Plumbing · free to start
Learn plumbing from the basics
Short lessons on how water moves through a home, the pipes and joints that carry it, turning it off safely, and the jobs that belong with someone else. Each sitting takes a few minutes on your phone.
The plumbing path
Five parts, in order. Each one builds on the last.
Part 1
Plumbing Basics
The water systems in a home, what pressure and flow mean, and when to stop.
Part 2
Safe Working
The hazards that sit beside plumbing work, and how to plan around them.
Part 3
Cold Water Basics
Where the supply comes in, how water is stored and why backflow matters.
Part 4
Pipework & Jointing
Telling pipe materials apart, and the joints and fixings that hold them.
Part 5
Isolation, Hot Water Safety and Simple Repairs
Turning water off safely, recognising hot-water risks and planning small repairs.
Plumbing topics
Plain-English guides to what each part of the path covers.
- Plumbing BasicsWater in a Home4 lessons
- Safe WorkingWorking Safely Around Services4 lessons
- Cold Water BasicsThe Incoming Water Supply2 lessons
- Cold Water BasicsCold Water Storage and Backflow4 lessons
- Pipework & JointingPipe Materials2 lessons
- Pipework & JointingPipe Joints and Fixings3 lessons
- Isolation, Hot Water Safety and Simple RepairsIsolating and Draining Down2 lessons
- Isolation, Hot Water Safety and Simple RepairsHot Water Safety2 lessons
- Isolation, Hot Water Safety and Simple RepairsEveryday Plumbing Repairs2 lessons
Plumbing glossary
The words plumbers use, defined in plain English.
Before you start: some plumbing work is regulated or notifiable
Some water fittings work needs notice to, and consent from, the water supplier before it starts. Check the rules where you live.
Gas work is for competent workers covered by a Gas Safe registered business in Great Britain. Northern Ireland has separate gas regulations. Do not work on gas pipes or appliances yourself.
In England, installing an unvented hot-water system over 15 litres is notifiable building work: use a competent installer registered with a competent-person scheme, or tell building control before work starts. Leave this work to a suitably skilled person.
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own water and building rules; check which apply before work starts. Electrical connections belong with an electrician.
This guide does not qualify you or make you competent, approved or registered for plumbing, gas or unvented work.
Thinking about a change of career?
How people get into the trade, and what the research says about AI and hands-on work.
Also learning
Other hands-on trades we teach, each with its own learning path and career guide.
Build a picture of the system before learning the repair
Updated
Start with the water's route
Learn the difference between the incoming supply, stored water, hot water, heating and waste. Then study pressure, flow, isolation and contamination risks. This order helps explain why a fitting or valve is there before you try to remember its name.
Connect learning to a training route
The plumbing occupational standard covers planning, installation, testing, maintenance and customer communication. The short lessons here introduce the knowledge behind those tasks; a qualification still needs the relevant training and assessment.
Questions to take further
- Do plumbing lessons include gas-engineer registration?
- No. Lessons do not qualify or register anyone. For gas work in Great Britain, use a Gas Safe registered engineer competent for the relevant category; gas training and registration are separate from this learning path.
Sources
- Skills England: plumbing and domestic heating technician — The range of plumbing systems and skills in the England occupational standard.
- HSE: gas safety FAQs — Gas Safe registration and checking work categories.