The Black & Decker Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: Newly Expanded 3rd Edition (Paperback)

~ Editors of creative Publishing (Author) "Each day in the United States, roughly 500 billion gallons of water are withdrawn from surface and underground water supply sources for use in homes..." (more)
Key Phrases: macerating unit, sewer service line, pilot gas tube, Everything You Need Tools (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The only plumbing book you'll ever need. Do-it-yourself plumbing can save homeowners more money than almost any other type of home improvement. All it takes is the information and skills you can learn from this third edition of The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing. Virtually every type of plumbing repair and installation is included, from the very simple (stopping a leaky faucet) to the most complex (removing old plumbing pipes and installing a new system). Now with nearly 120 step-by-step projects! New to this edition are a wide range of timely, popular projects including: home spa maintenance, installing water purifying systems; installing an up-flush toilet; laying a landscape irrigation system; installing a water softener; and installing a modern claw-foot tub with exposed plumbing pipes.

About the Author

The editors of Creative Publishing international have created more than 30 of the industry's best-selling classics on home repair, home improvement, and landscaping. All books are exhaustively researched, written, photographed, and edited by veteran staff members with years of experience in their areas of authority.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Creative Publishing international; 3rd edition (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589232011
• ISBN-13: 978-1589232013
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #176,003 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #25 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Engineering > Civil > Construction > Plumbing
  #30 in	Books > Home & Garden > How-to & Home Improvements > Plumbing & Household Automation

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

116 of 117 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lives up to the title, September 30, 1999

By	Dave (Oneida, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: A Comprehensive Manual, from Basic Repairs to Advanced Projects (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library) (Paperback)

I very rarely spend hard earned money on "how-to" books since they very rarely offer the kind of insight a do-it-yourselfer is looking for. This book is the best exception to that rule that I have found. The book covers all facets of plumbing.

Included in the book are high level overviews, extensive discussions of plumbing materials, and step by step instructions for planning, installing, and repairing plumming systems. Whether you are a current home owner looking for assistance in home plumbing repairs, or designing the plumbing system for new construction, this book contains everything you need to get the job done.

In addition to the thoroughness of the information contained in the book, there are outstanding graphics and photographs depicting topic at hand. This book would be a bargain at five times the cost.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book on a Confusing Subject I've Found!, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: A Comprehensive Manual, from Basic Repairs to Advanced Projects (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library) (Paperback)

I've been disappointed many times at the lack of depth given by many "do-it-yourself" books. This isn't one of them! The photos are clear, the language concise. Each procedure is given clearly in a step-by-step manner that anyone can follow. After reading this book I may even tackle copper pipe and soldering, something which I've never been quite brave enough to do before. I had questions answered that I've been searching for, quite literally, years. How-to manuals just don't get any better.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource for doing it yourself- and doing it right!, December 2, 2002

By	JDiver "You haven't lived until you've dived." (Roseville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing: New, Updated & Expanded Edition (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library) (Paperback)

I'm the kind of homeowner who isn't afraid of attempting various repairs- with the proper guidance and directions (I do have some background in electronics repair, but that's a distant relative to home repairs, IMO.) This book provides both for me through excellent organization, clear instructions highlighted by excellent overall and step-by-step photos (for instance, photos of three alternative "naked" shower plumbing setups as typically installed in American homes, sans drywall and covering, as well as step-by-step photos of how to perform component maintenance or replacement). Included are lists of the tools needed to do the job (ever had to stop mid-job because you didn't have the exact tool to continue?), a well-written index and even handy conversion (metric - Imperial) tables, as well as what in my opinion is the only useless bit of this book, a sketchy resource list of professional associations. I think this book still merits five stars; it is good for scoping and planning, and then to follow as you are doing. Finally- a well-illustrated and clearly written book for the rest of us, not assuming we know it all nor talking down to us! Kudos- and thanks!- to Black and Decker.