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To disconnect a soldered fitting, apply heat till the solder melts. Then gently tap the fitting off the pipe. When the metal is cool, clean the pipe end, reflux, reheat, and solder on a new fitting. Unless the fitting is an expensive one, such as a gate valve, don’t reuse fittings that have already been […]

When measuring water-supply or dwv pipe runs, keep in mind that most pipe slides into fitting sockets. The depth of the socket is its seating distance (seating depth), which you must add to the face-to-face measurements between pipe fittings. When running pipe between copper fittings with a seating depth of VI in., for example, add […]

This section focuses on installing rigid copper water pipe: It’s strong, easily worked, approved by virtually all codes, and represents nearly 90 percent of residential installations. That noted, you should also consider reading about PEX flexible tubing on p. 279. Fittings If you divide fittings into a few categories, their many names start to make […]

If you’ll be adding or moving fixtures, you’ll need to install pipes, and that will require permits and planning. Start by assessing the condition of existing pipes (see Chapter 1), which you can connect to if they are in good shape. Create a scale drawing of proposed changes, assemble a materials list, and then ask […]

A plumbing system is a loop of sorts, created by supply (or delivery) pipes that carry potable water to the house and its fixtures and by drainage, waste, and venting (DWV) pipes that carry waste water, effluvia, and sewage gases away from the fixtures—sinks, toilets, lavatories, washing machines, and so on. These two systems within […]

Builders have benefited greatly from the standardization of building materials, and nowhere is this more true than in plumbing. Whereas a plumber once had to fashion waste systems from cast iron, oakum, and melted lead, today one needs little more than plastic pipe and solvent-based cement. Such improved technology enables more people to understand, repair, […]

© To add an outdoor receptacle, find the nearest wall cavity that contains a general-use or lighting circuit, turn off the power, discon­nect the receptacle, and fish wire to the new outdoor outlet. However, do not tap into kitchen or bathroom circuits or circuits dedicated to a single appliance. To position the outdoor box, use […]

Cut-in boxes have special mounting devices that enable you to mount them directly to finish sur­faces. But first you’ve got to cut a hole for them. Hold the new box at the same height as other outlet boxes in the room, lightly pencil trace around the box, and then drill a small exploratory hole to […]

Adding an outlet may be relatively simple if you can access an existing outlet and run a length of cable to a new outlet in the same wall cavity. But even the simplest setup needs a bit of planning— and some exploration—beforehand. IMPORTANT PREP STEPS Here are some tasks to do before working in an […]

There are two main types of flexible metal cable, armor clad and metal clad. Outside, they look about the same. (For a comparison, see the photo on p. 238.) The main difference is that MC cable contains an insulated ground wire so it can ground equipment and tools with a three-prong plug. MC cable assemblies […]