Chapter 9 Further Reading: Toilets, Sinks, and Fixtures

Books and Print Resources

1. "The Complete Plumbing Book" — Rex Cauldwell (Taunton Press) A detailed, professionally written guide covering fixture installation and repair from rough-in through finish. Cauldwell writes with real trade experience and doesn't oversimplify. Particularly strong on faucet anatomy and valve types. A good shelf reference for any homeowner willing to go deeper on plumbing DIY. The photography is excellent.

2. "The Family Handyman Complete Guide to Plumbing" — Family Handyman Editors More accessible than Cauldwell, organized by project type rather than system component. Very strong on toilet and faucet repairs. Packed with step-by-step photography. The fixture repair sections are written with beginner plumbers in mind and are accurate and practical. Good for the homeowner who wants project guidance without a lot of background theory.

3. "Plumbing: Codes, Permits, Repairs, Installation" — Benjamin Wanner Specifically addresses the intersection of plumbing work and building code — a topic most DIY guides gloss over. Useful if you're undertaking any fixture installation that crosses from repair into new work, or if you want to understand what your local code requires for fixture installation. Not a repair manual; a code reference.

Online Tools and Databases

4. MaP Testing (Maximum Performance Testing) Database — maptest.org The single most useful consumer resource for toilet selection. Independent laboratory tests of toilet flush performance using standardized soybean paste at defined weight increments (250g–1,000g+). Results are publicly searchable by brand, model, and score. Any toilet evaluation should begin here. The site is not commercial — it exists solely to provide independent performance data. Bookmark it.

5. EPA WaterSense Program — epa.gov/watersense The official EPA resource for WaterSense-certified products. Searchable database of certified toilets, faucets, showerheads, and irrigation controllers. Also includes a household water budget calculator that estimates your expected usage and identifies likely savings from efficient fixture upgrades. The product search is the essential tool; the calculators are genuinely useful.

6. AWWA (American Water Works Association) — awwa.org The professional organization for water utility professionals publishes consumer resources on water use, efficiency, and fixture performance. Their research on household water use (End Uses of Water studies) provides the most rigorously measured data on how much water specific fixtures actually use in practice — useful context for the efficiency claims made in product marketing.

Video Resources

7. This Old House — YouTube Channel and Website (thisoldhouse.com) The gold standard for home repair video instruction. Their plumbing content is extensive, accurate, and produced with input from licensed plumbers. The toilet repair and faucet repair videos are particularly good. Search specifically for "toilet flapper replacement," "faucet cartridge replacement," and "garbage disposal repair." The production quality is high enough that you can follow along in real time.

8. Home Repair Tutor — YouTube Channel Run by Jeff Patterson, a home inspector. His focus is on diagnosing problems — identifying what's wrong and why — before jumping to repair. His toilet and faucet diagnostic videos are excellent for the homeowner who wants to understand the "why" before the "how." Less polished than This Old House but often more detailed on the diagnostic process.

Product Information

9. Moen, Delta, and Kohler Brand Websites — moen.com, deltafaucet.com, kohler.com Each major faucet manufacturer publishes parts lookup tools on their website. If you have a faucet and don't know the model, you can often identify it from a photograph and the brand name. Once identified, the parts lookup gives you the exact cartridge part number, instructional videos, and warranty information. Using the manufacturer's resource before buying a generic replacement part is almost always worth the five-minute lookup.

10. Fluidmaster — fluidmaster.com Fluidmaster makes the most widely used toilet fill valve and flapper replacement products in North America. Their website includes a toilet diagnosis tool and a toilet model lookup to identify compatible parts. If you're replacing a fill valve or flapper and aren't sure which model your toilet takes, their lookup tool is the fastest path to the right part.

Standards and Certification Organizations

11. ADA Standards for Accessible Design — ADA.gov The Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards include detailed specifications for accessible plumbing fixtures: toilet height (17–19 inches from floor to seat top for ADA), faucet operable parts (lever or sensor rather than pinch-grip handles), and clearance dimensions. If you're renovating and want to future-proof for aging in place or accommodate household members with mobility limitations, the ADA standards provide specific, measurable design targets. Free to access; directly applicable to fixture selection.

12. NSF International — nsf.org NSF certifies plumbing products for material safety — ensuring fixtures don't leach harmful levels of lead or other contaminants into drinking water. The NSF/ANSI 61 standard (plumbing component materials) and NSF/ANSI 372 (low lead requirements) are the relevant certifications. For fixtures in contact with drinking water — kitchen faucets, drinking water lines, ice maker connections — NSF certification is a meaningful safety standard beyond just flow rate and finish. All fixtures sold in the U.S. are required to meet lead-free standards, but third-party NSF certification provides additional verification.