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Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies

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If you've hung around my blog very much, you're well aware of the fact that me and home repair projects don't normally mix. I don't know what it is, but you put hardware in my hands, and I become a bumbling idiot. Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies by Donald R. Prestly is the *perfect* approach to plumbing fix-it jobs for someone like me. It's short, concise, has plenty of pictures, and explains just enough to make me think that it's possible to pull off the unlikely/impossible... a plumbing repair that doesn't stretch into a multi-hour marathon of frustration and humiliation.

Contents:
Part 1 - Getting to Know Your Plumbing System: Understanding Plumbing; Fetch Me My Pipe and Fittings!; Getting the 411 on Codes and Requirements; Filling Your Plumbing Toolbox
Part 2 - Faucets and Sinks: Cleaning a Faucet Aerator and Sink Sprayer; Repairing a Leaky Rotary Ball Faucet; Repairing a Leaky Cartridge Filter Faucet; Repairing a Leaky Ceramic Disk Faucet; Repairing a Leaky Compression Faucet; Repairing a Leaky Two-Handle Faucet Spout; Caulking around a Sink Bowl; Replacing a Leaky Sink Basket; Replacing a Sink Trap; Replacing a Double-Bowl Kitchen Sink Drain; Replacing a Bathroom Sink Drain; Adjusting a Pop-Up Drain; Unclogging Sink Drains; Soldering Copper Pipes
Part 3 - Tubs and Showers: Caulking the Tub, Tile, and Fixtures; Replacing a Tub Spout; Replacing a Showerhead; Repairing a Tub and Shower Compression Faucet; Repairing a Cartridge Shower Faucet; Repairing a Disk Shower Faucet; Repairing a Cartridge/Seat-Spring Faucet; Adjusting a Tub Drain; Unclogging Tub and Shower Drains
Part 4 - Toilets: Checking a Toilet for Leaks; Replacing a Fill Valve; Replacing a Flush Valve; Replacing A Flapper; Adjusting the Tank's Water Level; Repairing a Leaky Tank; Repairing a Leaky Bowl; Stopping a Tank from Sweating; Replacing a Toilet Seat; Unclogging a Toilet with a Plunger; Clearing a Clog with a Closet Auger
Part 5 - The Part of Tens: Ten Tips for Plumbing Success; Ten Tips for Dealing with Problematic Pipes; Ten Safety Considerations
Index

The first part of the book starts out with the general layout of a household plumbing system, and why things like drain, waste, and vent systems are necessary. He also goes into what tools are essential when it comes to plumbing repairs. That's probably the first really helpful thing for me, as my tool collection is... "lacking", and going to a store doesn't necessarily tell you why you'd need something like a spud wrench. The following sections get into the details of specific repair jobs, complete with photos (not generalized line drawings), a list of tools you'll need, materials you'll have to use, and how long it *should* take. Knowing me, I'd double that last figure, and then double it again. And if I beat that time, I'd be feeling real "manly". :) I really wish I'd have had this book when we replaced our toilet. My wife and I would have resumed talking to each other much sooner...

The Part of Tens section is also useful for those little gems that you don't think of when you start a project... like trying to start and finish your project during store hours so you don't end up stuck overnight with no toilet or water pressure in the house. Also there's the advice to buy the *right* tools for the job at hand, and add to the collection as you do new projects. I won't tell you what I've ended up using pipe wrenches for when certain other tools are not available to me.

I'm sure all the home repair experts are probably thinking I'm a major wuss when it comes to fixing stuff. They'd be right. But with a book like this, I'm inspired to at least give the repair a try before springing for the cost of a professional. Although the whole propane blow-torch thing? I don't think so...

This books is a lifesaver for all of us who want to do minor plumbing repairs with little or no knowledge of how to go about the fix. Great book that details the steps, tools and procedures with pictures that guide you through the ordeal.

This book is full of useful information....unfortunately the one piece of information I was looking for (replacing a faucet fixture for the bathroom sink) is nowhere to be found in the book, thus making it completely useless. There's money thrown in the waste basket....which is where this book is as well.

I have bought this book to learn how to fix a leak in my bathroom faucet. It clearly explains step-by-step on how to fix it. All different kinds of faucets are convered in detail with clear pictures. Great value for the money.

I ordered this book for my husband and myself as a reference book. We live in a house over fifty years old with three bathrooms all in various stages of time-worn decrepancy. Not being gifted as plumbers, our efforts at repair are accompanied by tears and prayers, so this book was a godsend!

When I'm at the bar knocking back a few drinks, I love to talk politics with people. Even with complete strangers. I get immense enjoyment telling everyone how my political viewpoints are right and that everyone with different political viewpoints than mine are wrong.

After a while people grew tired of my act and nobody would take me seriously anymore. Then this "Joe the Plumber" fool comes on the scene and steals all my thunder. I found a great deal of pride in being the voice of the every-man, then this dude from Ohio comes out of nowhere and suddenly he's on the TV every five seconds. He was even a topic of discussion during the Presidential Debates!

While watching the debates I couldn't help but think:

That should be ME up there!

If having knowledge of plumbing is what it's going to take to get my political musings out in the public, well then it's time for me to learn a little something about plumbing.

With the election just a couple of days away I knew that my plumbing lesson had to be quick and thorough. I can hold my own when it comes to discussions about politics, so I needed to make sure I knew my stuff when it came to plumbing, too. That's why I knew "Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies" was the perfect book for me.

In just a few hours I learned all about how to stop toilet tanks from sweating, how to repair and upgrade all kinds of faucets, even how to fill my very own plumbing toolbox with all of the appropriate tools and safety equipment.

The easy-to-follow, detailed instructions of "Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies" made learning plumbing techniques a snap.

With the plumbing lesson out of the way all I need to do now is get myself in front of one those Presidential candidates (and a television camera) and hope he asks me what I think about healthcare reform. Then the people of America can finally hear my voice, and hopefully they'll be ignorant and naive enough to vote for who I tell them to vote for. After all, I represent the every-man and they should listen to every word I have to say, not these stupid Presidential candidates.

God Bless America!

P.S. Call "chatchi the Plumber" for all of your plumbing and political needs.