TryBuildCalcPlumbing Resources (7 guides)
Water tank sizing, pipe flow and capacity, rainwater harvesting, septic system sizing, and practical plumbing planning references.
Resources in this section
- Water Tank Capacity Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a water storage tank — daily demand estimation, days-of-storage buffers, overhead vs underground vs bladder tank comparison, tank shape volume formulas, fire/emergency reserve, and worked examples for a household and a small commercial building.
- Septic Tank Design & Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to septic tank sizing — daily flow estimation, retention time, sludge/scum storage allowance, percolation test and soil absorption rate, leach field sizing, compartment design, and a worked example for a 4-bedroom home.
- Rainwater Harvesting System Design Guide→
Complete guide to designing a rainwater harvesting system — roof yield calculation, runoff coefficient by roof material, first-flush diversion sizing, filtration levels, storage-vs-recharge decision, and a worked example.
- Water Pump & Booster System Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a booster or well water pump — peak flow rate from fixture demand, total dynamic head (static lift, friction loss, residual pressure), pipe friction loss basics, booster vs well vs submersible pump comparison, and a worked example.
- Water Heater Sizing Guide→
Complete guide to sizing a water heater — First Hour Rating (FHR) for storage tanks, recovery rate, tank vs tankless selection, gas vs electric vs heat pump comparison, and a worked example.
- Plumbing Pipe Material Guide: PVC vs CPVC vs GI vs HDPE→
Practical comparison of plumbing pipe materials — PVC, CPVC, galvanised iron (GI), HDPE, and copper — by pressure rating, hot vs cold water suitability, corrosion resistance, UV exposure, and joining method.
- Drain Pipe Slope & Venting Guide→
Practical guide to drain pipe slope and venting — minimum fall by pipe diameter, why too steep is also a problem, trap seal protection, vent types, and a worked example.