Basic Plumbing

Question 1

what are the 4 catagories of pipes and fittings

Answer 1

• cast iron
• galvanized metal
• copper
• plastic

Question 2

what is cast iron exclusively used for

Answer 2

drainage systems

Question 3

what should you do to a PVC pipe after cutting

Answer 3

de-burr the edges

Question 4

what is the “Schedule” of pipe mean

Answer 4

schedule is the thickness

schedule 40 is thicker than 80

Question 5

how much pressure should be in your water lines

Answer 5

42-46 psi

Question 6

can PVC pipe be used for hot water lines

Answer 6

no, only for cold lines

CPVC can be used for hot

Question 7

when priming how far out should the primer be from the joint

Answer 7

about 3/4”

Question 8

what should you do before glueing all your pipes

Answer 8

dry fit everything to make sure everything is good, and make tick marks on all the joints to ensure proper re-alignment

Question 9

what is CPVC

Answer 9

chlorinated polyvinyl chloride

Question 10

what size pipes does CPVC come in

Answer 10

3/8”, 1/2”, 3/4” and 1”

Question 11

what is the best material for water supply pipes

Answer 11

copper because it has great water flow

Question 12

how many wall thickness grades does copper have, and what are they

Answer 12

3

M: red lettering, thinnest and least expensive

L: blue lettering, required by code for commercial plumbing

K: has the heaviest walls and is mostly used for underground water service lines

Question 13

what is Mapp gas

Answer 13

methylacetylene-propadine and liquefied petroleum gas

Question 14

how hot can the flame get using Mapp gas

Answer 14

5300 degrees

Question 15

which can burn hotter propane or mapp gas

Answer 15

mapp gas

Question 16

what is the purpose of flux

Answer 16

cleans away the oxidized coating on metal and allows the solder to bond

Question 17

what must you do when adding copper to a galvanized pipe

Answer 17

include a dielectric union

Question 18

what is PEX

Answer 18

polyethylene

Question 19

what are some advantages to PEX

Answer 19

• Easy to install
• easy to transport
• good insulation
• quiet
• good for retrofit jobs
• freeze resistant

Question 20

how far apart should the support braces be when using PEX

Answer 20

horizontaly every 32”

vertically every 10’

Question 21

how long and how hot can you run hot water through PEX

Answer 21

210 degrees for 48 hours

ongoing use 180 degrees and up to 100 psi

Question 22

what sizes does PEX come in

Answer 22

1/4”, 1/2”, 3/4” and 1”

Question 23

what kind of piping do push on connectors work for

Answer 23

CPVC, copper and PEX

the white plastic sleeves must be removed when using copper

Question 24

what is the DWV system

Answer 24

the drain, waste vent system

Question 25

what are drain lines

Answer 25

carry water from sinks, shower and tubs

Question 26

what are waste lines

Answer 26

carry waste from toilets

Question 27

what do vent lines do

Answer 27

exhaust sewer gases and provide the air pressure to allow wastes to flow freely

Question 28

what are the min code requirements for clearance around toilets

Answer 28

min 15" left and right and min 12" behind toilet

Question 29

sewerage systems are usually made from pipe ranging in diameter from ___ to ___ inches

Answer 29

2 to 36

Question 30

any drain line must have a ____ in drop per \_\_\_\_

Answer 30

1/4" drop per every 1' horizontally

Question 31

what is the min width of a vent pipe

Answer 31

1 1/4"

Question 32

the vent pipe should always be more than ___ the width of the drain pipe

Answer 32

half the width

Question 33

what is the min width piping for single and double toilet systems

Answer 33

single toilet 2" piping double toilet 3" piping

Question 34

what are the types of venting

Answer 34

wet venting auxillary venting direct venting

Question 35

what is direct venting

Answer 35

if a fixture is within 5' of a waste stack, a standard vent is not required as the stack itself acts as a vent

Question 36

what is a stack vent

Answer 36

the extension of the waste stack that potrudes from the roof to vent gases

Question 37

what is a drainage trap

Answer 37

a curved section of pipe that fills with water creating a seal against odors and gases

Question 38

what are the 4 types of faucets

Answer 38

* compression * ball * cartridge * disk

Question 39

what is a septic system

Answer 39

an on site sewege managment system designed to safely treat and dispose of waste water

Question 40

the waste in a septic tank naturally seperates into what three layers

Answer 40

the top layer Scum the middle layer waste water the bottom layer sludge

Question 41

what is it that keep scum and sludge from leaving the septic tank

Answer 41

a baffle

Question 42

what comes from the septic tank to the leach field

Answer 42

a distribution box

Question 43

whats effluent

Answer 43

waste water that has been filtered and treated by the soil before it enters the water table

Question 44

what is the purpose of the drain/leach field

Answer 44

to deliver the effluent to the soil to be broken down

Question 45

what does the small amount of sludge left in the tank do

Answer 45

promotes bacterial growth

Question 46

what does bacterial growth do

Answer 46

breaks down solid waste

Question 47

how often should you pump your septic for a family of four

Answer 47

every 2 to 3 years

Question 48

what are three types of septic tanks

Answer 48

concrete plastic polyethlyene

Question 49

what must you do if installing a polyethylene tank

Answer 49

ensure it is secured to the ground to prevent floating

Question 50

how big must a tank be for a three bedroom house

Answer 50

1,000 gallons or more

Question 51

how big must a tank be for a four bedroom house

Answer 51

1250 gal or more

Question 52

how big must a tank be for a five bedroom house

Answer 52

1500 gals or more

Question 53

what is one of the most important factors to consider when determining the size of the vent line

Answer 53

determine the number of units that will be connected

Question 54

what is the ring that goes between the toilet and the floor flange that prevents water from leaking

Answer 54

wax ring

Question 55

what traps do you use for floor drains and wall drains

Answer 55

use a P trap for walls use a S trap for floors

Question 56

if water is warm but not hot what heating element do you replace

Answer 56

top heating element

Question 57

if you get a small amount of very hot water but then cold what heater element do you replace

Answer 57

bottom element