Plumber Water & Drainage Flashcards
7 cards from real PC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Plumber Water & Drainage flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a cleanout installed in a drainage system?
Answer: To provide access for drain cleaning equipment to clear blockages
Cleanouts provide access points in the drain system so that drain cleaning tools (snakes, hydro-jets) can be inserted to clear stoppages.
What is the minimum clearance required in front of a toilet (water closet) to the facing wall or obstruction under the IPC?
Answer: 21 inches
The IPC requires a minimum of 21 inches of clear space in front of a toilet to the nearest wall or obstruction.
A plumber notices that a kitchen sink drain gurgles when a clothes washer discharges nearby. This most likely indicates:
Answer: Insufficient venting causing back-siphonage
Gurgling when another fixture discharges indicates that the large flow is creating negative pressure in the unvented or under-vented branch, pulling air through the trap.
Under the IPC, what is the maximum developed length of a 1.5-inch trap arm (from trap weir to vent)?
Answer: 8 feet
A 1.5-inch trap arm may not exceed 8 feet in developed length from the trap weir to the vent connection.
Which fitting is prohibited from use in a horizontal drainage line under most plumbing codes?
Answer: Double sanitary tee (double tee-wye)
A double sanitary tee (cross) is prohibited in horizontal drain lines because it allows cross-flow and creates backflow between opposing branches.
What is 'hydraulic load testing' used to verify in a new drainage system?
Answer: Watertightness and proper flow in the drain, waste, and vent system
Hydraulic load testing fills the DWV system with water to verify there are no leaks and that the system drains properly under simulated use conditions.
A floor drain installed in a garage must include which special feature to prevent flammable vapors from entering the building through the drain?
Answer: A trap primer to maintain the water seal
Garage floor drains must have a trap primer because the trap can evaporate in infrequently used drains, allowing flammable or explosive vapors from the sewer to enter.