Just Flush It Course Materials (Master)

It Won’t Flush: Home Plumbing Repair (also known as Toilet Training)

Course Objective: Having completed this course students will be able to repair faucet and toilet leaks, replace faucets, drains and toilets. Students will also better understand the drinking water cycle and mechanics of home plumbing. 

Notes: 

  • Regulations and permitting not required for fixture repair.
  • 1.5 hour course. 
  • 20 minute lecture 70 minutes hands on. Toilet, Faucet, Drain
  • You will NOT be a plumber.
  • By taking this course you will be doing your part to save the planet! Leaks waste water!! 

 

Introduction:

Question: How much water does a person use per day?

  • Designs based on  100 gallons per person per day!! 

Question: Where does drinking water come from?  

  • Minneapolis and St. Paul Mississippi River 

Question: What is potable vs non-potable water?

  • Potable is drinkable. I remember "pot" like a pot to cook with (not the other kind).

Question: What is the water cycle? 

  • Mississippi River => Treatment (filtration and disinfection) => Pressurize and distribute to homes => Pipe to to water treatment => Treat => Discharge to Mississippi River
  • 250 million gallons per day treated by Metro Area. 2 million residences. Nine treatment plants. (Met Council Wastewater Treatment Services Links to an external site.)
  • Some cities pump water from groundwater aquifers

water cycle

 

Question: What is the purpose of a water tower? Buffer water pressure. Avoid pump on and off cycles with constant head. Time of use.

Question: What is a typical home water pressure? 

  • 45-80 psi
  • Kitchen sink 1.5 to 2.5 gpm
  • Bathroom sink 0.5 to 1.5 gpm
  • Shower flow rate 2.5 gpm maximum since 1992
  • Toilet flush 1.5 to 3 gallons per flush.
  • Garden hose 8 to 12 gpm

home wellNo City Water? No Problem. Use a Home Well System

  • Pump is at the bottom of the well.
  • Pump turns on and off to maintain pressure in pressure tank..
  • Pressure tanks (air bladder in steel tank) provides constant pressure and reduces pump cycling. 
  • Pump cycles on and off to maintain tank pressure.
  • Wastewater to septic system. Tank settles and breaks down solids and then seeps to the drain field.








Where does the water go after you 'used' it?

  • Wastewater treatment plant
  • Drain field

septic system

four circuits

Water Distribution. Four Circuits

  • Cold Water 
  • Hot Water
  • Drain
  • Ventilation

 

Key talking. 

  • Main shutoff valve
  • Fixture shutoffs
  • Traps to block sewer gas
  • Vent to allow draining, no airlock.

 

 

 

 

softner

  • Minerals in water are attracted to the resin
  • Minerals would rather be with salt water so salt water is used to rinse the resin. Salt water is sent to sewer system.

Rough in Plumbing Materials

  • Copper (solder)
  • Galvanized (Threaded)
  • Cast Iron (lead joint or rubber coupling
  • PVC Pipe; Schedule 40 (Glue or threaded) for pressure. Not all PVC Schedule 40 is the same. Schedule 40 refers only to pipe wall thickness. 
  • PEX (Special Fittings)
  • ABS (Glue)

 

Experiential Learning

Valves:

  • Ball Valve
  • Gate Valve(knife is sharp gate)
  • Float valve (toilets and sump pumps)

Instructions: Three Stations

1) Faucet: 

  • Common Homeowner challenge: Leaky faucet, faucet replacement.
  • Show shutoff valve with compression fitting,
  • Valve to supply line to faucet
  • Cartridge replacement
  • You will connect sink faucets, remove and replace cartridge

 

2) Toilet

  • Common Homeowner challenge: Leaking toilet. Plugged Toilet, Upgrade to low flow toilet
  • Show mechanics of siphon
  • Testing Leaky Toilet
  • Different float valves, adjustments, and leak points
  • Floor to toilet, Tank to toilet
  • Shutoff to valve with supply line
  • You will connect toilet valve system and connect to shutoff valve

 

3) Drain

  • Common Homeowner challenge: Clogged drain, leaky drain fittings, new modern sink
  • Sink Basket
  • Drain fittings
  • Trap to wall.
  • You will connect sink basket, tailpipe, and double sink to drain system

Bathroom Sink Clog Bathroom sink drain