Table Of ContentBecome Your Own Home Plumber
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
The Complete Guide to
Plumbing 4th Edition
Why do plumbing emergencies always
seem to happen in the middle of the
night or on a weekend? If you refuse to
pay huge sums of money just to have a
professional plumber replace a washer
or tighten a nut, then The Complete
Guide to Plumbing is the solution for you. PLUMBING
Within the covers of this newly updated
book you’ll fi nd all the information you
Expanded 4th Edition
need to become your own home plumber.
Next time you’re faced with a burst pipe
Modern Materials
or you decide it’s time to remodel or add
and Current Codes
a bath, you can reach for your tool kit,
not your checkbook.
All New Guide to
Working with
THIS BOOK INCLUDES: Gas Pipe
• Thorougly reviewed and updated infor-
mation that conforms with the 2008 UPC
• The most common plumbing repairs
• H ow to install new plumbing lines—
including gas pipe
• Skils, techniques and dozens of projects, PLUMBING
from replacing a toilet to fi xing a faucet
to plumbing a brand-new basement
bathroom.
CATEGORY: HOME IMPROVEMENT ISBN – 13: 978-1-58923-378-2
ISBN – 10: 1-58923-378-6
$24.95 US
£16.99 UK
$27.99 CAN MORE
www.creativepub.com THAN 600,000
COPIES SOLD
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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLUMBING
UPC
EAN
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO
PLUMBING
Expanded 4th Edition
Modern Materials and Current Codes
All New Guide to Working with Gas Pipe
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
www.creativepub.com
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Copyright © 2008 President/CEO: Ken Fund
Creative Publishing international, Inc. VP for Sales & Marketing: Kevin Hamric
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 Home Improvement Group
1-800-328-3895
www.creativepub.com Publisher: Bryan Trandem
All rights reserved Managing Editor: Tracy Stanley
Senior Editor: Mark Johanson
Printed in China Editor: Jennifer Gehlhar
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Creative Director: Michele Lanci-Altomare
Senior Design Managers: Jon Simpson, Brad Springer
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Design Manager: James Kegley
The complete guide to home plumbing : modern materials and current Lead Photographer: Steve Galvin
codes all new guide to working with gas pipe. -- Expanded 4th ed. Photo Coordinator: Joanne Wawra
p. cm. Shop Manager: Bryan McLain
Summary: “Expanded 4th edition includes all standard plumbing Shop Assistant: Cesar Fernandez Rodriguez
projects, as well as new information on outdoor plumbing, PEX, Technical Consultant: Joe Robillard
and gas line hook ups”--Provided by publisher.
At head of title: Black & Decker. Production Managers: Linda Halls, Laura Hokkanen
ISBN-13: 978-1-58923-378-2 (soft cover)
ISBN-10: 1-58923-378-6 (soft cover) Page Layout Artists: Laura Rades, Danielle Smith
1. Plumbing--Amateurs’ manuals. 2. Dwellings--Remodeling--Ama- Copy Editor: Ruth Strother
teurs’ manuals. I. Title: Home plumbing. II. Title: Black & Decker, the Photographers: Andrea Rugg, Joel Schnell
complete guide to plumbing. Shop Help: Scott Boyd, David Hartley
TH6124.C66 2008
696’.1--dc22
2008008636
The Complete Guide to Plumbing
Created by: The editors of Creative Publishing international, Inc., in cooperation with Black & Decker.
®
Black & Decker is a trademark of The Black & Decker Corporation and is used under license.
NOTICE TO READERS
For safety, use caution, care, and good judgment when following the procedures described in this book. The publisher
and Black & Decker cannot assume responsibility for any damage to property or injury to persons as a result of misuse
of the information provided.
The techniques shown in this book are general techniques for various applications. In some instances, additional
techniques not shown in this book may be required. Always follow manufacturers’ instructions included with products,
since deviating from the directions may void warranties. The projects in this book vary widely as to skill levels required:
some may not be appropriate for all do-it-yourselfers, and some may require professional help.
Consult your local building department for information on building permits, codes, and other laws as they apply to
your project.
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Contents
The Complete Guide
to Plumbing
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Home Plumbing System . . . . . . . . . 6
Plumbing Fixtures . . . . . . . . 11
Toilets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Kitchen Faucets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Kitchen Drains & Traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Dishwashers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Food Disposers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Plumbing Installations. . . . 151 Plumbing Tools,
Materials & Skills . . . . . . . . 267
Water Heaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Installation Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Plumbing Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Bathroom Faucets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Plumbing Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Plumbing Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Shower Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Master Bath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Copper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Custom Shower Bases. . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Basement Bath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Working with Rigid Plastic Pipe . . . . . 282
Alcove Bathtubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Half Bath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Working with Outdoor Flexible
3-Piece Tub Surrounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Plastic Pipe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Sliding Tub Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 New Gas Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Working with Cross-Linked
Bidets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Plumbing Repairs. . . . . . . . 199 Plyethylene (PEX) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Urinals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Common Toilet Problems. . . . . . . . . . 200 Working with Galvanized Iron . . . . . . 296
Water Softeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Toilet Flanges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Working with Cast Iron. . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Hot Water Dispensers . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Toilet Drain Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 Pipe Fittings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Icemakers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Installing Shutoff Valves . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Pot Fillers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Sprayers & Aerators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226 Repairing Valves & Hose Bibs. . . . . . . 310
Reverse-Osmosis Water Filters . . . . . 122 Leaky Plumbing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 Using Compression Fittings . . . . . . . . 312
Freezeproof Sillcocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Tubs & Showers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Gas Pipe & Fittings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Pedestal Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Sink Drains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 Appendix: Planning
Wall-Hung Vanities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Branch & Main Drains . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 Your Project . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Vessel Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Branch Drains & Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Integral Vanity Tops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140 Main Stacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Conversion Chart. . . . . . . . 329
Kitchen Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142 Supply Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Undermount Sinks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 Burst Pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262 Resources & Credits . . . . . 330
Standpipe Drains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Noisy Pipes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
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Introduction
ince fi rst hitting bookstore shelves in 1998, The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing has established itself as
Sthe best-selling and most authoritative do-it-yourself home plumbing manual available. Now in its 4th edition,
The Complete Guide to Plumbing is bigger and better than ever, and completely current with the current National
Plumbing Code. In this comprehensive new volume, you will fi nd all the practical information and know-how you
need to understand, install, repair, replace, and maintain your home plumbing system safely and with confi dence.
For this new edition, we have freshened up some of the meat-and-potatoes projects to reflect newer products
and refinements to the methods. If you have ever installed a toilet before, read through the very first project in
the book, “Replace a Toilet.” You’ll find a couple of new helpful hints that you haven’t seen in the past. And if
you are a follower of bathroom design trends, you won’t want to miss our all-new sequences on installing urinals
and bidets. These two fixtures are growing quickly in popularity for home usage. You won’t find step-by-step
information on either of these projects in any other home plumbing book.
Another unique feature of this 4th edition is the inclusion of some basic information on working with gas
pipe, including a couple of gas projects. Working with gas pipe is not for everyone. It has the potential for danger
and in some areas, homeowners are simply not allowed to install or service gas pipe or connections. But if you
have the inclination and the approval to install a new branch line in your natural gas system or just to hook up a
gas water heater, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
For your convenience, you will find all of the step-by-step projects in the front of this book where they’re easy
to find. We’ve even ranked them more or less in order of popularity, according to the plumbing service pros we’ve
spoken to. The indispensable information on tools, materials, and techniques is included in the back of the book
for easy reference.
In preparing The Complete Guide to Plumbing we have tried to anticipate your situation and needs as
accurately as possible. If at any time you find yourself stuck or a question arises that is not covered in this book,
do not hesitate to contact a plumber or your local plumbing inspector.
■ 5
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The Home Plumbing System
ecause most of a plumbing system is hidden inside dishwashers, clothes washers, and water softeners.
Bwalls and fl oors, it may seem to be a complex Toilets and exterior sillcocks are examples of fixtures
maze of pipes and fi ttings. In fact, home plumbing is that require only a cold water line.
simple and straightforward. Understanding how home The water supply to fixtures and appliances is
plumbing works is an important fi rst step toward doing controlled with faucets and valves. Faucets and valves
routine maintenance and money-saving repairs. have moving parts and seals that eventually may wear
A typical home plumbing system includes three out or break, but they are easily repaired or replaced.
basic parts: a water supply system, a fixture and Waste water then enters the drain system. It first
appliance set, and a drain system. These three parts must flow past a drain trap (5), a U-shaped piece of
can be seen clearly in the photograph of the cut-away pipe that holds standing water and prevents sewer
house on the opposite page. gases from entering the home. Every f ixture must have
Fresh water enters a home through a main supply a drain trap.
line (1). This fresh water source is provided by either The drain system works entirely by gravity,
a municipal water company or a private underground allowing waste water to flow downhill through a series
well. If the source is a municipal supp lier, the water of large-diameter pipes. These drain pipes are attached
passes through a meter (2) that registers the amount to a system of vent pipes. Vent pipes (6) bring fresh
of water used. A family of four uses about 400 gallons air to the drain system, preventing suction that would
of water each day. slow or stop drain water from flowing freely. Vent pipes
Immediately after the main supply enters the usually exit the house at a roof vent (7).
house, a branch line splits off (3) and is joined to a All waste water eventually reaches a main waste
water heater (4). From the water heater, a hot water and vent stack (8). The main stack curves to become a
line runs parallel to the cold water line to bring the sewer line (9) that exits the house near the foundation. In
water supply to fixtures and appliances throughout a municipal system, this sewer line joins a main sewer
the house. Fixtures include sinks, batht ubs, showers, line located near the street. Where sewer service is not
and laundry tubs. Appliances include water heaters, available, waste water empties into a septic system.
Water meters and main shutoff valves
are located where the main water supply
pipe enters the house. The water meter is
the property of your local m unicipal water
company. If the water meter leaks, or if
you suspect it is not functioning properly,
call your water company for repairs.
6 ■ COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLUMBING
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(7) Roof vent
(8) Waste and
vent stack
(6) Vent pipe
(5) Trap
(4)
Water
heater
(3)
Branch
line
Branch drain line
Main
shutoff
valve
(2) Water meter
Hot water
supply lines
Floor
Cold water drain
supply lines
Drain lines
Vent lines
(1) Main
(9) Sewer line
supply line
Introduction ■ 7
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■ Water Supply System
Water supply pipes carry hot and cold water Hot and cold water supply pipes are connected
throughout a house. In homes built before 1960, the to fixtures or appliances. Fixtures include sinks, tubs,
original supply pipes were usually made of galvanized and showers. Some fixtures, such as toilets or hose
iron. Newer homes have supply pipes made of copper. bibs, are supplied only by cold water. Appliances
In most areas of the country, supply pipes made of rigid include dishwashers and clothes washers. A refrig-
plastic or PEX are accepted by local plumbing codes. erator icemaker uses only cold water. Tradition says
Water supply pipes are made to withstand the that hot water supply pipes and faucet handles are
high pressures of the water supply system. They have found on the left-hand side of a fixture, with cold
small diameters, usually 1⁄2" to 1", and are joined with water on the right.
strong, watertight fittings. The hot and cold lines run Because it is pressurized, the water supply
in tandem to all parts of the house. Usually, the supply system is prone to leaks. This is especially true of
pipes run inside wall cavities or are strapped to the galvanized iron pipe, which has limited resistance
undersides of floor joists. to corrosion.
Hot water
supply lines
Cold water
supply lines
In from municipal
water supply
8 ■ COMPLETE GUIDE TO PLUMBING
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■ Drain-Waste-Vent System
Drain pipes use gravity to carry waste water away standi ng water, and they are usually found near
from fixtures, appliances, and other drains. This waste any drain opening. The standing water of a trap
water is carried out of the house to a municipal sewer prevents sewer gases from backing up into the
system or septic tank. home. Each time a drain is used, the standing
Drain pipes are usually plastic or cast iron. In trap water is flushed away and is r eplaced by
some older homes, drain pipes may be made of new water.
copper or lead. B ecause they are not part of the In order to work properly, the drain system
supply system, lead drain pipes pose no health hazard. requires air. Air allows waste water to flow freely
However, lead pipes are no longer manufactured for down drain pipes.
home plumbing systems. To allow air into the drain system, drain pipes
Drain pipes have diameters ranging from 11⁄4" are connected to vent pipes. All drain systems must
to 4". These large diameters allow waste to pass include vents, and the e ntire system is called the
through easily. drain-waste-vent (DWV) system. One or more vent
Traps are an important part of the drain stacks, located on the roof, provide the air needed
system. These curved sections of drain pipe hold for the DWV system to work.
Vent
Vent lines
Trap
Drain lines
Out to municipal
sewer or septic tank
Introduction ■ 9
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