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Plumbing a House
8May2008 Filed under: Building Types & Styles Author: admin
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
This is more for people building a house than those remodeling one, but its no-nonsense, in-depth explanations and marvelously clear illustrations make it a worthwhile reference for anyone facing an expedition into the crazy world of domestic plumbing. Like any really good book, it broaches some controversy: Hemp apparently doesn’t go along with the idea that fluoridated water is likely to bond with elements of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes and pose a health risk. But he isn’t going to tell you what to do, merely how to do whatever it is you want to do. He mentions the controversy, but he describes in some detail several kinds of pipes for every application. Showing keen appreciation of where real power in the construction universe lies, he notes that local governing bodies are the ultimate arbiters of plumbing morality, so check with them before proceeding. Creating your own plumbing system is a daunting task. Those who are game will want to have Hemp, or at least his book, at their side. Mike Tribby
Book Description
Master plumber Peter Hemp explains in step-by-step sequence how to create (for both new and remodeled homes) plumbing systems that function efficiently and withstand the rigors of time. For both homeowners and professionals, he shows how to design, size, and install pipes using a variety of standard materials and tools. “No-nonsense, in-depth explanations and marvelously clear illustrations.” — Booklist –This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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3 Responses to “Plumbing a House”
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admin
05月 8th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
By B. D HILL “brize_books” (Niles, OH United States)
There is “book larn’in” and then there’s “know how” and thoroughly reading this book will get you as close as you can get to the latter without actually going out and spending a few months on the job with a master plumber. In fact, I would say that is the dominant “feel” of this book - that the reader is tagging along as Peter masterfully plys his trade, all the while explaining with great care the hows and whys of what he is doing.
This book is unlike other plumbing books in that it doesn’t try to balance the pros and cons of all the plumbing products available out there. Peter tells you which ones he likes, which ones he doesn’t, and the reasons why, based on his experience. It is his explanations of his reasons that enlighten the reader and help him in making his own purchasing decisions.
One word of warning - there may be easier books to read than this one, especially for the novice. I often found myself having to read passages two or three times to figure out exactly what he was getting at. In fact I know I have read most of the book at least twice, but the effort was always worth it when I finally figured out what he meant. And I can honestly say reading it was never dull or repetitious - there is something to be gleaned from each paragraph.
I guess the book is getting a little old, as one reviewer noted, but most of the products he talks about are still widely used in my part of the country. I even agree with him on the advantages (primarily accoustics) of cast iron drain pipe in certain applications.
This book, along with its companion “Installing and Repairing Plumbing Fixtures” are a must read for anyone who wants to know what’s what in the plumbing trade.
admin
05月 8th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
By Crystal W. Anderson (Cedar Point, NC United States)
I was very disappointed with this book because it really needs to be updated to include the latest, most common plumbing methods/materials such as the use of PEX tubing. The author does do a good job of explaining the whys and hows of working with the older stuff. But, almost noone uses old iron drain pipe any more and even the use of copper is becoming rare in residential construction. In my area of the country (Southeast), flexible PEX tubing for supply and PVC for waste is used almost exclusively. An update is needed.
admin
05月 8th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
By R. Devinney (Silver City, NM)
I am building my own house and find myself frequently referring to this book. There is much useful information; I only wish it were more up-to-date. It was published 12 years ago, but much of the info was out dated even then. And plumbing isn’t exactly a rapidly changing field. The sad thing is that there aren’t really any books out there that are much better.
There is some info that is just plain wrong. I followed the book’s instruction to use 45’s to keep my sewer line from sloping more than 1/2″ per foot, at great effort and expense… turns out it is not required, just an old plumber’s legend. Be careful about following any of the advice in this book.
Does anyone still use cast iron or copper dwv pipe? The book specifies a Kelly fitting for cleanouts. Is there any code which still allows that? Can you even buy a Kelly fitting? Most houses in the faster growing parts of the country are slab-on-grade and have been for years, but this book only devotes a few pages to this “new” concept. If you buy this book you need to be aware that much about plumbing is regional and code specific, and much of this book was out of date before it was published. It can still be a good source of info if you keep that in mind.