Plumbing is a vital part of societal building; without it, we wouldn’t have access to adequate water supply. Professional plumbers already know the importance of being safe and efficient with this kind of work. For aspiring plumbers, it takes the right amount of knowledge and educational materials to develop this skill. If you’re searching to see whether plumbing is the right kind of work for you or just looking to brush up on your basic skills, then you can start by reading the best plumbing books of the trade. Here are the 20 best books you’ll find on plumbing.
1. Plumbing For Beginners
This step-by-step guidebook was written and published by Handy Andrew in 2021. Containing 130 pages, it introduces basic plumbing techniques for beginners and intermediate plumbing tasks for experienced students. Much of the material revolves around common plumbing problems that you’ll find around the house. The plumbing guide offers practical advice alongside helpful illustrations.
2. Plumbing 101 For Homeowners
Written by Billy L. Winner and published in 2022, this homeowner’s book describes itself as a secret guide from expert plumbers. Plumbing 101 for Homeowners gives information on household problems, tools, bathroom repairs, PVC piping, and common plumbing mistakes to avoid. It offers professional advice in older house repairs, updated plumbing codes, and in-demand techniques needed to build a career.
3. Plumbing Complete: Expert Advice From Start to Finish
Created in 2008 by Rex Cauldwell, this was published as a comprehensive guidebook to plumbing. Going beyond the how-to steps of a home project, this book provides a thorough understanding of how a drain system works. It also gives expert advice for bathtub installations, toilet repairs, and kitchen appliances.
4. Plumbing for Dummies
The ‘For Dummies’ book series is usually dedicated to beginner information on a complex topic. In this case, the Plumbing For Dummies book goes over residential projects for plumbing. Written by Donald R Prestly, this 170-page plumbing book covers 40 of the most common tasks that a homeowner could perform. It’s slightly different from Plumbing Do-It-Yourself For Dummies, a guidebook that’s aimed more toward DIY homeowners.
5. Plumbing 1-2-3
This nicely-titled book was created by the Home Depot. Plumbing 1-2-3 has 224 written pages of practical knowledge. The book teaches homeowners how to install, upgrade, repair, and maintain a residential plumbing system.
6. Plumbing a House
Published in 1997, this 205-page plumbing book was written by master plumber Peter Hemp. The long-standing book covers plumbing systems for both new and remodeled homes, teaching readers how to install rigorous systems and repair current systems. It also goes over design, size, and pipe installation for plumbing jobs.
7. The Complete Guide to Home Plumbing
With over 256 pages to read through, this plumbing book includes detailed explanations for various tasks, from fixing a leaky faucet to renovating an entire plumbing system. This book is recommended for homeowners and DIY enthusiasts who are searching for comprehensive guidance.
8. How Your House Works
To get a decent grasp of how plumbing works, you’ll need to know how a home works. This illustrated guidebook gives you hands-on knowledge about how a house works, and the first 45 pages go over plumbing systems. With this plumbing section, you can learn about faucets, water supply, waste management, septic tasks, water pipes, and sink drainage. Written by Charlie Wing, this 240-page plumbing book is great for beginners and intermediate learners.
9. Home Plumbing Manual
Whether you’re dealing with a dripping faucet or a busted water pipe, the Home Plumbing Manual is informative to homeowners and plumbers alike. Written by Andy Blackwell, this book offers practical advice in an easy-to-understand language.
10. Complete Plumbing
Written in 2008 from Stanley Complete, this 288-page book is an essential step-by-step guide to major plumbing projects. The book comes with detailed illustrations, photos, and checklists from start to finish.
11. Ultimate Guide Plumbing, Updated 5th Edition
For those who are looking for detailed diagrams for complex systems, the Ultimate Guide Plumbing provides just that. Created by the editors of Creative Homeowner, this best-selling guide provides how-to instructions for various plumbing tasks. In addition to covering basic tasks, the book teaches you about how a plumbing system works.
12. Residential Construction Academy: Plumbing
Written by Michael Joyce in 2011, this course book contains over 640 pages of educational material. The Residential Construction Academy teaches essential skills found in the field, from proper safety measures to tools of the trade. The book emphasizes troubleshooting techniques, which is an important skill to have for this career. It also goes over plumbing codes.
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13. PVC Pipe Book
When learning how to plumb, it helps to have a thorough understanding of different systems and materials involved in a project. Written by Chris Petersen in 2018, the PVC Pipe Book is a 144-page educational book about piping systems.
14. PHCC Educational Foundation’s Plumbing Series
The PHCC series is a collection of textbooks, often read by plumbing students looking for a comprehensive education. The 6th edition was written in 2012, and it contains 320 pages of informational material. The PHCC Educational Foundation’s Plumbing Series covers the most advanced projects, geared toward difficult plumbing situations found in the real world.
15. Plumbing Trainee Guide, Level 4
The Plumbing Trainee Guide is a training workbook for advanced plumbing skills. Written by NCCER, this 480-page book was published in 2014. It includes information on gas systems and hydronic heating. The Plumbing Trainee Guide is mostly for plumbing contractors who are working on advanced projects in renovation or construction.
16. 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code
As a work field, plumbing has its own set of codes and regulations to abide by. Plumbers who don’t follow the codes are more prone to dysfunction or bad installation jobs. If you’re an aspiring plumber, you’ll need to read the updated information on the latest codes and provisions. The 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code is the official UPC guide to plumbing installation, containing over 400 pages of updated codes.
17. International Plumbing Code
Developed by the International Code Council, this book covers plumbing codes and regulations on an international scale. Published in 2020, this 560-page book is a requirement for most plumbing businesses.
18. Code Checklist Complete 3rd Edition
Looking for an efficient checklist for various regulations? This illustrated guidebook revolves around coding checklists, common code violations, and general guidelines for construction workers. It goes over complex rule changes while staying up-to-date with codes by the IRC, UPS, UMC, and NEC. Written by Redwood Kardon, this 2023 book is informative to plumbers, builders, remodelers, construction workers, and building inspectors.
19. Black and Decker: The Complete Guide to Plumbing 6th Edition
The Black and Decker plumbing guide is designed for people of all skill levels. It teaches essential plumbing skills, from fixing a faucet to installing a drain line. The 305-page textbook, published in 2015, comes with easy-to-understand passages as well as illustrations.
20. Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization
Flushed: How the Plumber Saved Civilization deviates from the other items on the list; it’s less of a technical guide and more of a deep-dive into the history of plumbing. The book covers the historical development of plumbing, discussing its impact in a witty and entertaining way. Written by W. Hodding Carter and published by Atria Books in 2007, this 256-page book is definitely worth a read.
Where Can You Buy Plumbing Books?
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast, an aspiring plumber, or a professional looking to upgrade your knowledge, this list compiles the best books of the field. You can buy these books online or from any skill-based bookstore. If you’re interested in expanding your business with plumbing software, then try Housecall Pro’s today with a free 14-day trial.
