All functional homes need a plumbing system. It brings clean water into the house and sends waste water out.
The network of pipes may look different in each home, but all residential plumbing includes water supply lines and a drainage system. Many homes also have gas lines.
These are all parts of plumbing systems throughout your home, including your kitchen.
Water Supply Lines
Water supply lines bring water into your kitchen from the city supply at the street or your private well. All of your home's water comes in through a central pipe before it branches off to supply different rooms in your house.
It's pressurized water, which helps it travel through your pipes and to your kitchen sink. Under your kitchen sink, you'll see two small pipes with valves. One supplies hot water and the other is for cold water.
The cold water travels directly from the city supply or well. The hot water travels from the main supply to your water heater before it comes out of your faucet.
Kitchen Drainage System
Your home and kitchen also has a drainage system which uses gravity to send waste water out of your home. A drainage system is also known as a drain-waste-vent system or DWV.
When the water flows down the drain it passes through the trap, which is an S-shaped pipe under the kitchen sink. Most of the water travels down the drainpipe and to the sewer, but some water stays in the trap. This leftover water keeps sewer gases from coming back up the drain.
If your sink isn't draining like it should, you could have a clogged S-pipe. If it's a stubborn clog, you should hire a plumber for professional drain cleaning.
The final part of this system is the vent, which is a small pipe that sticks out of your roof. These air vents let air into the drain pipes which keeps the waste water moving.
Natural Gas Supply Line
If you have a gas stove, your kitchen plumbing will also include a gas line. While many people have electric stoves, roughly half of American homes have the plumbing for a gas stove.
Your gas line comes into your home near the gas meter. Your kitchen gas line will branch off of the main gas line. The gas line connects to your stove with a flexible and a shutoff valve.
Since gas can be dangerous, it's important to leave any repairs to the professionals.