Plumbing Course: Basics (Level 1)

This guide is for absolute beginners and everyday homeowners. You don’t need any plumbing experience at all—just a bit of curiosity and a willingness to learn.

By the end of this basics page, you should feel more confident because you’ll:

How Water Enters Your Home

Water usually comes into your home through a main pipe that runs in from the street. Think of it as the “front door” for all the clean water coming into your house.

From the stopcock (the main on/off tap for your water), smaller pipes branch off and carry water around your home to things like sinks, toilets, baths, showers, and appliances like washing machines and dishwashers.

Hot Water – Where It Comes From

Your hot water normally comes from a boiler or hot water cylinder, which heats up cold water from the mains so it’s ready for your taps, bath, and shower.

From there, hot water travels through smaller pipes to your taps, baths, and showers—just like the cold water does—so you get hot water exactly where you need it.

How Waste Water Leaves Your Home

Used water from sinks, basins, baths, showers, toilets, and appliances flows away through waste pipes. These pipes carry dirty water out of your home and into the main drains, so it can be taken away safely.

Under each sink or basin you’ll see a U-shaped or bottle-shaped piece of pipe. This is called a trap, and it holds a small amount of water to stop bad smells from the drains coming back up into your home.

Key Points to Remember

When you’re ready, move on to the next lesson: Pipes, Fittings & Valves Explained, where we’ll go through the basic parts you’ll see in most plumbing systems and what each one actually does.