Ultimate Guide to Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home is an updated and expanded edition of Creative Homeowner’s comprehensive plumbing how-to book, which prepares the do-it-yourselfer to handle any plumbing task in the home, from replacing a washer in a leaky faucet to cutting and joining cast-iron vent pipes. The author's emphasis is on doing things correctly, so all the projects use only code-compliant techniques. The most up-to-date products and techniques are included. The book gives readers an overview of a house's plumbing system, including supply, waste, and vent piping, and explains the basic physics that keep everything working well. Readers learn not only how to plan and complete each project but how to spot and improve outdated or dangerous techniques and materials in their home's plumbing system

Table of Contents for Ultimate Guide to Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home

Ultimate Guide to Plumbing

Table of Contents

Introduction 6

Plumbing Basics 8
Water Supply System 9
• Municipal Supply Lines
• Water Meters
• Types of Service Line
• Interior Water Supply Systems
• Fixture and Appliance Connections

Drainage & Vent Systems 16
• Sizes and Materials
• The Drainpipe System

Tools 19
• Shopping for Tools
• Plumbing Tools

Planning Plumbing Changes & Additions 24
Building Codes 25
• Permits and Inspections

Layout & Feasibility 26
• Standard Rough-In Measurements
• Designing Efficient Plumbing Installations
• Planning for Access

Drains, Vents & Traps 34
Drains 35
• Basic Drainage Considerations
• Installing In-Ground Piping

Vents 40
• Vent Types and Terms
• Basic Drain and Vent Considerations
• Sizing Fixture Drains and Vents
• Installing Vents and Vent Fittings
• Roof Vent Considerations

Traps 50
• Trap Variations
• Broken Trap Seals

Working with Waste & Vent Pipes 54
Cast-Iron Drainage Piping 55
• Cast-Iron Fittings
• How to Cut Cast Iron
• Installing New Cast Iron
• Working with Existing Cast Iron
• Splicing T- and Y-fittings
• New Piping into Old Hubs
• Tearing Out a Cast-Iron System

Plastic Drainage Piping 64
• Working with Plastic Drainpipe

Working with Water Piping 68
Cutting Water Pipes 69
Copper Water Piping 71
• Using a Tubing Cutter
• Cutting with a Hacksaw
• Solder
• Soldering Copper
• Soldering Copper Tubing
• Other Methods of Joining Copper
• Compression Fittings
• Flare Fittings
• Push-Fit Fittings
Steel Piping 82
• Cutting, Threading, and Fitting Steel Piping

Lead Water Piping 84
Plastic Water Pipin
• Cutting and Fitting CPVC Pipe

In-Line Water-Control Valves 88
• Gate Valves
• Ball Valves
• Globe Valves
• Stop-and-Waste Valves
• Fixture Stops

Utility Faucet Valves 90
• Hose Bibcocks
• Freeze-Proof Sillcocks
• Freeze-Proof Yard Hydrants

Regulators & Safety Valves 93
• Vacuum Breakers
• Check Valves
• Pressure-Reduction Valves
• Temperature-and-Pressure-Relief Valves

Toilet Repairs & Installations 96
Toilet Fundamentals 97
• How Gravity-Flow Toilets Work
• Water-Saving Toilets

Trouble-Shooting Gravity-Flow Toilets 100
• Problem 1: Slow Toilet
• Problem 2: Bacteria- or Mineral-Clogged Toilet
• Problem 3: Slow-Filling Toilet
• Problem 4: Running Toilet
• Problem 5: Rippling Water
• Problem 6: Hissing Toilet
• Problem 7: Sticking Flush Handle
• Problem 8: Stuck Seat
• Problem 9: Leaking Base

Repairing Toilets 110
• Replacing a Flush Valve
• Replacing a Fill Valve
Trouble-Shooting Pressure-Assisted Toilets 116
• Problem 1: Running Toilet
• Problem 2: Inefficient Flushes

Toilet Flanges 120
• Leaky Flange Gaskets
• Broken Flanges

Resetting a Toilet 125
Installing a New Toilet 128
• Setting Toilets on Concrete

Installing Sinks & Related Equipment 134
Water- and Waste-Connections Basics 136
• Sink Drains
• Dishwashers

How To Replace a Bathroom Faucet & Drain 137
• Removing Old Bathroom Faucets
• Removing the Drain
• Installing a New Bathroom Faucet
• Installing a New Drain

How To Replace a Wall-Hung Bathroom Sink with a Vanity & Molded Top 142
• Removing the Wall-Hung Bathroom Sink
• Installing the Cabinet and Top
• Installing a Bathroom Sink in a Plywood Top

How To Replace a Kitchen Sink 148
• Removing the Old Kitchen Sink
• Attaching Drain Fittings to the New Sink
• Attaching the Faucet
• Installing a Metal-Rim
• Installing a Self-Rimming Cast-Iron Sink
• Connecting the Traps
• Connecting the Water

How To Install a Laundry Sink 160
• Installing a Freestanding Laundry Sink

Waste-Disposal Units 162
• General Repairs and Maintenance
• Removing a Waste-Disposal Unit
• Installing a Waste-Disposal Unit

Built-In Dishwashers 169
• Removing an Old Dishwasher
• Installing a New

Dishwasher Hot-Water Dispensers 176
• Installing an Instant Hot-Water Dispenser

Faucet Repairs 178
Faucet Overview 179
• Water-Equipped Compression Faucets
• Washerless Faucets

Repairing Compression Faucets 181
• Replacing a Seat Washer To Fix a Leak
• Replacing Faucet Seats
• Grinding Faucet Seats
• Repairing Worn Stem Packing
• Fixing O-Ring Stem Leaks

Fixing Ball-Type Faucets 189
• How to Repair a Leaky Ball Faucet

Repairing Cartridge Faucets 191
• Repairing a Single-Handle Kitchen Faucet
• Repairing a Single-Handle Bath Cartridge Faucet
• Repairing Two-Handle Cartridge Faucets
Repairing Ceramic-Disk Faucets 196
• Fixing a Leak in a Ceramic-Disk Faucet
• Repairing Two-Handle Ceramic-Disk Faucets

Faucet-Related Repairs 198
• Dealing with Leaky Spray Attachments
• Correcting Aerator Problems
• Fixing Faucet Spout Leaks

Repairing Tub & Shower Faucets 202
• Reaching Recessed Faucets
• Fixing Single-Handle Tub and Shower Faucets
• Working with Scald-Control Faucets

Repairing Freeze-Proof Sillcocks & Hydrants 207
• Repairing a Yard Hydrant
• Fixing a Freeze-Proof Sillcock

Clearing Drainpipes 210
Drain Cleaners 212
• Chemical Drain Cleaners
• Mechanical Drain Cleaners

Access to Sink Lines 214
Access to Cleanout Fittings 214
Clearing Techniques 216
• Getting the Most from a Plunger
• Effective Auger Techniques

Clearing Bathtub Drains 218
• Clearing a Stopper Mechanism
• Clearing a Pop-Up Mechanism

Clearing Other Traps
• Clearing Bathroom Drum Traps
• Clearing Shower Drains
• Clearing Floor Drains
• Clearing Toilet Drains

Repairing & Installing Tubs & Showers 222
Waste & Overflow Repair & Replacement 223
• Replacing a Tub Drain Assembly

Tub & Shower Faucets 227
• Replacing a Tub-Shower Faucet

Bathtubs 231
• Whirlpool Tubs
• Installing a Cast-Iron Bathtub

Showers 238
• Installing a Shower Stall

Maintaining & Installing Water Heaters 242
Electric & Gas Water Heaters 243
• Electric Water Heaters
• Gas-Fired Water Heaters

Common Water-Heater Problems 245
• Faulty T&P Relief Valves
• Sediment Accumulation
• Anode Rods

Servicing Gas-Fired Water Heaters 248
• Combustion-Air Problems
• Vent-Pipe Problems
• Maintaining the Thermocouple and Burner

Servicing Electric Water Heaters 250
• Troubleshooting the Wiring and Thermostat
• Replacing a Heating Element

Replacing a Gas-Fired Water Heater 252
Installing an Electric Water Heater 254

Sump Pumps, Filters & Softeners 256
Sump Pumps 257
• Sump Pumps for Groundwater and Runoff
• Installing a Submersible Sump Pump
• Installing an Above-Floor Sump Box

Filters 262
• Filter Types
• Installing In-Line Filters
• Installing Reverse-Osmosis Units

Ion-Exchange Equipment 265
• Installing Water Softeners

Septic Systems, Wells & Lawn Sprinklers 268
Septic Systems 269
Private Water Wells 271
• How to Replace a Leaking Pressure Tank

How to Install an Underground Sprinkler System 274
• An Overview
• Bringing the Water Outdoors
• Connecting Sprinkler Pipes
• Connecting the Sprinkler Heads
• Finishing the Plumbing
• The Control Panel

Resource Guide 280

Glossary 282

Index 284

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