Customer Reviews

Plumbing (For Pros By Pros)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book has strengths and weaknesses. Lots of good info and photos on building a plumbing system in a house. Apparently the house is half in the country and half in the city. Paradoxically, the author spends over forty pages on wells, pumps, pressure tanks and well-water supply system piping, but not one page on septic systems, cesspools, leach lines, or graywater systems. Go figure. The other void I found was zero information on cleanouts. The sub-title is a puzzle: For Pros By Pros. "For Pros" implies that the book is designed for professional plumbers. Do they really need help in learning how to sweat copper and glue plastic pipe? Apparently so, but apparently they need no help on cleanouts or waste systems beyond the house.

This is another down to earth Cauldwell book. It is full of tips on how to do superior work and it's up to date, PEX tubing, air admittance valves etc. I particularly like some of Rex's special tips such as his under the kitchen sink custom drain system. There is also practical advice on what tools are most useful including some specials that you can make yourself. The writing style is enjoyable, informal yet meaty. Reading it is like being mentored by a real world professional who has first hand practical experience to share. It's a bargain.

It's not that this plumbing book by Rex Cauldwell is bad, it's just not as good as his other title, "Remodel Plumbing."

If you are going to buy just one plumbing book, buy "Remodel Plumbing" by the same author.

Just got the book, despite the fact that I ordered it back in May. I liked Caldwell's wiring book, plus I wasn't in a rush to start my plumbing projects. I haven't gone through it all in depth, but I like what I've seen so far. Very well organized and up to date (with PEX and some of the solderless copper connection options). I could have done without the chapter on bringing in well water, but I understand that not everybody's on a city utility. The chapter on water heater troubleshooting looks like it will come in handy at some point in my homeowner lifespan, plus I like how Caldwell is very upfront in his recommendations (what he finds works/doesn't work, materials and tools he prefers, etc.).

Plumbing by Rex Cauldwell reads like a good book for a beginner to learn about plumbing.

Here is the Table of Contents : 1 Overview, What the book covers in 7 pages; 2 Wells and Pumps in 41 pages; 3 Utility Water in 24 pages; 4 Working with In-House Pipe in 33 pages; 5 Hot Water in 35 pages; 6 Drain and Vent Rough In in 28 pages; 7 Pressure Pipe Rough In in 17 pages; 8 Finish Plumbing in 29 pages; 9 Appendix in 5 parts on Tools , on Alternate Connection Systems, on Charts and Tables, on Codes and on the Disabilities Act Guidelines in 29 pages . There is an Index .

Yes, a great emphasis on wells and pumps, followed by hot water , in house pipe and finish plumbing. These 4 items were his passions .

It is the rare page that does not produce color photos and drawings with plenty of tables when necessary.

It is a MODERN book ( 2006 ) and covers plastic, CPVC, PEX.

The language is easy to read ; here is a paragraph taken from the chapter on In-House Pipe : " Years ago, when my uncle taught me the trade, galvanized and copper were the only pipes he put in people's houses. Sometime later, along came CPVC, or plastic pipe. After that came polybutylene, or PB. Now we have PEX. "

Go for it !

I read some of the reviews below and was surprised. I liked this book a lot.

This book contains everything you will need for most common, and some not-so-common problems you will encounter while plumbing.

A review below talks about that there is nothing about Septic and leach lines. Probably because first off you have to get a $5,000 soil test, and get a system designed by an engineer based on your perc test. You will not be doing that in a weekend, unless you do it illegally. Not to mention you better have a back-hoe, or do an above ground engineered system. Leave that to someone who does it every day, or look up the codes. That has many local niche codes too, depending on the state/county.

I ready the "By Pros, for Pros" series as a "help" book for new, or learning plumbers and homeowners who want to do a professional job. You also mock that a professional would need it, if you get a good one, he probably DOES need it. Many plumbers are very experienced in SOME, BUT NOT ALL areas of plumbing. I helped a friend in the country and am TERRIBLE WITH WELLS, because I never work with them or on them (I live in the city).

If you think this book is not good, check out the foundation book.

This book has many good in depth articles, and would assist even someone with low to moderate skills in many plumbing tasks.

I recommend it for homeowners, plumbers apprentices, and as reference for most plumbers.

Even you old know-it-all guys could learn something, try and keep yourself up to date or your skills will become outdated. Codes and standard practice change.

I thought this book was for pro's. Instead it reads like a book for a beginner. It was all basic I thought and the author talks to you like you are not a pro.

title says it all. detailed and informative. Rex did a great job.

When our water heater died I tried to diagnose what was wrong and spent six hours almost pulling my hair out. I went to a local bookstore looking for some guidance and this is the book I brought home. All the other books told me how to do things but not what to do if something was wrong or how to fix someone's botched work. Rex's book stood out for me. It doesn't cover everything (some pros have mentioned the shortcomings) but as a homeowner it covered everything I need to know.

This book gives a brief overview of plumbing, it won't solve many of your problems as it doesn't go into anything in too much depth. Good if you need a general knowledge but there are better guides online from the manufacturer's for less or free. It does talk about some codes but that varies so much across the country as to be useless.