Did you know how many years Plumbing dates back?

Plumbing is nothing but a system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. Plumbing
uses various tools like pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey
fluids. There are various uses of plumbing like waste removal, heating and cooling, and potable
water delivery. However, it is not only limited to these applications. The word is derived from
the Latin for lead, plumbum. The reason behind this is that the first effective pipes used in
the Roman era were lead pipes. The Latin for lead is plumbum.

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History:
Plumbing has a fascinating history with its origin during ancient civilizations such as the Greek,
Roman, Persian, Indian, and Chinese cities when they developed public baths and needed to
provide potable water and also wastewater removal, for more many people.

Standardized earthen plumbing pipes with broad flanges make use of asphalt for preventing
leakages. They appeared in the urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization by 2700 BC. The
Romans used lead pipe inscriptions to prevent water theft, and the word "plumber" dates from
the Roman Empire. Roman roofs used lead in conduits and drain pipes. There were also a few
roofs covered with lead. Lead was also used for piping and for making baths.

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Plumbing is an essential service which is required even in today’s modernized world. For example
local plumbers Manchester is even one of the most demanding service in the UK.

Materials used:
Water systems in the historical times mostly relied on gravity for the supply of water. They were
using pipes or channels usually made of clay, lead, bamboo, wood, or stone. A little time later,
Hollowed wooden logs wrapped in steel banding were used for plumbing pipes, particularly
water mains.

In the recent times, the following materials have been extensive which are described below. The
main materials are steel, copper, and plastic that are widely used for plumbing purposes.

• Steel

Galvanized steel is the special type of steel used and most suitable for potable water supply and
distribution pipes. However, it is rarely used today for new construction residential plumbing.
Steel pipe has a National Pipe Thread (NPT) standard tapered male threads. These connect with
female tapered threads on elbows, tees, couplers, valves, and other fittings. For instance, black
lacquered steel pipe is the most widely used pipe material for fire sprinklers and natural gas.

• Copper

Copper pipe and tubing was usually widely used for domestic water systems in the latter half of
the twentieth century. However, in the recent times, demand for copper products has fallen due
to the dramatic increase in the price of copper; this has been resulting in increased demand for
alternative products including PEX and stainless steel.

• Plastic

Plastic pipes are used commonly for domestic water supply and drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipe.
There are various principal types of plastic which include: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC); this was
produced experimentally in the 19th century. These did not become practical to manufacture
until 1926, when Waldo Semon of BF Goodrich Co. developed a method to plasticize PVC, making
it easier to process. After this proceeding, PVC pipe began to be manufactured in the 1940s and
was in extensive use for Drain-Waste-Vent piping during the reconstruction of Germany and
Japan following WWII. These are also in wide use today.