Ultimate Guide: Plumbing

by Merle Henkenius, Steve Wilson

Ultimate Guide: Plumbing is an updated and expanded edition of Creative Homeowner's comprehensive, best-selling plumbing how-to book. The most up-to-date products and techniques are covered. For the how-to information, strong emphasis is placed on doing things correctly, so all the projects use only code-compliant techniques. Author Merle Henkenius 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 book also 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. So in addition to learning how to plan and complete each project, readers learn how to spot and improve outdated or dangerous techniques and materials in their home's plumbing system.

Genres: Reference

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 10, 2006

Reviews

[William Schram · Rating 4 out of 5]

So first I looked into a book on Wiring and Wiring projects for my own interest, and now I do the same for a book on Plumbing. This book was printed in 2006, but this is my take on Plumbing Codes; how often can they possibly change? I honestly don’t know. I mean, there aren’t any new materials that I am aware of to make pipes, sinks, or faucets so I don’t see how they could change.

As with the Wiring Book, this book is printed by the same company and has the content printed in a similar manner. There is a number of projects, each of them with an estimate of the required skill level. The book is filled with images and photographs that tell you what to look for and how to do each of the jobs. It also includes an estimated time for each job. Now as with Wiring, there are Plumbing Codes and regulations that dictate what is acceptable for each job. However, Plumbing Codes are not written at the national level, at least in the United States. So a Plumber might have to get multiple licenses.

Plumbing is practical and not overly complicated except at first glance. Everything is organized by function and so on. The book contains a number of images describing the tools and materials you will need. If there is something like a slow-filling toilet, the book also has a section on troubleshooting pipes and appliances. All in all, the book is interesting to read, but it might be a lot better if I had an actual purpose in taking it out. If I had a project to complete, this book would be amazingly useful. As it is right now though, it is merely a curiosity to me.

[T.M. Mullin · Rating 4 out of 5]

easy to read with lots of stuff for old houses (like mine). Photo on p.63 paid for the book in time and material savings. I passed inspection.