Plumbing Maintenance

and Repair
Shut Off Valves, Pipes & Fittings,
Faucets, Tubs & Showers,
Toilets, Sinks, Water Heaters,
Garbage Disposals
 Disclaimer

The use of photos of tools and/or

components which clearly indicate their
manufacturer or brand in no way implies
an endorsement of the company, brand
or product by the National Apartment
Association Education Institute.
 Welcome!

Course Topics
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Plumbing Basics and Terms Resources:
• Plumbing Safety • Participant Guide
• Tools and Equipment • Presentation
• Shut off Valves • Your Questions
• Pipes and Fittings • Your Experiences
• Faucets and Sinks • Videos
• Garbage Disposals • Demonstrations
• Tubs and Showers • Your Participation
• Toilets
• Drains
• Water Seaters
 Question

When should a Plumber

be called?

When do we call in
a specialist?
 The Call

Make the call:

• When Code
requires it

• Beyond skill level

• Manage Time

• Size of the job

 Parts of Plumbing

Three Parts:

• Water Supply
- Distribution to
building for use
- To water meter

• Water Distribution
- Inside the building

• Waste Exit
- Drain
- Vent
 Plumbing Terms

Pipes Fittings
 Plumbing Terms

Valves
Fixtures
Plumbing Terms

Appliances
 Safety

Plumbing Safety

This is not intended to be

a complete list; Other safety
practices will need to be
observed as the need arises.
1. Turn the Power Off

As close to the source as practical

2. Wear P.P.E
 3. Lockout / Tagout

OSHA Title 29 CFR Part 1910.147 outlines measures

for controlling hazardous energies: electrical, mechanical,
hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, thermal, and other
energy sources.

Lockout / Tagout is
for plumbing too
Video: Plumbing Lock Out Tag Out

Watch Video
 4. Know Your Chemicals

Safety Data Sheets:

• Every chemical

• 16 standardized
sections

• Readily available
to all employees
5. Tools and Equipment
 Shut-off Valves

Do you know the location of

every valve on your property?

Can your office staff answer

that question the same way?
 Working with Valves

• Do not
over-tighten

• Preventative
Maintenance
can help

• Do not lock a
valve in the "hard
open" position
Pipes and Fittings

What types of pipes

are found at your
community?

Copper?
Plastic?
Plastic Pipe Repairs

PVC - CPV

"Solvent Weld"
Glue and Primer
Twist pipe as you squeeze
Prime Pipe and Fitting
Glue all Surfaces
Attach and Hold
Let Repair Cure
 Copper Pipe Repairs

• Different repairs
available:
• Compression
– Ferrule is
tightened around
pipe surface
– Do not over
tighten
– Should not be
used behind a
wall
Copper Pipe Repairs

Push-fit fitting (Shark-bite)

Copper Pipe Repairs
Copper Pipe Repairs
 Soldering

• Must be dry
• Cut the pipe
– Perpendicular
– Pipe cutter is best
• Clean all surfaces
– Remove oil
– Remove oxidation
– Include inside the
fitting
 Apply Flux

• Ensure coverage to
both surfaces
– Inside the fitting
– Outside of pipe

• Acid that helps the

solder to "stick"
 Torch

• Most heat on the

fitting

• The pipe melts the

solder, not the
flame

• Finish by wiping
with wet rag
 Faucets and Sinks

Many different types:

Ball
Cartridge
Ceramic Disc
Compression
 Aerator

What is the purpose of an aerator?

• Decrease water
volume while
providing the higher
pressure "feel"
Repairing a Ball-Type Faucet

What service
requests do you
receive with this
type of faucet?
Repairing a Cartridge-Type Faucet

What service
requests do you
receive with this
type of faucet?
Repairing a Ceramic Disk-Type Faucet

What service
requests do you
receive with this
type of faucet?
Repairing a Compression-Type Faucet

What service
requests do you
receive with this
type of faucet?
Replace the seat with the stem washer
Video: Faucet Stem Seat

Watch Video
 Replacing a Faucet

Reminders:

• Install to clean
surface

• Seal to the
countertop
– Plumbers putty
– Silicone
Video: Pop-up Assembly

Watch Video
 Sink Strainer

Reminders:

• Drain should be
flush with sink floor
– Plumbers putty
– Silicone

• Gasket (O-ring)
seals to underside
of sink
Sink Strainer
 Garbage Disposal

Reminders:

• If you cant chew it,

your disposal can't
either

• Reset button is a
thermal overload
Tubs and Showers
 Tubs and Showers

Common Tub & Showers - Problems & Solutions

 Toilets

Most operate
by Siphon
Toilets
Toilets
Toilets
Toilets
Video: Toilet Tank

Watch Video
 Use Correct Flapper

Low Volume Flapper Regular Flapper

 Fluidmaster

• Leak Sentry Fill Valve

• Automatic "locking" action
alerts prevent water loss from
faulty flapper
• Toilet remains fully operational
• Bowl refill adjustment
prevents wasteful overfilling
• Anti-siphon, code approved.

Alerts Tenants to Toilet Leaks

by Not Refilling the Tank
Fluidmaster Leak Sentry
 Korky Fill Valve

• Quiet Fill

• Can prevent leaks

from flapper

• Can even stop refill

for a failed flapper

• Replace full cap, not

just seal
 Video: Fill Valve

Watch Video
Video: Replace a Fill Valve

Watch Video
 Efficient Toilet

The most efficient a toilet

will be is when it is operating
as the manufacturer intended…

Do not place
in the tank:
• Brick
• Water bottle
• Wrong flapper
 Toilets

Common Toilet Problems & Solutions

 Hmmmmmm….

A recent study by Veritec

Consulting (Advisor to the EPA),
found that properly calibrating
toilets and detecting leaks,
resulted in a 36% water savings
in a 159 unit apartment building.

Better than 1/3 savings!!!

Niagara Toilet
Stealth Toilet
Pressure Assist Toilet
 New Toilet design
• Patented 1.6 GPF
Niagara flapperless
system
• Uses 54% less water
than a 3.5 GPF toilet
• Tamper-proof flush,
cannot exceed 1.6 GPF
• No flapper to leak or
replace
• Fluidmaster fill valve
• Large 10" x 20" footprint
• Meets ULFT rebate
standards
• Tank & bowl special order
elongated bowl.
Manufacturer Standards

What does our Technician

do wrong?

In the following video, what

does the technician do
incorrectly?

(Incorrect by manufacturer standards)

Manufacturer Standards
Manufacturer Standards

What did
our Technician
do wrong?

(Incorrect by manufacturer standards)

 Answer

The Wax ring

is to be
installed on
the toilet,
not the flange.
Video: Toilet Wax Ring

Watch Video
Video: Toilet Wax Ring Installation

Watch Video
Answer
Answer
Answer
Video: Unclog a P-Trap Pipe

Watch Video
Sink Drain
Shower Drain
Tub Drain
Video: Tub Drain Gasket

Watch Video
Video: Teflon Tape Install

Watch Video
Video: Plumbers’ Putty

Watch Video
Water Heater
Video: Water Heater Gas

Watch Video
 Water Heater

Key Parts

• T&P valve
• Dip tube
• Anode Rod
 Relief Valve

Temperature and Pressure

Relief Valve
• Prevents explosion

• Test at least annually

– Lift lever
– Allow to reset
– If water leaks, replace the
valve

• Outlet to be piped to a safe

(unoccupied) area
 Video: T_P Valve

Watch Video
 Video: Dip Tube

Watch Video
 Anode Rod

• Prevents damage to tank

by sacrifice
– Electrolysis destroys rod
instead of tank
– Soft metal (Magnesium,
Aluminum)

• Identified by odor
Video: Anode Rod

Watch Video
 Flue (Vent)

• Carries
exhaust out
of the
building

• Room must
have source
of free.
Flue (Vent)
 Water Heater

Draining
a Water Heater

1. Turn off power (or gas)

2. Attach a Hose to drain
Water Heater
 Water Heater

Draining
a Water Heater

1. Turn off power (or gas)

2. Attach a Hose to drain
3. Turn off supply valve
4. Open drain valve
5. Open hot side of faucet
6. Drain tank
 Water Heater

1. Turn off power (or gas)

2. Flushing
Attach a Hose to drain
3.
4.
a Water Heater
Turn off supply valve
Open drain valve
5. Open hot side of faucet
6. Drain tank
7. Open fill valve
8. Close faucet
9. Flush tank till water is clean
from hose end
10. Open faucet
11. Close drain valve
 Heating Elements

• Bottom Element
– Heats water

• Top Element
– Maintains temp

• Should match mfg.

Video: Electric WH Tstat and Elements

Watch Video
Lighting the Pilot

Follow
Manufacturer
Instructions
Lighting the Pilot
Lighting the Pilot
Lighting the Pilot
 Exterior Repairs

Q A
 Action Plan

Page 97

Thank You For Attending

Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) Skill Checks

Plumbing Maintenance and Repair Course

Skill Check #3

You Are Here: Plumbing Maintenance and Repair:

1. What are some safety hazards to be aware of when working on plumbing?

2. When is it best to use a plumber for a repair?

Plumbing in an Apartment Building:

3. What are the three systems in plumbing?

Plumbing Safety:
4. How can accidents be prevented when doing plumbing repairs?

5. Describe the Lock-out/Tag-out Procedure:

Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) Skill Checks

Pipes and Fittings:

6. What are some of the types of pipes found in plumbing systems?

7. What is flux?

Faucets and Sinks:

8. Describe the most common types of faucets

Replacing a Faucet:
9. What are the steps to replacing a faucet?

Garbage Disposals:
10. What are some of the safety precautions when working with garbage disposals?

11. What are some things that should never be put in a garbage disposal?

12. What temperature should water be that is used while the disposal is operating?

Tubs and Showers:

13. What are some safety precautions to be used when working with tubs and
showers?
Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) Skill Checks

14. What are the three main types of shower faucets?

Toilets:
15. What are some safety precautions to be used when working with toilets?

16. What is the principal of physics that causes a toilet to flush?

17. What are the steps to replace a toilet?

Drains and Clogs:

18. What is the best way to unclog a toilet?

19. What tools can be used to unclog a sink or tub?

Water Heaters:
20. What are some safety precautions to be used when working with water heaters?
Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technicians (CAMT) Skill Checks

21. What are the steps to replace a water heater?

22. What is the purpose of installing a Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve on a
water heater?

23. How do you replace a Thermocouple in a gas water heater?