TLE 221

INTRODUCTION TO
PLUMBING

Prepared by: Sir Harold Almendras

 TLE 221

INTRODUCTION TO PLUMBING

WELCOME TO
OUR COURSE!
Desired LOs. . .
1. Discuss the history of plumbing
2. Elaborate different types of plumbing tools
3. Identify different plumbing materials and
equipment
4. Analyze different laws related to plumbing
5. Practice the Process of plumbing installation
6. Practice troubleshooting in plumbing
PLUMBING

Introduction to Plumbing

PLUMBIN
G
LESSONS
Plumbing Tools,
Materials and Equipment

Laws Related to
Plumbing
 Introduction to Plumbing

HISTORY OF PLUMBING
Plumbing, in general, refers to bringing water into and wastewater
out of your home, but the impact plumbing has had on cleanliness
and health in our homes over the centuries is astounding germs are
easily washed away with a turn of a knob, and waste is sent out of
your home with a flick of a handle. Modern plumbing advances have
long been credited with boosting human hygiene and eliminating
contamination and disease.

Not all of the innovations that went into creating the contemporary
plumbing system were straightforward or efficient. The method has
been developed, honed, and perfected over thousands of years, and
advancements are continuously being made. This is a look at the
development of plumbing over time and how this intricate system
came to be.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

A plumber requires several tools for the fitting work for plumbing, fixing a
tap, or carrying out repairs. These tools help the plumber in performing
his/her work properly, and therefore it is important that the tools are used
systematically and handled carefully to avoid any damage. They should
be kept at a designated place after use. The tools can be categorized as
per the nature of work like holding tools, fitting tools, cutting tools, pipe
threading and bending tools, etc.
Introduction to Plumbing

Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING

HOLDING TOOLS FITTING TOOLS CUTTING TOOLS PIPE-BENDING OTHER TOOLS

TOOLS
Introduction to Plumbing
Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING
HAND TOOLS

Tools that are used for holding the pipes, pipe

fittings, and fixtures for plumbing operations are
called holding tools. Some of the commonly used
holding tools are mentioned below.
Introduction to Plumbing
Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING
FITTING TOOLS

While holding tools are used to keep the objects in

place, fitting tools are used for carrying out various
plumbing operations like cutting, tightening, fixing,
and other small tasks.
Introduction to Plumbing
Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING
CUTTING TOOLS

Tools that are used for cutting pipes, fixtures bolts,

etc., are known as cutting tools. Some of the
commonly used cutting tools are mentioned below.
Introduction to Plumbing
Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING
PIPE-BENDING TOOLS

In most of the plumbing operations, pipes are

required to be bent at different angles as per
requirement, for which pipe bending tools are used.
Some of these tools are mentioned below.
Introduction to Plumbing
Categories of major tools used in

PLUMBING
OTHER TOOLS

Apart from the already mentioned holding, fitting,

cutting, and bending tools, various other tools are
also used in plumbing operations. These are listed
below.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

HOLDING TOOLS
Bench Vise
A vice is a tool used for holding an object for
various tasks like filing, chipping, sawing,
threading, tapping, bending, etc. The bench
vice has two jaws, one of which is fixed and
the other is movable. These jaws are fitted
with plates for a better grip on the object
during the task. The vice size depends on the
width of the jaw. A bench vice is fixed to a
table or a bench through a bolt. A vice is
opened and closed with the help of a handle
attached to a spindle. In this way, the object is
held tightly. Bench vices hold the objects and
allow the use of other tools to complete the
tasks
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

HOLDING TOOLS

Pipe Vise

It is a tool used for holding a pipe for carrying

out assembly, disassembly, threading, cutting,
etc. Pipe vices are of two types:
(i) Open side pipe vice
(ii) Fixed side pipe vice
Standard sizes of vices are 80 mm, 105 mm,
130 mm, and 170 mm, as per the opened size
of the jaws.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS
Wrenches

These are hand tools used for tightening and

loosening the nuts and bolts. Wrenches hold
slippery or small nuts and bolts for loosening
or tightening them. Mostly, two types of
wrenches are used—adjustable and non-
adjustable. These are useful particularly in
case of odd-sized nuts and bolts. These tools
hold a pipe and pipe fittings for screwing or
unscrewing. This is a very common tool,
especially for small diameter pipes up to 50
mm.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS

Adjustable Wrench
This type of wrench is used to loosen or tighten the
nuts and bolts of any odd and regular sizes. It is
used for tightening and loosening valves, cocks,
geysers, flexible pipes, etc. It is a good
maintenance tool for the repair of plumbing items
like valves, cocks, pumps, etc.

It has a fixed flat jaw with a handle and a square-

toothed screw. The movable flat jaw slides into the
body of the fixed jaw with the support of a screw.
The gap between the flat jaws is used to hold the
object to be twisted for screwing or unscrewing.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS

Water-pump Plier

It is a common plier used by plumbers for

holding, tightening, and loosening work
during the fixing process. Steel is used for
manufacturing water pump pliers. These are
available in only one standard size of 250
mm in length. The maximum width possible
between the two jaws is 40 mm.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS
Spanners

This tool is used for tightening and loosening

nuts and bolts of standard size. The
standard spanners used are:

•Ring spanners
These spanners have a full circular closed
ring at both ends. It is difficult to slip and
cause damage. It is made through the
forging process, with a burnished finish or
a chrome-plating
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS

•Open-ended Spanners

These types of spanners are open from both

sides and are used for tightening and
loosening nuts and bolts
A spanner having open-ended jaws slides
through the nut or bolt with square or
hexagonal heads. The bolts or nuts are then
turned with the required force to screw or to
unscrew. The two jaws have two consecutive
sizes like 6 mm and 7 mm or 1/4″ and 5/16″.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS

•Combination Spanners

These spanners are open at one end and

closed at the other

•Bi-hexagonal Ring Spanners

It has a bi-hexagonal shape at both ends to

hold a nut or bolt, the head of which is
square or hexagonal. The sizes of the two
ends are consecutive like 6 mm and 7 mm,
1/4″ and 5/16″.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

FITTING TOOLS

•Combination Spanners

These spanners are open at one end and

closed at the other

•Bi-hexagonal Ring Spanners

It has a bi-hexagonal shape at both ends to

hold a nut or bolt, the head of which is
square or hexagonal. The sizes of the two
ends are consecutive like 6 mm and 7 mm,
1/4″ and 5/16″.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

CUTTING TOOLS

Pipe Cutter

This is a manual tool used to cut a pipe at

the work site, especially when it is difficult to
use a hacksaw frame. This tool has a sharp,
round cutting wheel that is pressed with to
and for rotary motion for cutting a pipe
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

CUTTING TOOLS
Hacksaw

This tool is generally used with both hands.

It cuts material like plastic pipe, steel rods,
angle iron, sheets, iron pipes, etc. It can also
be used for cutting the bolt heads and nuts
when they are jammed. Important parts of a
hacksaw are—the handle, frame, blade, and
adjusting wing nut.

A hand-operated hacksaw is used for site

work while a power hacksaw is used in a
workshop for cutting heavy pipes quickly
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

CUTTING TOOLS
Pipe Bending Tools
In most of the plumbing operations, pipes are
required to be bent at different angles as per
requirement, for which pipe bending tools are
used. Some of these tools are mentioned below.

•Pipe Bending Machine

This equipment is used to bend or turn pipes. The
size and strength of the machine depend on the
diameter of the pipe and the type of the pipe
material to be bent. The mechanical or hand-
operated pipe bending machines are available for
3/8– 1″ diameter pipes. For higher ranges, i.e.,
1/2–2″, 1/2 – 3″, 1/2– 4″ and 2– 6″, hydraulic hand-
operated machines are used.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Chisel

It is made of hard metal and is mostly used

for cutting concrete surfaces and making
grooves in the walls with the help of a
hammer
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS
Hammer

These are general-purpose workshop hand tools used

for straightening sections, riveting, striking nails,
inserting the component by striking, inserting
keyways, and fitting by striking. The hammer consists
of a head made of hard and tampered steel, and a
wooden handle. The head has a flat striking face and
the other side is called pein. The peins are classified
per different shapes such as ball, cross, and straight
pein. The hammers made of hardened steel are
known as engineer’s hammers and are usually used
while working with steel components. A one-kilogram
hammer is the most commonly used hammer
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Chain Wrench

The common holding tools do not help much in the

case of large-diameter pipes. For these, chain
wrenches are used. A chain wrench consists of a
toothed block, a handle, and a chain. The chain is
round, grooved, and held on the toothed end of the
block. The chain grips the pipe fitting and screws or
unscrews. The chain wrench is available in 3″, 4″, 6″,
8″ and 12″, with length 475 mm, 585 mm, 834 mm,
1100 mm and 1360 mm respectively. These sizes are
designated by the maximum diameter of the pipe it
can hold
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Chain Wrench

This tool is often used by plumbers to fit the

screws. Screwdrivers have a sharp tip which can
easily fit into various screws. Different types of
screwdrivers are used for various types of screws.
Various types of heads of screwdrivers are used
by plumbers
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Files

These hand tools are used for a variety of work,

like removing of sharp edges, metal removal,
shaping of jobs, smoothening of surfaces,
finishing, producing different shapes, etc. The file
has five parts: tang, heel, face, edge, and point or
tip. Various types of files of different shapes like
hand round, pillar, square, three square, half
round, flat, knife edge, and needle file are used as
per the work
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Pliers

They are important tools used for holding small

objects and for tightening or loosening various
parts. Several types of pliers are used by a
plumber during work. Pliers can be used for
cutting purposes also. Various shapes and sizes of
pliers are available in the market.

Caulking Tools

For filling the gaps in the wall, caulking tools are

used. This tool helps in filling and removing
material in the building
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Drill Machine

One of the common but important tools used for

making a hole in a metal, wood, or concrete
surface. A drill is fitted with a cutting tool like a drill
bit. The attachment is tightened with a key.

Safety precautions:

Before installing the bit in a drill machine, it should

be sharpened. The key in the chuck, a part of the
drill machine used for tightening the drill bit should
be removed after tightening
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Drill Bits

These are the tools used to make cylindrical holes

by cutting the material. Bits are fitted in a tool that
rotates it and makes the hole. For non-cylindrical
shaped holes, specialized bits are used.

Hangers

The purpose of a pipe hanger is to hold or support

a pipe or a group of pipes from a slab, beam,
ceiling or other structural elements.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS
Measuring Tape
It is used for measuring the length of an item. The
measuring tape is manufactured in materials like
steel, cloth and PVC. The length range available is
one metre, two metres, three metres, five metres,
10 metres, 15 metres, etc.

Plumb rule and bob

This is a useful tool to ensure verticality and
uniformity when constructing walls, columns, and
wooden frames like doors and windows. It also
helps in leveling the surface of the floor. It consists
of a holding pipe, thread, and a plumb bob made
of wood and metal. The plumb bob is connected to
the holding pipe with the thread
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Spirit Level
It is used to check the horizontality or leveling of
the floor, roof, door, window frame, etc.

Trowel
It is used for mixing cement and sand for masonry
work. It is used for plastering the surface

Spade A spade is used for digging purpose and

for mixing cement, sand, and concrete. It consists
of a flat form made of steel with an eye hole to
hold the wooden handle. The size of a spade is
designated by its width and length of the plank
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Shovel
It is used for mixing concrete and also for carrying
concrete to mortar pans. Shovels are made of
steel sheets. The size is designated by its length
and width.

Pickaxe
It is made of steel and is used to excavate hard
soil. One end of the pickaxe is flat whereas, the
other end is sharp in design.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS
Mortar Pan
This is used to carry the excavated material,
cement mortar, concrete, etc. It should never be
used for the measurement of mixed cement
mortar, etc. Mild steel sheet is used for making
mortar pan

Mason’s Square
It is used to check the rectangularity of external
and internal corners. It is made of carbon steel
sheet. The dimension is also marked on both
sides, either in inches or centimeters.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Plumbing Tools, Materials and Equipment

OTHER TOOLS

Water Level Tube

This tube is used to check and transfer water
levels, etc. Water is poured inside the tube at the
time of use. Polythene tubes of varying diameters
from 10 to 15 mm, and lengths varying as per the
requirement are used.

Rover Jumper
It is used for making a gap in the wall so that
plumbing fixtures can be fixed
 Introduction to Plumbing

Safety During Work

The following precautionary measures may be taken for the safe use of the plumbing tools.

1. Use the correct methods given in the ‘Instruction Manual of tools’ while using them.
2. Use the appropriate tools required for the specific work or job. For example, do not use
pliers instead of a hammer; use only a hacksaw to cut.
3. Keep the tools in working condition and ensure the required maintenance.
4. Ensure that the necessary protective equipment are available.
5. Follow safety methods while using electrical wires.
6. Use kerosene oil to remove dust from rusty nuts.
 Introduction to Plumbing

Safety During Work

The following precautionary measures may be taken for the safe use of the plumbing tools.

7. Do not use tools without a handle as they may not give proper grip.
8. Remove burrs or stuck material from the head of the chisel and the edges of the tools.
9. Wear safety glasses while using power tools like a drill machine.
10. Keep metal parts lightly lubricated.
11. Do not apply excessive pressure or force.
12. Inspect the tools regularly.
13. Use or wear safety gear (helmet, gloves, goggles, safety shoes, earplugs, etc.).
PLUMBING

END