Plumbing in the USA

[Plumbstar Tom]

Any one know what systems are usually fitted (ie common) in the USA for heating and hot water?

 

[gasmanrob]

Warm air I believe. And gas fired unvented cylinders or "furnace"

 

[Killy Bing]

Google furnaces. Furnace = boiler
boiler = an unvented cylinder

they have three phase to domestic propertys so they have true electric combis.

pipework is all imperial, alot of pipework is in plastic.
most is run in studwork.

looking to move over tom?

 

[SimonG]

Gas fired instantaneous water heaters, moving away from stored water now and warm air heaters (furnaces). On the drain side its all solvent weld heavy gauge abs and separate vents.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Going over there for a couple of weeks for work and could do with knowing how it works over there, absolutely everything is in inches!

Was googleing USA boiler systems and not getting much joy, didn't make the link to furnaces!

I did hear some have instantaneous heaters but didnt know it was becoming the norm. I have just got the UPC 2012 booklet. PM me if you want info from it

 

[Rusty333]

Lived and worked there for 16 years Warm air heat & AC not done by plumbers, pipework copper soft under slab, rigid above CPVC (solvent weld plastic) & polybutelene (plastic with crimped copper fittings) (which has now been banned but tons of it around). Waste water Sch 40 ( thick) solvent weld soils & wastes then sch 20 (thin) once it exits property separate vents on more or less everything although only 1 1/2 "or 2" every thing imperial Electric unvented cylinders, 2 immersions, gas in town. terminology was the worst part, i remember standing in a "supply house" (merchants) trying to buy a 4" swept tee, after a few jokes about my accent and a trip into the warehouse was told i needed a "4" combo". My experiance was in the South, i know in the northern states they have heating and water systems similar to ours, boilers (furnaces) no radiators its all skirting heating or warm air

 

[Rusty333]

Remember un-licensed contracting in most states is a Felony (jailable offence) so you have to be working under someone or have your own license. Journeymans license for repairs & service work, contractors license for new builds Don't plan on making any good money unless you work for yourself or are lucky enough to get hired on a union job (mostly up north)

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Thanks for the info guys.