Piping and Plumbing Flashcards
6 cards from real Ramsay Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Piping and Plumbing flashcards as text
Which fitting is used to connect two pipes of different diameters in a straight run?
Answer: Reducer or reducing bushing
A reducer (or reducing bushing) transitions from one pipe diameter to a smaller one in a straight line. Elbows change direction, tees add a branch outlet, and unions allow disassembly of a straight joint.
What is the function of a check valve in a piping system?
Answer: To allow flow in one direction only and automatically prevent backflow
Check valves (also called non-return valves) open under forward flow and close automatically when flow reverses, protecting pumps, compressors, and other equipment from backflow damage. Flow control is a needle/globe valve function; pressure relief is a safety/relief valve function; isolation is a ball or gate valve function.
Pipe schedule numbers (Schedule 40, Schedule 80, etc.) refer to:
Answer: The wall thickness relative to the pipe's nominal size
Schedule numbers define wall thickness — a higher schedule means thicker walls and a higher pressure rating. For any given nominal pipe size (NPS), the outside diameter stays constant across schedules; only the wall thickness and therefore inside diameter change.
When applying Teflon (PTFE) tape to NPT (National Pipe Taper) male threads, the tape should be wrapped:
Answer: Clockwise when viewed from the threaded end — the same direction as thread engagement
Wrapping tape in the direction of thread engagement (clockwise when looking at the male end) causes the tape to tighten and seat when the fitting is threaded in. Wrapping the opposite direction causes the tape to unravel and bunch as the fitting is turned, destroying the seal.
A technician hears repeated banging in a piping system whenever a solenoid valve closes quickly. This condition is called water hammer. The best corrective action is to:
Answer: Install a water hammer arrestor or replace the valve with a slow-closing type
Water hammer is caused by the sudden deceleration of fluid when a valve closes rapidly, creating a pressure wave. Arrestors absorb the wave with an internal piston and spring; slow-closing valves prevent the sudden fluid stoppage that generates the wave in the first place.
What is the primary maintenance advantage of installing a union fitting in a piping system?
Answer: It allows the joint to be broken and reassembled without cutting or rotating the pipe
A union uses three pieces (two end fittings and a central nut) that can be disconnected and reconnected without rotating the attached pipe. This makes it essential near equipment like pumps, strainers, and valves that need to be removed for maintenance.