PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day Four
26/04/08 12:32 Filed in: Reviews

Day four of the PITT Plumbing Course and we're in to the real meat of the course now with the start of the actual installation. So you can see what PITT and John have been trying to achieve with this course by putting all the required techniques and skills and knowledge into our heads for the first half of the week, so that we understand what we're are doing on the installation.

Firstly it's a case of getting out all the required sanitary ware, naturally with every piece that moves from storage into our hands comes complete with an explanation, an anecdote and John's own twist on things; there's just somethings you can't learn from a book.

For the installation we'll be working in our bays and fitting a pan and cistern, a radiator and basin and all the required piping to strict measurements.

John has us all working one task at a time after he's demonstrated the task to a few course members at a time to ensure they can see properly, after all there's only so many people who can crowd around one man, so John's repeating the notes and demos where required.

With the tips that John's been dispatching over the last few days some elements of the installation are proving really quite simple and most importantly enjoyable. Overall the class is very laid back and taking the task within their stride, working quietly along to the radio.

During the breaks I took the liberty to ask the other delegates about the knowledge they were learning and how they thought it would help them in their careers. Needless to say they are of the same opinion as myself in that the course provides an excellent learning experience, especially at the price and duration.

By the end of the day we've got our cistern and pan located and connected, including all the internal fittings as well as learning about different syphons and ball valves, we've also got the radiator and basin positioned, tomorrow we'll be piping it all up. You may be thinking that we've been taking our time doing the installation, but there's been a whole lot of demonstrations and learning along the way, which we've all required to do the installation correctly.

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PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day Five

That's the basin fully connected and working on the radiator, overnight I think all the knowledge has sunk in that bit more and I'm pretty much flying along with the installation, especially when you consider I've not done any plumbing before.

I've managed all the pipe bends with ease and soldered all the joints as cleanly as a novice can and they survived the air test for a whole two minutes before one of the solder joints blew; at least my installation wasn't full of what at the time. But what a godsend air testing is, without it I reckon the solder would have held for a while before starting a slow leak. A quick re-solder and the repair is complete.

Now it's time to fill the system will water and as I open the valve I have to admit to being a little nervous, but I needn't have worried as not a drop was spilt. I've bled my radiator and the toilet flushes perfectly. Basin taps and waste work a treat, not a leak in sight!

During lunch I was suggesting to the other course members that maybe John would be downstairs in the training room rigging our installations for leaks, just so that we could learn to cope with even more snags. Little did I know that before I finished my lunch, someone had done just that to my job, a few smiling faces; all in the name of fun. And I learned how to cope with the leaks as well.

After completing our installation, John took us through the removal and re-installation of a bath and a whole host of things to look for the ensure that we don't get caught out.

The last thing before we get our certificates, John opens the floor for questions and answers to go through anything we're are not sure of. There was only a few things raised, but as usual John is only too happy to full explain and put our minds at ease.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here
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PITT Plumbing Course Review - Conclusion

This has been a really hard course to write about, why? For a few simple reasons, there was just so much to take in.

Both from plumbing knowledge stance as the PITT course really does try to cram in as much content as physically possible within those 5 days. And because of the level of information coming from the instructor John Kimberley, much of which I really believe he tailors to the individual because I could see him relating to various course members slightly differently and using subtly different anecdotes and examples to explain both the theory and the practical sides to his trade. A very patient, understanding and intelligent teacher who really knew how to convey the sometimes difficult subjects in the easiest of ways, very much more than your average tradesman.

Overall this course does exactly what it says on the tin. If you want to learn how to remove and refit bathrooms and water piping within a domestic setting then this is an ideal course for you and one that would put you in a very good position to take this new knowledge into either your workplace or your own projects. I wouldn't hesitate for a second in recommending this course or any other service provided by Paul Riley's team at PITT.

And I have to commend PITT for not forcing other aspects of their business, such as the tools supply onto the delegates as this was left very low key and entirely up to the individuals discretion whether to purchase or not. That being said the tools package they specified did include an excellent range of tools from the best brands and at very keen prices, plus you'd have the tools support from their trades-direct staff.

Naturally a big thank you to Norma for all the fantastic catering and the immaculately clean coffee area and lunch room, believe me the course really did appreciate the relaxing environment.

Throughout the week the whole building was kept spotlessly clean all the staff were friendly, polite and genuinely helpful and I looking forward to my PITT Wall Tiling course the following week.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here
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