Customer Rating: 
Summary: Not for the occasional repair guy.
Comment: This is a great book if you need theory, plumbing codes, etc. If you want to know how to make your new p-trap fit your old p-trap, then you will be very disappointed. No DIY tricks here. No inside secrets on parts compatibility and replacements. This book is just hard core plumbing design and install, etc,,, and not repair parts oriented which is the root cause of most guys looking for a book like this. Plumbing repair is all about parts, PARTS, parts, and this is not the book for that. The cover of the book even says "...planning and installing....", not repair! It seems to be a great book, seriously,,, it just is not the magic pill I wanted. Seems there are no magic pill books,,,, rats! By the way, I think the used book I bought is stolen from Parma Ohio Library. hmmmm?
Customer Rating:
Summary: A very highly recommended instructional reference manual
Comment: Whether a do-it-yourself amateur or an experienced professional, this new and updated edition of Howard Massey's "Plumber's Handbook" is a very highly recommended instructional reference manual. Drawing upon his many years of expertise and experience as a plumber, a plumbing contractor, an inspector and plans examiner, Massey explains in simple terms how to install plumbing systems that will pass inspection the first time! Each chapter is profusely illustrated with diagrams, charts and tables that will insure the selection of the right material and correct installation. The "Plumber's Handbook Revised" addresses vents, waste piping, drainage, septic tanks, hot and cold water supply systems, wells, fire protection piping, fixtures, solar energy systems, gas piping, and so much more. Of special note are the chapters dedicated to the plumbing of mobile home and travel trailer parks and graywater recycling. An invaluable addition to personal, professional, school and community library reference collections, this newly revised edition is completely updated to conform to the International Plumbing Code (IPC) and the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) standards.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Not the book if you are plumbing your own house
Comment: I'm building my own house and bought this book as a plumbing reference. It has pretty much sat on the shelf. It is more oriented toward the full time plumber who is doing multiple types of jobs. Too much time spent on the many fascets of plumbing and too little time spent on how it applies to doing a residential job.Instead I'd recommend "Complete Home Plumbing" by Sunset books. That book has been my first read when a question comes up.
Customer Rating:
Summary: A plumbing detail lover's dream
Comment: I'm a man the thrives on detailed information. And I salute this Howard Massey for producing this first-rate plumbing book! Beware, this is not a book for weekend Joe looking to learn how to replace a faucet washer. Even if your not in the plumbing trade, but are serious about learning to understand and design plumbing service for your home or business, you have found the book you want.So many technical books paint their subject with such broad brush strokes that, after reading the book, the reader is left to discover for themselves (as in "the hard way") what necessary detail was omitted. Not this book. It's complete, well organized, well indexed, and riddled with excellent photographs and illustrations.
While the book is entirely in in black and white, the author very effectively used an artist with a computer to expertly draw most of the illustrations. The fidelity of the graphics is worthy of a graphic arts how-to book.
To give you a sense of how thorough and complete this book is, I'll describe the problem I recently used it to understand and solve. A family friend, who is a veterinarian, recently mortgaged everything to buy her own animal hospital. As soon as she bought is the drains started backing up. Roto-Rooter started coming monthly to remove pet hair from the sewer pipes. I went to the "Plumbers Handbook" and it not only had a section on trapping hair, it even had a topic specific to the control of hair generated by kennels and animal care facilities!
What a super book!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Plumbing Concepts - Residential and Small Commercial
Comment: Excellent book for designers and architects to use for residential and small commerical structures. Provides the Plumbers point of view on necessary design elements for layout of fixtures, pipes, etc.Provides excellent explanation on how to read a plumbing design layout and superb insight in to the plumbing codes. Provides the details that will allow a designer or architect to adequately communicate with plumbing contractors.
Good overview for architects/designers and a very useful study guide for plumbers and plumbing contractors.
