Plumbing

30 articles

• Above-Ground Sanitary Pipework Design: Part H Stack Sizing, Air Admittance Valves, Trap Seal Depths and Offset Connections
  Part H discharge unit tables, 100mm stack for ≥2 WCs, AAV not suitable for primary ventilation, trap seal 75mm (bath/basin) vs 50mm, offset max 200mm from stack centreline
• Bathroom Refit: Full Scope of Work, Materials List, and Regulations
  Full bathroom renovation scope of work, materials checklist, first fix/second fix stages, and Building Regs (Part F, P, G)
• Boiler Pressure Too High: PRV Operation, Expansion Vessel Fault & How to Reduce
  Boiler overpressure: normal cold 1.0–1.5 bar, PRV set at 3 bar, expansion vessel diagnosis via Schrader valve, vessel pre-charge typically 1.0 bar, replacement sizing
• Cold Water Storage Tanks: Sizing, Installation Rules & Legionella Prevention
  Cold water storage tanks: sizing (minimum 100L), BS 1566, BS EN 12897 insulation, Legionella risk management above 20°C
• Combi vs System vs Regular Boiler: Which Does My Customer Need?
  Combi vs system vs regular boiler comparison: sizing by property, Boiler Plus requirements, and when each type is appropriate
• Compression Fittings: Types, Sizes, and When to Use Them
  Compression fitting types, sizes, and comparison vs push-fit and solder: when compression is required and installation tips
• Drain Testing: Air Test, Water Test & CCTV Survey Procedures
  Drain testing: air test (38mm wg, 3 min), water test (1.5m head, 2 hours), CCTV survey MSCC4 grading, smoke test, preferred gradient 1:40 for 100mm pipes
• Expansion Vessels: Sizing, Pre-Charge Pressure & Replacement Signs
  Expansion vessels: pre-charge equals cold fill pressure (typically 1.0 bar); sizing 10–12% of system volume; waterlogged vessel diagnosis via Schrader valve
• Fitting an Outside Tap: Backflow Prevention, Pipe Routing & Building Regs
  Outside tap installation: double-check valve (fluid category 3, WRAS approved), Water Regulations notification, pipe lagging/stop tap, WaterSafe certification, drain-down for winter
• Flexible Braided Hoses: WRAS Approval, Legionella Risk and Replacement Intervals
  Flexible braided hoses: WRAS BS 6920 approval, 10-year maximum service life, Legionella risk from braided PVC, replacement programme, HSE ACOP L8 requirements
• Frost Protection for Pipework: Lagging, Trace Heating and Winter Drain-Down
  Frost protection for pipework: BS 5422 insulation thickness tables, trace heating 10–15 W/m minimum, WRAS Fluid Category 5 drain-down for irrigation, minimum background heat 12°C
• How Do You Install an Outside Tap? Water Regulations, Backflow Prevention, and Pipe Sizing
  Water Fittings Regs notification, double check valve (Category 3 risk), frost protection, 15mm supply with isolator, WRAS-approved fittings
• How Do You Select the Right Circulator Pump for a Heating or Hot Water System?
  Circulator pump head/flow calculation, ErP Directive A-rated efficiency, pump curves, pumping away from expansion vessel, shower pump positive/negative head selection
• How Do You Solder Copper Pipe? Step-by-Step Capillary Soldering for Plumbers
  End-feed vs solder-ring fittings, flux types (BS EN 29454), step-by-step technique, lead-free solder for potable water (Water Regs 2000), common mistakes and dissimilar metal rules
• Leak Detection Methods: Trace & Access, Thermal Imaging & Acoustic Equipment
  Leak detection methods: thermal imaging, acoustic detection (pressurised copper best), tracer gas (N2/H2 5%), trace and access insurance, dye testing for drainage
• Legionella Risk Assessment & Control: Temperature Management & Landlord Duties
  Legionella management: storage ≥60°C, delivery ≥50°C within 1 minute, ACOP L8 risk assessment duty, landlord obligations, annual TMV testing requirements
• Low Mains Water Pressure: Accumulators, Break Tanks & Booster Pumps
  Low mains pressure solutions: accumulator tanks (no pump), break tank with booster pump, Water Regulations compliance
• New Pipework Chlorination: BS 8558 Procedure, Sodium Hypochlorite Dose Calculation, Flushing and Bacteriological Sampling
  BS 8558 50mg/l free chlorine dose, sodium hypochlorite calculation formula, 1-hour contact time, triple flush, bacteriological sampling by UKAS lab before commission
• Press-Fit Plumbing: Copper vs Stainless vs Multilayer — Tools & Compatibility
  Press-fit plumbing: copper vs stainless vs MLCP; jaw compatibility rules (brand-specific); BS EN 1254-7; leak-before-seal feature; pipe preparation steps
• Push-Fit Plumbing Fittings: Speedfit, Hep2O & Demounting — When & How
  Push-fit plumbing: insert (stiffener sleeve) mandatory for PB/PEX but not copper, Speedfit/Hep2O demounting, MLCP incompatibility with standard push-fit collets
• Replacing a Radiator: Draining Down, Valve Types, Sizing Up & System Refill
  Radiator replacement: isolation without full drain-down, valve compatibility (BSP tails), sizing up for heat pump (low-ΔT output tables), system inhibitor top-up, air lock prevention after refill
• Shower Tray Installation: Low-Profile Trays, Waste Positions & Floor Reinforcement
  Shower tray installation: low-profile tray subfloor reinforcement (18mm ply), waste position planning, P-trap vs bottle trap, 38mm water seal minimum, tile-over trays (Wedi, Schlüter) for wet room
• Thermostatic Mixing Valves: TMV2, TMV3 & Where They're Required
  TMV guide: TMV2 for domestic, TMV3 for healthcare; set point 41°C/43°C, annual testing requirements, WRAS approval
• Underfloor Heating: Pipe Spacing, Loop Lengths, and Installation Guide
  UFH pipe spacing tables, maximum loop lengths, manifold sizing, screed depth, and insulation requirements per BS EN 1264
• Unvented Hot Water Cylinders: G3 Qualification and Installation Requirements
  G3 qualification requirements, mandatory safety devices, discharge pipework specs, and Building Control notification for unvented cylinders
• Water Meter Installation: WRAS-Approved Meters, Smart Meters, Sub-Metering for HMOs and Shared Supply Connections
  WRAS-approved pulse or smart meters, water company pre-approval for new connections, HMO sub-metering lease clause, shared supply Section 6 Water Industry Act consent
• Water Regulations: What Plumbers Need to Know About WRAS and Backflow Prevention
  Water Supply Regulations 1999, WRAS approval, fluid categories 1–5, backflow prevention devices, and notification requirements
• Water Softener Installation: Bypass Valves, Drinking Water & Waste Connections
  Water softener installation: bypass valve requirement, 750mm min from stop cock, separate drinking supply tap, drain connection
• What Size Pipe Do I Need? Domestic Plumbing Pipe Sizing Guide
  UK domestic plumbing pipe sizes: when to use 15mm, 22mm, 28mm for hot water, cold water, and central heating per BS EN 806
• What Size Waste Pipe Do I Need? Sizing, Minimum Falls, and Regulations
  Waste pipe sizing (32mm–110mm), minimum gradients/falls, maximum run lengths, and AAV requirements per Approved Document H