 |
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, and install plumbing. Would-be plumbers should do two things:
► Learn the vocabulary. Some people feel intimidated by the plethora of plumbing terms, especially fitting names. But there’s actually a logic to all those names, once you learn what a part does and why it is shaped as it is. Besides, you’ll get better service from plumbing-supply clerks if you can speak their language.
► Consult local plumbing codes before beginning a project. Codes protect your health and that of your neighbors. They spell out when you need permits, what materials you may use, and at what stages the work must be inspected. There is no national code, so most local building departments often follow the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) or the International Residential Code (IRC). Get a copy of local plumbing codes from your building department.
Recommended further reading: Merle Henkenius’s Plumbing (Creative Homeowner) and two books by Peter Hemp, Installing and Repairing Plumbing Fixtures and Plumbing a House (both The Taunton Press).
Local plumbing codes vary greatly. In general, you don’t need a permit if you replace a fixture, such as a sink, toilet, or washing machine, without changing existing pipes. However, if you want to add new fixtures or move existing ones, you’ll need a permit because you’ll need to change pipes.
Replacing a water heater also requires a permit —even if you connect to existing pipes. Here, the issue is safety: Inspectors want to make sure that gas — and oil-fired water heaters are properly vented and that electric heaters are correctly wired. They’ll also check that temperature — and pressure — relief (TPR) valves, which keep water heaters from exploding, are correctly rated and installed.
