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)
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

No 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

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