The unsung heroes
Your home's plumbing systems include water supply for clean water, drainage for removing wastewater, and stormwater drainage to prevent flooding around your foundation.
Expect to pay $1,500 to $15,000 for repiping your home, $50 to $250 per linear foot for sewer line work, and $2,100 to $7,100 for drainage system installation.
You can spot water supply issues through low pressure or water quality problems, drainage system troubles through slow drains or sewage smells, and stormwater problems through pooling water.
Hiring a local plumbing professional provides reliable guidance on system repairs and installations, helping you address issues before they cause foundation damage or costly backups.
Plumbing is something we tend to take for granted, but it’s a vital part of our homes. Whether you’re interested in a remodel or you’re planning a new build, understanding the three types of plumbing systems will help you better navigate the process. Here are the basics of everything you need to know.
The water supply system, also called the potable water system, is what brings clean water into your home. It’s connected to either the city water or a private well, and provides all the water to your faucets and fixtures. So every time you turn on the water at your kitchen sink, do laundry, or water your garden, you’re using the water supply system.
Here are the main components that make it work:
Main water line: This connects your home to the city’s water distribution line or private well.
Pipes: These connect your fixtures to the main water line and use pressure to work.
Fixtures: Faucets, showerheads, and spigots allow you to access water.
Main water line installation costs $50 to $150 per linear foot, while piping an entire home costs $1,500 to $15,000. Fixtures range from $160 to $360 each, depending on location and materials.
The drainage system, also referred to as the sanitary drainage system, is what removes all of the wastewater from your home into the city’s sewer system or the septic tank. Unlike the water supply system, which relies on pressure to move the water, the drainage system uses gravity. Furthermore, there are two types of wastewater: gray and black. Gray water is from your baths, showers, washing machines, dishwashers, and all the sinks except for the kitchen sink. Black water is from your toilets and kitchen sinks.
The main components of your drainage system include:
Main drain line: The pipe that connects your drain pipes to the city’s sewer line or septic tank.
Drain/waste pipes: These pipes use gravity to move the wastewater out of the home.
Plumbing stack vent: A pipe that extends out from your roof that allows noxious fumes and gases to escape from your plumbing.
Sewer line installation costs $50 to $250 per linear foot, while drain pipes cost $700 per piping run. Plumbing stack vents cost $1,500.
The stormwater drainage system carries all the excess water from rain or melting snow away from your house into a storm sewer. This system prevents flooding if you have basements, and keeps your driveways and walkways free of pooling water. Common drainage system types include ditches and swales, catch basins, French drains, and slot drains.
These components work together to make up your stormwater drainage system:
Inlets: These are openings where the water flows into the storm drainage system.
Trunk line/main: The piping takes all the excess water into a storm sewer.
Drainage system installation costs $4,600 on average. However, it can run as little as $2,100 or as much as $7,100, depending on the system type and required prep work.
Having plumbing issues at home is always a struggle, especially since we rely so much on our kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Here are tips to help you figure out which plumbing system is the root cause of your problems. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to call a plumber near you to come take a look.
Anything related to the water you get from your faucets has to do with your water supply system. So if your water pressure is too low in your shower, the water is poor quality with strange smells or taste, or you experience an unusual spike in your water bill, you’ll need your water supply system checked out.
When functioning perfectly, all of the wastewater from your sinks, bathtubs, and toilets leaves your house through the drainage system. Signs of an issue with this plumbing system include clogged or slow-moving drains, bad smells, including sewage smells, and strange sounds. These issues should be taken seriously since, if left unchecked, you could have an even bigger problem on your hands, like a sewer backup.
Stormwater drainage system issues can cause costly damage to your home because the excess water can pool around your foundation instead of draining away from your house. Over time, this can cause foundation cracks and even failure. Signs that your stormwater plumbing system has issues include puddles around the home, sinkholes, damaged landscaping, and exposed tree and plant roots.
Positive experience. As previously stated, the replacement/repair could not be completed (no fault of the plumbing tech) b/c misinformation was rec?d by property management maintenance. Thanks to the plumbing tech for your efforts. Appreciate you!
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Benjamin Franklin PlumbingCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLCMatt is a consummate professional. The work turned out to be far more difficult than expected and rather than turn the job down, Matt rose to the occasion and completed a near impossible task. I can not recommend Greene's Plumbing Service more highly. On a scale of 1-5 I would give Matt a...
Greene's Plumbing ServiceInvolved an extensive bathroom remodel, including removing tub & installing walk in shower, new drywall, custome tile work to ceiling, plumbing, etc. Overall, job was done on time and on budget. Nick & his team were very professional and had high attention to detail. Quality was great. Highly...
Stamos Flooring and Remodeling LLCAwesome company. Had a jacuzzi tub taken out and replaced with huge walk in shower with partial glass enclosure. Onyx to the ceiling with a decorative border, moved plumbing and installed hand held shower, new ceiling, flooring, and paint. Replaced window with glass block. Everything was done...
Columbus Bath DesignThe initial quoted price from a walk-through seemed high, but we discussed that the quote represented worst case scenario (re-wiring to two floors) and we were excited about the opportunity to have the work done in a timely manner with closing for fire safety reasons, etc. When the job was...
Initially, I called the Service People to have a leaking garbage disposal replaced. I had purchased a special deal through Angie's List: $79 for $200-worth of plumbing services. <br /> When I went to schedule the work, the earliest date I could get through Angie's List was after the upcoming...
This company did a very good job on the brick wall and it looks just amazing. The staff was always professional and was practically OCD on how the bricks were stacked and how they were laid. Although it took longer than expected, I am willing to sacrifice time over perfection anyday. The...
My Handy Mate LLC Improvement & Remodeling<p>I am so glad we called Rotor-Rooter. I was hesitant to call them because we usually prefer to give business to local providers. But when we had sewage back up in our basement on a Saturday evening, I had a hard time getting a hold of someone, not to mention the high weekend/evening rate...
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