Young plumber of the year.

[Dannypipe]

Just watched it. Not being sexist here but I knew from the get go they would make the girl win.

She didn't deserve to. The final challenge was a joke even so she had to squeeze her pipe ends with grips to make it work. She was prompted to find the ring in the trap, and she burnt the wall in the first challenge.

Plus she answered the least questions right in the Q & A.

If she deserved to win, then all power to her, I feel it was a fix.

 

[ecowarm]

wish id watched it

 

[Dannypipe]

Maybe you can catch it on the bbc iplayer?

 

[ecowarm]

that a thought

 

[tamz]

Of course it was a fix. All for good television. They will all improve with time. Good luck to them all. They should all do well.

Best bit was the look on the girls face when she let the pump bleed screw drop when trying to fix the boiler at the digs and the boy with the glasses made a smart comment. I thought she was going to hook him

 

[bloyd]

yeah its on the bbc iplayer, and that bit made me chuckle too she had a well smart bike!

 

[tweakyboy]

Yeah I think it was a fix too.

That task at the end was pretty crap, how does that define young plumber of the year? It doesn't.

They should have been set some mammoth installation task, or some super tricky fault finding.

 

[Jamie Banks]

Agreed with above, thought the final challenge was awfull as they totally forgot about the pressures etc (pressure is head or pipe size etc) and pump and just went mad on the creative side. Gives me alot of confidence that the work I am doing in pretty good.

Thought the best by far was the fault finding and the lad who went off first had a good approach but missed the fault on the shower which cost him his place.

Be intereseted to see what the knock on effect of this prog is and how the industry changes, cos we all know that big things are happening in training etc

Be interested to see how these guys were trained ie apprenticeships, fast track, company etc

 

[Blake]

Just watched it and I agree with you all. Honestly, having to sqeeze the ends of the pipes with grips to overcome the low pressure issue due to incorrect pipe size used was ridiculous.

To be honest, if that is a snap shot of the best young plumbers out there, I'm a little worried!

 

[johnmcginty]

Final task should be to swap a now obsolete pacific lisbon 2" drop valve , 3/8th euro botom feed inlet (with no service valve) and flush cone washer in a tiled porcelain boxed in concealed Thomas Dudley cistern with only half closing dodgy victorian stopcock outside , with inside lead main stopcock half under cement and no longer used ( handle wiped shut), with no side access panel whilst rescuing a hidden superglued live crab located underneath cistern using the least amount of parts with patronising customer watching in one hour causing no damage.

Now come on charlie wheres your imagination ?

 

[WaterTight]

Brilliant programme! Made for entertaining TV audiences - not for fairness to candidates or accuracy in portraying the job - but that's TV, isn't it?

Of course it was a fix but just about everything on TV is.

Link for anyone wanting it: BBC iPlayer - Young Plumber of the Year

As for the contestants - They're only young to be fair. And honestly how well would any of us think we'd do with the cameras and lights and presenters and pressure? Especially in your early 20's.. It can't be easy. Your mind goes blank. I think they all did well and they'd all be an asset to any company.

If I was going to criticise anything it'd be the challenges. What's the point of testing people on skills they basically don't need?

First challenge: Not wasting so much as an millimetre of copper on an installation. Why would they need to do that?

Second challenge: Making sure you paw through any sludge you pull out of a trap incase there's a diamond ring in it. We all do that don't we?

Third Challenge: How often do you have to be locked in a metal box and interrogated on trap seals with a camera in your face?

Last challenge: That looked well fun. I'd love a go at that. But again - I'm not convinced (even though I understand the theory) that once the cameras and lights and countdown started I'd think to test pump pressure before I chose the pipe sizes.

Really enjoyed it though. That Pimlico Plumbers bloke looks like he's waiting for his slot on Dragon's Den.

 

[WHPES]

At the end of it all, it's just TV entertainment, and nobody in the industry will take it seriously.

 

[Blake]

I was surprised that there was no reference to the Gas Safe Register, especially when they were messing with the boiler. I believe the young lady was gas reg but again, you think they would make it clear that a plumber is not able to do such a thing unless gas reg.

Anyway I'm off out to my next job, one of my customers wants me to make them a water feature out of 15mm and 10mm copper pipe.

 

[tamz]

It was an oil boiler and she was correct with her answer of what should be fitted above a main stopcock, A double check valve THEN a drain cock. No point in fitting drain valve then double check as it will drain nothing.

 

[Dannypipe]

Tamz, I said that to my mrs....check valve, then drain valve. I was doubting myself.

As for the depth of seal in a bath waste, why do we need to know that? You but a trap and know that it is the right depth.

I didn't have a clue, finally, why they wanted the trap size in mm and wouldn't accept inch and half is beyond me.

Stupid programme.

 

[tamz]

Tamz, I said that to my mrs....check valve, then drain valve. I was doubting myself.
You were right.
As for the depth of seal in a bath waste, why do we need to know that? You but a trap and know that it is the right depth.
Because you can buy 19mm (which should discharge to a hopper with length restrictions) and 38mm seal traps (same or 2 pipe systems) that can not be fitted legally on a single stack system (50mm min)
I didn't have a clue, finally, why they wanted the trap size in mm and wouldn't accept inch and half is beyond me.
Probably to do with some european directive
Stupid programme.

 

[kirkgas]

It was an oil boiler and she was correct with her answer of what should be fitted above a main stopcock, A double check valve THEN a drain cock. No point in fitting drain valve then double check as it will drain nothing.

haha as soon as he asked the question i said check valve, when he said drain valve i was shouting at the telly, TBF none of them said check valve,

 

[Toddyplumb]

Where are you getting the check valve from ? There is no requirement for NRV above stop tap only the drain valve

 

[tweakyboy]

Where are you getting the check valve from ? There is no requirement for NRV above stop tap only the drain valve

I'm thinking the same, thats why the stop tap has a loose jumper.

My first reason is void, they are banned. My bad!

On second thought thats why we have our air gaps, double checks, etc at point of use.

 

[tamz]

There is up here and i'm sure the rest of the uk will be the same. On a new build you won't get a supply if one is not fitted.

 

[dontknowitall]

I fitted a new supply for a neighbour (private water supply so regs not necessary - stupid rule in my opinion) and I installed stop tap, check valve then drain valve. Was worried after last night, but reading the above I'm glad I did it that way.

Incidentally the private water supply is a bore hole shared with his neighbour and I didn't want the responsibility of the wrong stuff going down and contaminating things.

 

[Toddyplumb]

Bore hole is something different.
You need to look at the whole chapter relating to backflow.
For a house with a water main and stop tap its not needed.
You guys in the cities with high rise flats off a common main may need them

 

[kirkgas]

There is up here and i'm sure the rest of the uk will be the same. On a new build you won't get a supply if one is not fitted.

View attachment 1497

its all about standards isnt it tamz , i feel sorry for these 3rd world countries with their contaminated water supplies, its a shame for their kids

 

[Toddyplumb]

"where it is necessary " (High rise ) I didnt think you guys would be buying things you dont need

 

[tamz]

SW want them fitted so is not an option up here. Been like that for around 12 years or more.

It is good practice anyhow as you can never guarantee whoever alters or fits things in the future will fit them at the appliance.