How Your House Works E-Book

Charlie Wing

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
• Serie: RSMeans
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 126

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

Understand how to maintain everything in yourhome--including the kitchen sink How Your House Works, Second Edition reinforces the factthat it pays to be an informed consumer. Knowledge of your home'ssystems helps you control repair and construction costs and makessure the correct elements are being installed or replaced. HowYour House Works uncovers the mysteries behind just about everymajor appliance and building element in your house. Clear,full-color drawings show you exactly how these things should be puttogether and how they function, including what to check if theydon't work. Covering topics such as electrical systems, heating and airconditioning, plumbing, major household appliances, foundation,framing, doors, and windows, this updated Second Edition hasconsiderable additional information, with new chapters related tosustainability in and outside the house, as well as new topics,including clock thermostats, ventless gas heaters, moisture andmold, and passive solar heating. * Illustrated guidance on electrical systems, heating and airconditioning, plumbing, major household appliances, foundation,framing, doors, and windows * Includes a wealth of additional information, with new chaptersrelated to sustainability and outside the house * Features new topics that include clock thermostats, ventlessgas heaters, moisture and mold, LED lamps, motion-activated lightswitches, and passive solar heating * Presented in a richly illustrated with full-color drawings With see-through, cross-section drawings that show you howthings are put together and how they function, How Your HouseWorks supplies you with the knowledge that just might save youhaving to call in a professional.

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Copyright

Introduction

About the Author

A Note from the Author

Chapter 1: Plumbing

The Supply System

The Waste System

The Vent System

Lavatory Pop-up Drain

Sink Drain

Plunger-Type Tub Drain

Pop-up Tub Drain

Gravity Flow Toilet

Traps & Vents

Ball-Type Faucet

Cartridge-Type Faucet

Disk-Type Faucet

Compression-Type Faucet

Tempering Valve

Tub/Shower Control

Hose Bibbs

Pitcher (Hand) Pump

Jet Pump

Submersible Pump

Sump Pump

Pressure Tank

Electric Water Heater

Gas Water Heater

Electric Tankless Heater

Gas Tankless Heater

BoilerMate™ Water Heater

Solar Water Heater

Charcoal Cartridge Filter

Tank Filter

Water Softener

Reverse Osmosis Filter

UV Purifier

Fire Sprinklers

Chapter 2: Wiring

Electrical Circuit

Ohm's Law

120 & 240 VAC

Circuit Breakers & Fuses

Service Drop

Electromechanical Meter

Smart Meter

Circuit Grounding

Electrical Panels

Receptacle

GFCI

AFCI

Single-Pole Switch

3- & 4-Way Switches

Ceiling Fan/Light Switch

Dimmer Switch

Flush-Mount Light Fixture

Hanging Ceiling Fixture

Floor & Table Lamps

Fluorescent Lamps

CO Detector

Battery Smoke Detector

Wired Smoke Detectors

Chapter 3: Heating

Gas Warm Air Furnace

Gas Hot Water Boiler

Oil Warm Air Furnace

Oil Hot Water Boiler

Air-Source Heat Pump

Ventless Gas Heater

Direct-Vent Gas Heater

Direct-Vent Gas Fireplace

Baseboard Electric Heat

Warm Air Distribution

Hydronic Distribution

Hot Water Radiant Heat

Bimetallic Thermostat

Chapter 4: Cooling

Natural Ventilation

Ceiling Fan

Whole-House Fan

Window Air Conditioner

Central Air Conditioner

Evaporative Cooler

Chapter 5: Air Quality

Moisture & Mold

Humidifier

Dehumidifier

Furnace Filter

Electronic Air Cleaner

Chapter 6: Appliances

Dishwasher

Top-Loading Clothes Washer

Electric Clothes Dryer

Gas Clothes Dryer

Electric Range/Oven

Gas Range/Oven

Microwave Oven

Garbage Disposer

Refrigerator/Freezer

Icemaker

Trash Compactor

Vacuum Cleaners

Chapter 7: Windows & Doors

Double-Hung Window

Casement Window

Cylinder Lock

Deadbolt & Keyed Knob

Garage Door Opener

Chapter 8: Foundation & Frame

Footings

Drainage

Radon Abatement

Pier Foundation

Slab Foundation

Full Foundation

Crawl Space

Grade Beam

Forces on the Frame

Beams in Bending

Framing Members

Post & Beam Frame

Plank & Beam Frame

Balloon Frame

Platform Frame

Advanced (OVE) Frame

Chapter 9: Outdoors

4-Cycle Gasoline Engine

2-Cycle Gasoline Engine

Chain Saw

Lawn Mower

Gas String Trimmer

Pool Pump & Filter

Lawn Sprinkler System

Septic System

Chapter 10: Toward Sustainability

Clock Thermostat

Air-Tight Wood Stove

Pellet Stove

Ground-Source Heat Pump

Passive Solar Heating

Natural Ventilation

Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger

Low-E Windows

Window Insulating Panel

Motion-Activated Switch

Compact Fluorescent Lamp

LED Lamp

Solar Pool Heater

Pool Cover

Front-Loading Washer

Index

… for Wid

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Copyright © 2012 by Charlie Wing. All rights reserved

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, [phone], fax [phone], or on the web at www.copyright.com. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, [phone], fax [phone], or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

Wing, Charles, 1939-

How your house works : a visual guide to understanding & maintaining your home / Charlie Wing. -- 2nd ed.

p. cm. -- (RSMeans)

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-118-09940-7 (pbk.); ISBN 978-1-118-28549-7 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-28580-0 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-28607-4 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-28616-6 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-11828736-1 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-11828737-8 (ebk)

1. Dwellings--Maintenance and repair. I. Title.

TH4817.W56 2012

643'.7--dc23

2011046745

Introduction

This book offers a unique approach to home improvement, maintenance, and repair. It describes how virtually everything in a house is put together, and how each item functions – from plumbing to electrical, heating and air conditioning, appliances, doors and windows, and even the home's foundation and wood framing.

The key to the book is the easy-to-understand, see-through drawings. Each one is backed up by clear, brief explanations from a nationally known home improvement expert. It's a formula for a quick understanding of what you're dealing with when troubleshooting a problem, talking to your repairman, or planning your new home, addition, or remodeling project, and selecting new fixtures, appliances, or materials.

The illustrations show how the components of a system fit together and how each item is intended to function – whether it's an air conditioner, a hot water heater, the foundation, or a faucet. The author breaks down the workings of all of the plumbing, electrical, and heating/air conditioning systems, and other house parts, and shows not only what the parts look like and how they interact, but the sequence in which things work. Even complex systems are explained in simple terms and diagrams.

Throughout the book, you'll also see “Before Calling for Help” boxes – guidance on simple things to check, in many cases solving the problem quickly and inexpensively without having to hire a repairman. If you do find that you need a contractor or serviceman, the book will help you understand your options and be better informed about having the correct elements installed or replaced.

Maintenance tips and other helpful guidance throughout the book will help you keep your home running smoothly.

Not only homeowners, but handymen and contractors will benefit from the easy-to-interpret information presented here, especially for getting up to speed on items that are not their specialty.

If you would like the confidence of knowing more about how your house works and what to do if something breaks down, read this book. It just may change your life.

Note: This book is intended to provide useful information for understanding the systems, fixtures, and appliances in a house, but it is not a substitute for professional construction, engineering, or repair evaluations, recommendations, or services. Readers should obtain assistance from appropriate experts, as needed.

About the Author

Charlie Wing is a nationally recognized home improvement/repair expert. He has written or co-written more than 20 books on these topics, including Home Depot's Decorative Painting, Tiling, and Plumbing 1-2-3 books, Better Homes & Gardens' Complete Guide to Home Repair, Taunton Press's The Visual Handbook of Building and Remodeling, Reader's Digest's The Big Book of Small Household Repairs, and many others, including Ortho's Home Improvement Encyclopedia and How to Build Additions.

An MIT PhD, Charlie has been a guest more than 400 times on home improvement radio and television shows, including on the Discovery Channel, PBS, and NBC's Today Show. He developed and hosted a national PBS series on home remodeling for energy efficiency. He was founding and technical editor for Smart Homeowner magazine from 2001 to 2004.

A Note from the Author

After observing neighbors, friends, and family through decades of home ownership, I'm convinced that most of today's homeowners live in a perpetual state of anxiety. The log cabin with a privy, a fireplace, and a bucket for hauling water has been replaced by homes with sophisticated wiring, plumbing, and appliances. What happens if something goes wrong?

No wonder we live in fear. While school has taught us math, foreign languages, and computer sciences, most of us have no idea how our furnace, refrigerator, or even kitchen faucet works. This is an expensive omission in our educations. In metropolitan areas, the minimum charge for a plumber or appliance repairperson to come to your home is about $150. In fact, repair services are now so expensive that the leading consumer magazine recommends replacing, rather than repairing, appliances over five years old.

Why don't more people attempt simple repairs themselves? Because they're convinced that only professional tradespeople have the required tools and special knowledge. The truth, however, is the opposite. Let me tell you my favorite home repair story.

A few years back, I was visiting a friend who happened to own a plumbing repair service. His considerable success was built on the promise that a repair would be accomplished the same day, or the repair would be free. He had built a fleet of 75 trucks and licensed plumbers on that simple promise. The promise also allowed him to charge a minimum of $150 just for showing up.

During my visit, my friend's dishwasher began making a strange whirring sound. Convinced that the sound indicated an impending complete breakdown, he called the repair center listed for the brand.

A day later the doorbell rang, and there appeared an appliance repairman with an intimidating tool belt and service manual the size of the New York City phone book. Before starting repairs, he informed my friend he would have to sign a work order agreeing to a minimum charge of $150, regardless of the problem or the success of the work.

That agreed to, my friend said, “The dishwasher makes a weird whizzing sound, like the motor bearings are gone.”

Without a word, the repairman plucked a simple Phillips screwdriver from his tool belt and unscrewed the perforated cover of the dishwasher's drain. He reached in with two fingers and plucked out a pistachio shell. “Here is the culprit,” he beamed.

He replaced the drain cover and turned on the machine. The noise had disappeared. “That will be $150,” the serviceman said.

Now what enabled the serviceman to go so directly to the problem? First, he understood how a dishwasher worked—that, for example, it had a drain and a pump impeller to circulate water. Second, he knew from experience that well over half of all appliance “repairs” involve tightening a loose connection, adjusting a screw or knob, or removing a foreign object.

When you go to a doctor with a complaint, the result is most often the same. The doctor has studied anatomy. He or she knows what is inside you and how your different parts relate. Most often the prescription is, “Go to bed, stay warm, and drink lots of water,” not, “I think we'd better replace your heart.”

These two principles: that repair requires understanding how things work, and that many repairs are surprisingly simple, are what led me to create this book. I hope that it saves you many times $150 and relieves some of your homeowner anxiety.

Chapter 1

Plumbing

If you are like most homeowners, the maze of hot and cold supply pipes and waste pipes in your basement resembles nothing more meaningful than a plate of spaghetti. This chapter will show you that, in fact, your house contains three separate systems of pipes, all making perfect sense.

Understanding their purpose and how each one works will enable you to decide which projects are in the realm of a homeowner, and which ones require a plumber. If you're planning to build a new home or do major remodeling, this chapter will also help you to visualize the plumbing requirements, and how they'll fit into your space.

A visit to the plumbing aisle of your local home center will show you that do-it-yourself plumbing repair has never been easier. There you will find kits, including illustrated instructions, for just about every common repair project.

Plumbing is not dangerous, unless you're dealing with gas pipes. In fact, call a licensed professional if your repair or installation involves any change to existing gas piping. But plumbing mistakes can be damaging to the finishes and contents of your home, just by getting them wet. The force and weight of water are also something to be reckoned with, if many gallons flow where they should not. Before starting a project involving the supply system, locate the shut-off valve for the fixture you're working on. If you can't find one, shut off the main valve where the supply enters the house.

The Supply System

How It Works

The supply system is the network of pipes that delivers hot and cold potable water under pressure throughout the house.

1. Water enters underground from the street through a 3/4" or 1" metal pipe. In houses built prior to 1950, the metal is usually galvanized steel; after 1950, copper. In the case of a private water supply, the pipe is usually polyethylene.

2. If you pay for water and sewage, your home's usage is measured and recorded as the water passes through a water meter. If you find no meter inside the house, one is probably located in a pit between the house and the street. You can monitor your consumption, measured in cubic feet, by lifting the cap and reading the meter.

3. Next to the water meter (before, after, or both), you will find a valve, which allows shutting off the water supply, both cold and hot, to the entire house. If you have never noted this valve, do so now. When a pipe or fixture springs a leak, you don't want to waste time searching for it.

4. Water heaters are most often large, insulated, vertical tanks containing from 40 to 120 gallons. Cold water enters the tank from a pipe extending nearly to the tank bottom. Electric elements, a gas burner, or an oil burner heat the water to a pre-set temperature. When hot water is drawn from the top, cold water flows in at the bottom to replace it.

If the home is heated hydronically (with circulating water), the water heater may consist of a heat-exchange coil inside the boiler, or it may be a separate tank (BoilerMate™) heated with water from the boiler through a heat exchange coil.

Wall-mounted tankless water heaters provide a limited, but continuous, supply of hot water through a coil heated directly by gas or electricity.

5. Supply pipes—both cold and hot—that serve many fixtures are called “trunk lines,” and are usually 3/4" in diameter. Pipes serving hose bibbs and other fixtures with high demands may be 3/4" as well.

6. Pipes serving only one or two fixtures are called “branch lines.” Because they carry less water, they are often reduced in size to 1/2