they are.

PLUMBING

Plumbing specialists are trained to build, install, and maintain piping and drainage systems of every home or building.  Their main focus is to be able to bring in clean water inside and drain waste out into the sewers.  They also install plumbing fixtures and appliances, such as sinks, bathtubs, and toilets.  They are the ones we call for water leaks and drain blockages, and they execute repairs, cleaning, and maintenance when needed.  Technically, our plumbing system is what these specialists put up, so it is very important to find the best plumber that you can find.

HVAC

HVAC systems, on the other hand, are focused on the heating and cooling system of your home or business.  The comfort of our environment relies so much on this system especially during seasons of extreme heat and cold.

And because HVAC systems are complex, highly trained HVAC technicians are what we always need to do the job.  They are the ones who install and maintain your HVAC system, such as cleaning, energy usage analysis, and other repairs.  If you are caught with an HVAC system not working properly in bad weather, it is really going to be a big problem.

Plumbing and HVAC are often mistaken to be related but actually there is a significant difference.  Having learned their various specific functions, we can tell that they use different kinds of materials, tools, and even expertise.  However, they may be connected to each other in some ways.

In newer homes, HVAC condensate drains are most often tied to bathroom drains.  Air conditioner’s condensate lines are plumbed into the home’s plumbing system.  Condensate drains can get clogged because of algae and slime, especially during the hotter months.  This may lead to various maintenance problems if not regularly checked and cleaned, and you may need a plumber to fix this.

It is often mistaken that the hot-water system is part of the HVAC system, but actually, it is not.  It is part of the plumbing system itself because their purpose is only in the temperature of the water that runs through your pipes, into your faucets, showers, washing machines and others.

There are quite a handful of reputable 24 hour plumbing and heating services in your area and often, the confusion between plumbing and HVAC systems leads to calling for the wrong servicing agent.  Having this kind of knowledge will come in handy when you finally need to do some maintenance works for your plumbing or HVAC systems.