I need a good plumbing book!

[astidham]

Anyone know of a good plumbing book that uses modern materials like PEX?

[pmichelsen]

All you need to know about plumbing...

1. Payday is Friday.
2. Waste flows downstream.
3. Don't suck your thumb.

Sorry I can't be of more help, had I taken up the trade I would have been a fifth generation plumber so any questions I have I pick up the phone.

[astidham]

All you need to know about plumbing...

1. Payday is Friday.
2. Waste flows downstream.
3. Don't suck your thumb.

Sorry I can't be of more help, had I taken up the trade I would have been a fifth generation plumber so any questions I have I pick up the phone.

Thanks pmichelsen...lol

[John Raabe]

Here is one helpful option: http://www.toolbase.org/PDF/DesignGuides/pex_designguide.pdf

Here is a search for online video on the subject: http://goo.gl/U152E

The plumbing book at the end of my booklist is a good general plumbing book, and now does cover PEX supply lines.

http://www.countryplans.com/books.html - Book list and reviews.

Click here for the Ultimate Guide: Plumbing, 3rd edition

[muldoon]

John,

I looked at your books page and noticed that you also have another recommendation for "Wiring a House" by Rex Cauldwell, in the For pros by pros series.  As an FYI I believe that book was recalled.

Perhaps they have fixed it, but reader beware here. 

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09078.html

Faulty Instructions Prompt Recall of Electrical Wiring How-to-Books by The Taunton Press; Shock Hazard to Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Wiring a House, 3rd Edition and Wiring Complete, Expert Advice from Start to Finish Instructional Books

Publisher: The Taunton Press, of Newtown, Conn.

Hazard: The books contain several errors in the technical diagrams that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers.

[davidj]

The plumbing book at the end of my booklist is a good general plumbing book, but does not cover PEX supply lines.

http://www.countryplans.com/books.html

I like the Peter Hemp book referenced by John - it tries to give you a feel for the craft as well as going over the facts.  It was my primary reference (along with the Home Depot plumbing book) and it was easy to add on the details of pex from stuff on the web.

That being said, watch out for the toilet vent patterns - most of them are not actually code compliant in many places.  In CA, any section of vent pipe that's below the flood level must be at least 45 degrees above horizontal (as stuff that gets floated up in a blockage will just sit there forever in a horizontal section of vent pipe).  I'm not sure of the official flood level in a toilet is (I'd guess the rim), but it's definitely not below the floor.  So any of Hemp's toilet vent patterns that have horizontal venting under the floor (most of them, iirc) might get you into trouble.  Basically you have to swing the waste pipe almost under a wall (which should probably be 2x6 if loadbearing) - you can't bring the vent over to the waste pipe as Hemp does.  If you're doing e.g. a 20x30 with an open loft above the bathroom, this basically means the waste pipe has to head pretty much straight to an outside wall if it's not already there.

[dug]

I think any good plumbing book would do, as far as pex is concerned you can think of it as any supply pipe that is just easier to install, or if using a manifold there are many good references to that. I am using pex with a branch system because all my plumbing is pretty compact and I just thought it would be easier.

As davidj said the supply lines seem to be the easier part (to me anyway), the DWV system is more confusing and had me boondoggled for a time. Still have to finish that. 

[John Raabe]

Muldoon, thanks for the heads up.

I just checked and the problem you spotted in the Wiring a House book was reported in 2008. The current book is the 4th edition revised and updated in 2010.

Get the current version at this link.

I have also updated this and many of the books that are reviewed on my Books page here: BOOKS

[astidham]

thank you for the options all!
I will order these books through the library!!

[Native_NM]

I used pex for my commercial build.  Don't discount the manufactures website for info. They have some very good information that pertains to the supply side. 

[Dave Sparks]

The code check books at home depot are excellent reference if you know enough to be dangerous...

[duncanshannon]

I wish i could do some plumbing in my (future) build, but its one of the things the state of WI requires to be done by a licensed pro.

pex sounds pretty cool.. wish I could do it.