Lesson 1: Plumbing: Tips, Tricks and Tools

After completing this course, students will:

Know how to read blue prints and shoot grade levels.
Be familiar with several important safety tips.
Know some of the technical specifications for heating systems, water heaters, fixtures, valves and fittings.
Know some of the common terms and scale rules used in plumbing.
Understand the difference between a building drain and building sewer.
Know the installation specifications for heating systems, water heaters, fixtures, and valves.
Know how to light a hot water heater.
Be aware of a handful of useful plumbing "tricks of the trade".
Have seen and understand how to use numerous tools essential to plumbing professionals.
The course includes a multiple-choice test after each section to gage your understanding of the material.
INTRODUCTION
Plumbing is the art and science of creating and maintaining sanitary conditions in buildings used by humans. It is
also the artand science of installing, repairing, and servicing in these same buildings a plumbing system that
includes the pipes, fixtures,and appurtenances necessary for bringing in the water supply and removing liquid and
water-carried waste.
This course provides a variety of useful introductory information. These facts that a plumber must know have been
gleaned
from years of plumbing experience. The apprentice (or even the journeyman) should find these tips very useful.
People working with the installation and maintenance of bathrooms and kitchens are exposed to many dangers and
safetyhazards. Applying good common sense and following a few safety rules can prevent a great deal of personal
injury. Thiscourse highlights some important safety items that all plumbers should keep in mind.
A good plumber not only uses a variety of different tools but also knows a few inside tricks on getting the most from
those
tools. The final scenario in this course examines the basic tools of a plumber and presents a few miscellaneous tips
on tools.
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TIPS FOR THE BEGINNING PLUMBER
Reading Blueprints
When a measurement is taken from a blueprint, it should be checked from both ends of the building to ensure
accuracy.
Datumis an established level or elevation from which vertical measurements are taken. A bench mark(BM) is a
measure on
which all other elevations are based.
All buildings have abase elevation from which all other elevations and grades are determined. Some plans use
100.0 feet,
while others use 0.00 feet.
For example, using 100.0 feet as the base level, a basement floor level of 91.5 feet would indicate a basement floor
level that
is 8 feet 6 inches below the first-floor level.
Bench marks permit the plumber to locate the elevations pertaining to the project at hand. A 96-foot or a 104-foot
bench mark
would indicate 4 feet below or 4 feet above the finish floor (FF). Examples of bench marks, thus, would include the
following:
FF + 4.0 feet
FF 2.0 feet
Asectional elevation drawing would provide the plumber with information as to the width and height of a specific
portion of

the structure.

Elevation measurements on piping plans are calledinvert elevations.

A figure in isometric position lies with one corner directly in front of you. The back corner is tilted to a 30 angle.

A building plan may denote an invert elevation of 0.325 foot at one end of a pipeline and 0.400 foot at the opposite

end - a
difference of 0.75 foot. By multiplying 0.75 foot by 12, you will find that the difference in inches between the two
points will
Table 1-1
be 9 inches (see).

Table 1-1 Converting Inches to Decimal Parts of a Foot

Inches

Parts of Foot

Inches

Parts of Foot

0.083

0.5833

0.1666

0.6667

0.25

0.75

0.333

10

0.8333

0.4167

11

0.93333

0.50

12

1.00

Shooting Grade Levels

Plumbers are often asked to set grade levels for various piping elevations, including catch basins, floor drains, and
many other
grade levels associated with their work. Therefore, it behooves every plumber and fitter to become familiar with this
very
important phase of the piping industry.
Two main parts to shooting grade levels are the dumpy level and the leveling rod

Figure. 3-10 Basin wrenches. The basin wrench has a solid 10-inch (254-mm) shank (shown on bottom of Fig.).
Basinwrenches have telescopic shanks (top of Fig.) for four lengths from 10 inches through 17 inches (254 mm through
431mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
Figure. 3-11 Spud wrench - capacity 2 5/8 inches (66.5 mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
Figure. 3-12 Strap wrench - 1/8 inch through 2 inches (3 mm through 51 mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
Figure. 3-13 Quick-acting tubing cutter - 1/4 inch through 2 5/8 inches (6 mm through
66.5 mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
Figure. 3-14 Closet auger (used for water closet and urinal stoppage).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
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Figure. 3-15 Spiral ratchet pipe reamer - 1/2 inch through 2 inches (3 mm through 51
mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
Figure. 3-16 Heavy-duty chain wrench - 2 inches (51 mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company
)
Figure. 3-17 Torque wrench for cast-iron and no-hub soil pipe. Pre- set for 60 inch-lbs
(67.9 N-m) of torque.(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
Figure. 3-18 Flaring tool - will flare tubing size from inch (4.8 mm), 1/4 inch (6.4 mm),inch (7.9 mm), 3/8 inch (9.5
mm), inch (11.1 mm), 1/2 inch (12.7 mm), and 5/8 inch (15.9mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
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Figure. 3-19 Lever-type tube benders. ( Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )

Figure. 3-20 Straight snips.(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
Lever-type tube benders come in six sizes from 3/16 inch through 1/2 inch (5 mm through 13 mm) OD. They make
fast,
accurate bends on soft and hard copper, brass, aluminum, steel, and stainless steel tube. The form handle hasgain
marks for
accurate tube measurements before cutting. Pieces can be precut to proper length, eliminating extra cutting and
wasted
material. The handles are wide apart when completing a full 180 bend (thus, no knuckle cracking). This machine
cuts,
Fig. 3-19
threads, reams, and oils (see
).
Figs. 3-20
3-23
through
show more plumbing tools.
Fig. 3-21 Ratchet cutter - for cast-iron pipe 2 inches through 6 inches (51 mm throu

Fig. 3-22 Soil pipe assembly tool for pipe 2 inches through 8 inches (51 mm through 203
mm).(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company)
Fig. 3-23 Pipe welding vises.(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
Miscellaneous Tips on Tools
Page 16 of 18

When a soldering iron is overheated, the normally bright areas will show a bluish tint, and the tinning on the bit will
be dark,
dull, and powdery in appearance.
Fig. 3-24
The K-37 drain cleaner (see
) speed-cleans 3/4-inch (19-mm) through 3-inch (76-mm) lines
without removing trap or
crossbars. This rugged, compact unit with its dual-action clutch represents the latest in drain gun design. A slideaction
handgrip permits operation on the fly while the drum rotates. There is no need to stop the unit to advance or retract
the cable.
The knurled spin chuck is used for tough obstructions. A positive clutch lock transfers maximum torque to the stoppage and
absorbs contact shock before it gets into the drum. Drum capacity is 35 feet (10.6 m) with 3/8-inch (9.5-mm) cable,
and 50
feet (15 m) with -inch (8-mm) cable.
Figure. 3-24 K-37 drain cleaner.(Courtesy Ridge Tool Company )
A friction clamp for use with brass pipe in a regular pipe vise is made by cutting a pipe coupling in half lengthwise
and then

lining it with sheet metal.

Use light machine oil when oiling a rule.

Hacksaw blade manufacturers recommend that a blade with 24 teeth per inch (10 teeth per cm) be used for cutting

angle iron
or pipe. To cut hanger rod, 18 teeth per inch (7 teeth per cm) is satisfactory. For light-gage band iron and thin-wall
tubing, 32
teeth per inch (13 teeth per cm) is best.
The size of a pipe wrench is measured from the inside top of the movable jaw to the end of the handle with the
wrench fully
opened.
The wrench size for a flange bolt is bolt size 2 + 1/8 inch. In metric terms, it is bolt size in millimeters 2 + 3
mm.
Acquire the habit of using two wrenches when tightening or loosening pipe to avoid many unnecessary problems.
Page 17 of 18

This course is based on a book published by John Wiley & Sons. Click on the title below to learn more about this
book, or to
purchase it.
Audel Plumbers Pocket Manual, All New 10th Edition
There are no reference materials for this section of the course.
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