PITT Independent Review of the one week plumbing course

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PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day One | Reviews | UK Tilers Register

PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day One
20/04/08 17:20 Filed in: Reviews

The PITT plumbing course is designed to teach the removal and refitting of a bathroom suite in a domestic setting, which was I now know encompasses most of the plumbing within the domestic household. Naturally central heating systems are also covered.

The first thing I notice when going through the PITT entrance is that the showroom has been completed, please see the photos attached. Not you average training centre reception I'm sure you would agree. [Dates are incorrect due to camera reset]

After meeting the rest of the guys on the course up in the coffee area, the day begins with Jason detailing the health and safety assessments carried out, fire procedures and availability of first aiders. The training area for the plumbing course has training bays around the perimeter of the room, with a central seating area for theory lessons and powerpoint presentations, they are also displays of a conventional heating system, a bath, a shower and central heating controls. There is also a large range of pipe fittings and sundries to the front of the training area.

From here John Kimberley our course tutor takes over and begins with a comprehensive breakdown of required tools for plumbing, what they are called and what they are needed for. John has a very visual teaching style in that he likes to show you exactly what he's talking about and demonstrates how tools / fittings would be used; this was a great help to people like myself who've never really attempted plumbing or the use of the tools.

After the tool breakdown, John takes up through a powerpoint presentation of pipe fittings of end feed, compression, solder ring and push fit varieties. The presentation is also backed up with John showing us actual fittings and explained why and when they would be used. This information is also in the supplied booklet. John also clearly explains about soil pipes and how to connect to them and the various types of soil in the domestic market.

Later in the day we have soldering practice, where we have free reign to solder various pipes together with bends and couplers. I've always thought that soldering would be a tricky thing to learn; not in the slightest. John first takes us through the fire precautions and potential hazards involved with flux, solder and blow torches, after that he goes through a few simple and clear demonstrations of the soldering process and then it's off to our own bays for a try. The blowtorch we are using is the Rothenberger Sure Fire 2 which seems to whip the flame around the pipe, soldering is a breeze.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here Tiling Courses | Tiling Course | Plumbing Courses | Tiling Courses Staffordshire | Tiling Courses Cheshire | Professional Tiling Courses | PITT Training

I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.

Review by Dave M. Carr
[e] dave@davemcarr.co.uk
[w] Tiler Nottingham | Professional Floor & Wall Tiling Nottingham
Professional Floor Wall Tiler Nottingham


PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day Two
21/04/08 18:33 Filed in: Reviews

Tuesday morning starts with a lesson on plastic wastes. We cover why there is a need for a waste, what they are made from and their different designs and how to connect them. John also demonstrates push fit and solvent weld styles and the pro's and con's to each system and where he would use each system. We also cover wastes for different applications such as sinks, baths and showers and the new Hepworth waste which would prove very useful in space restrictive areas.

Then we're onto a conventional vented central heating system. The class starts from where the rising main enters the property and we follow it's path through the house, John clearly explains where all the associated tanks are kept, what they feed and the water regulations concerned with this type of system. There is an awful lot of information in this lesson as we trace the inlets and outlets from the hot water cylinder, the use of the three-way valves and the schematics of how the radiators are connected to the system.

It may seem like I'm glossing over the finer details of this lesson, but for good reason; I'd be typing for hours. By the end John's lesson on conventional vented central heating systems we have a firm understanding of how hot and cold water is fed to both the kitchen and bathroom areas (including regulations and water pressures) and how to stop the flow of water, increase the pressure and drain down to remove taps or damaged pipes. John's also covered the central heating side of the system and demonstrated how to remove a radiator and refit. This demonstration also included useful tips on draining down and ways to 'bung' the system.

We have also learned how install a shower properly so the hot water doesn't fade away when another member of the household draws hot water downstairs. Again John's opened my eyes with the ballofix valves fitted in my bathroom and how they're possibly hampering my showers performance; should have fitted 'full bore' varieties.

After lunch John's shows us all how to bend pipe with the Hillmor pipe bender or 'wrestling the Octopus' as someone called it. This may seem like a very easy task, but there's far more involved in this essential skill for plumbing. John's explains how we create 90 degree bends, offsets and how to direct the copper pipe. There's quite a lot of practice time allotted for this task; and with good reason. I have to say that while my bends and offsets came out where they should, it did take some practice and I'd definitely say the additional practice payed off later in the week when we did the bathroom fit.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here Tiling Courses | Tiling Course | Plumbing Courses | Tiling Courses Staffordshire | Tiling Courses Cheshire | Professional Tiling Courses | PITT Training

I'd also like to invite all tiling course providers to contact the Tiler Register to get their courses reviewed as all providers are welcome to the same review process.


PITT Plumbing Course Review - Day Three
22/04/08 18:30 Filed in: Reviews

Day three begins with lessons on combination boiler systems and condensing boilers. John starts from where the rising main enters the building and clearly describes the waters passage to the cold water taps and the supply to the boiler. I've to say this system is far easier than yesterdays and within minutes we're clearly able to see how the radiators are connected on a combination system.

John also takes us completely through the procedure for removing radiators, changing fittings and replacing taps and how to do it all without damage to the boiler or too much water loss. Ever wondered how to get inhibitor into a sealed system like a combi system? Well after this lesson I now know, and if you're wondering how to tell the difference between the boiler types and how to refill a combination boiler after draining the water; this is all covered in an easy to follow way.

Again I'm fleeting over the details of this morning lessons as they are literally packed with information and I'd be here for hours typing the full contents.

After another fine lunch, John sets us a small task of bending pipes through a series of holes that connect to pipes on the rear of the board and all to strict dimensions, failure to keep the bends to the correct angle and pipes to the correct length, will result in the small system refusing to fit correctly. At first this seemed a rather easy little task, but in reality was quite challenging as it encompassed many different bends and at various places along the pipe; not just at the ends.

There's plenty of time allotted to this task to ensure that we fully grasp the importance of the task and the skills necessary to achieve a satisfactory fit. It's worth stressing that John is very keen on best working practices, working safely, working cleanly and there's always an emphasis on looking after the customers property, this as I'm sure you'll agree is most important to both new and established businesses.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here Tiling Courses | Tiling Course | Plumbing Courses | Tiling Courses Staffordshire | Tiling Courses Cheshire | Professional Tiling Courses | PITT Training

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.

For more details on the PITT Plumbing Course click here
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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
Tiling Courses | Tiling Course | Plumbing Courses | Tiling Courses Staffordshire | Tiling Courses Cheshire | Professional Tiling Courses | PITT Training