My name is Rodney McAlpin and I am a third generation plumber. This book is to convey my experience to the everyday do-it-yourself homeowner in the hope that a little additional knowledge will help homeowners across the nation weed out the Jake legs that give my profession a bad name. I also hope this book will inspire the average homeowner to attempt many of the simple plumbing repairs on his or her own.Another reason for writing this book is to give new and inexperienced plumbers a reference guide. Having been in the plumbing business now for over forty years and having to continually teach the correct plumbing procedures to new employees, a guide is long overdue. Reinforcing the fact that a guide is needed are the many daily repair calls I go on, simply to correct other plumbers mistakes, and I see the same mistakes over and over again.