Black and Decker The Complete Guide to Plumbing Updated 8th Edition: Completely Updated to Current Codes (Black & Decker Complete Photo Guide)

my father was a DIYer, and it appears I am one too. His book/magazine of choice was the Sunset Series, It's looking more like Black & Decker will be my go to (for DIY projects). Good photos, clear and concise writing, what more do you need?

Recommended

Like the book, good illustrations and instructions. Gave me the confidence to install a new kitchen sink and a new dishwasher on my own, saving us an estimated bill of $450. I will be using this to assist with replacing a broken bathroom faucet, pipes in the well house etc. etc.

Has helped in many ways good buy to have for first home owners

Pros: good solid guide, with good illustrationsCons: I bought the latest edition (8th - 2023 ed.) but it didn't have anything on heat pump water heaters, thermal expansion tanks, or thermostatic valves.

The biggest takeaway that readers can gain from Black and Decker The Complete Guide to Plumbing is the confidence to DIY all sorts of plumbing matters in their homes. There is a great introduction, including parts of home plumbing, water supply, appliances and fixtures, drain-waste-vent system, pictures on how to shut off water - inside and outside, and much more.From here, the sections of the book cover basic plumbing, installing lines, installing fixtures, faucets, drains and appliances, and whole house water filters. There are great charts of common materials, new plumbing, layouts, pipe fittings, and copper. The book also covers common plumbing repairs, like toilet problems and clogged drains. Basically, everything one needs to know about plumbing can be found in this book. There are great tips throughout and excellent pictures that even the most novice homeowner will be able to follow.Overall, Black and Decker The Complete Guide to Plumbing was updated to include the newest in code information and innovations in the field. I was impressed as to how readable the book was as, with my limited knowledge of plumbing from our own house projects, I was able to follow along. I would recommend this book to homeowners looking to expand their knowledge on plumbing.Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

I know enough about plumbing to be dangerous, but not enough to really know how to do more than swap out a toilet float or replace a sink's P-trap. Okay, maybe a bit more - I've sweated a couple of copper pipes here and there, but when the job has been too large or even looked moderately complicated, I called in the experts.I will still call in the experts when I do not feel comfortable taking on a given project (say, installing a whole new rough in plumbing line or system), but this book gives me a lot more confidence to be able to handle some of the smaller, less-involved ones that I might have previously asked for help like fixing a dishwasher or replacing a toilet.Written in clear, easy-to-understand language, it takes you through the very basics of what a plumbing system is all the way through each type of plumbing material (steel, copper, PVC, PEX, etc.) and its associated fittings so you can really have a good sense of what you are doing and on to more complex fixes, tasks and projects. There's over a dozen sections in the "Repairs" section! Not to mention even more in the Fixtures, Faucets, Drains and Appliances section. And it does so with a huge amount of clear language, great color photos - and when there aren't photos, really good full color graphics.What's not to like?Plus, it is updated through the 2021 plumbing codes, so it includes things I have never worked with before, such as PEX pipes and fittings, not to mention smart valves and other smart fixtures for plumbing (most of which I didn't even know existed).This will be a handy resource for me for years to come. I would bet it will for most homeowners too. Definitely recommended!

If you are a human that lives in a home with plumbing, you definitely need this book in your library! It’s chock full of great info that covers issues/projects from beginner to higher complexity. It lays a good foundation that gives the reader a base understanding of how plumbing works, which tools you’ll need and generally how to use them. The photos and illustrations are also helpful in understanding each project.The book is a great start to understanding any plumbing issue that you may have in your home. And helps you determine whether you want to try to fix it yourself or hire someone else. And if you do hire someone else then you’ll be a bit more confident with being able to speak about the subject in a much more educated manner.If you decide to do some of the jobs yourself, the book provides that foundation but I would definitely watch some videos online covering the exact model of object that you are replacing or installing as any book wouldn’t provide everything you need and this one is no exception.All that being said, it’s a great resource to add to your library whether you’re a handy person or not as it helps folks from both groups be more educated and make better decisions.