Interplay Learning’s course catalog, SkillMill™ is filled with educational plumbing content that can help you and your team master plumbing basics and beyond. Lessons include proper usage and safety for plumbing tools, how to remove or modify kitchen plumbing, the types and benefits of bathroom fixtures, and much more.
What to Expect from Online Plumbing Courses
From beginner to expert level, on-demand courses give you the flexibility to learn anywhere, anytime on any device. Each course is taught by an industry expert and includes hours of video lessons, simulations and knowledge checks to test your comprehension. These innovative online plumbing courses simplify foundational concepts and present troubleshooting at a pace that’s easy to learn and digest.
How Plumbing Classes Can Advance Your Career
While there is no substitute for actual field experience, SkillMill™ serves as a digital mentor to rapidly increase your foundational knowledge base while delivering unlimited hands-on practice.
For example, do you need help with water heater troubleshooting, but real life opportunities aren’t that frequent? SkillMill™ provides video lessons that will give you a deeper understanding of the components of a water heater; then, you can move into interactive simulations to try your hand at troubleshooting issues with technical practice. Rather than relying on pictures or diagrams, you get an actual 3D representation of what it looks like in the field and can apply your new skills as much as possible in a safe, risk-free environment.
The following is a list of some foundational plumbing courses you can explore as you build your skills in plumbing.
Online Plumbing Courses for Beginners
PLMB101: Introduction to Water Heaters
This course introduces you to the components, setup, and function of gas, electric, and tankless water heaters. You’ll start by learning about the anatomy of these three types of water heaters and conclude with how to maintain them. The course will cover water, gas and vent piping along with the various components common to most water heaters. Controls, sequence of operation and safety devices along with a few special illustrations make this a great course for both beginners and experienced technicians alike.
What You’ll Learn:
- Water Heater Anatomy
- Connecting Piping
- Dielectric Connections
- Relief Valves
- Expansion Tanks
- Dip Tubes & Anode Rods
- Gas Piping
- Venting: Category I, Category IV & Direct Vent
- Drain Pans
- Controls for Gas Fired Units: Standing Pilot, Piezo Igniters, Power Vent with HSI, Vent Motors, and Pressure Switches
- Controls for Electric Units: Thermostats, Heating Elements and Sequence of Operation
- Water Heater Maintenance
PLMB102: Basic Plumbing Tools
There are many different tools required for the plumber, from daily jobs to a veteran challenge. This course covers the basic tools you’ll use most. It goes through various different categories, explaining each tool’s application and helpful tips, with safety practices in mind. It begins with tools used in the home, then transitions to tools for commercial application. Finally you’ll explore some helpful repair tools that aid in common problems.
What You’ll Learn:
- Proper usage and safety for hand tools
- Proper usage and safety for leveling tools
- Proper usage and safety for pipe wrenches
- Proper usage and safety for pipe cutters
- Proper usage and safety for tubing cutters
- Proper usage and safety for torches
- Helpful repair tools for common problems
PLMB103: Caulking and Sealing
Properly using caulk and caulking tools is essential to creating a neat and professional look as well as a long lasting seal between materials. Caulk can be used for many applications, including windows, doors, and fixtures in the bathroom or kitchen. This course covers the different kinds of caulk and what they’re used for, the tools needed, and how to properly remove and apply caulk to specific building materials.
What You’ll Learn:
- Selecting the proper caulk based on application
- The common tools used in preparing for and applying caulks and sealants
- The tools and methods used to remove caulk
- The proper methods used to apply caulk in various applications
- The proper methods for caulking and sealing specific building materials
PLMB104: PLUMBING MATERIALS OVERVIEW
Pipes are used to bring water or gas into a building and sewage or waste out. Being able to determine what type of pipes a structure has is crucial to understanding what type of work needs to be done. Each pipe material has its own fittings, assembly methods, and application. This course covers potable water piping, sanitary drainage, and fuel gas piping.
What You’ll Learn:
- How to identify galvanized piping, copper pipe and tubing, CPVC, PVC, PE, PEX, ABS, and cast iron pipes and fittings.
- The purpose of a dielectric union.
- The solvent welding process and selection of the proper primer and glue.
- Understand the differences between PE and PEX pipe, fittings, and application.
- How to identify hub and no hub cast iron pipe and the methods used for joining them.
- The difference between PVC and ABS pipe and how to select the proper primer and cement.
- How to identify black iron and CSST piping.
- The purpose of a bonding wire.
PLMB105: Plumbing Demolition
Before remodeling a kitchen or bathroom, you have to remove the old fixtures first. It’s important to know how to remove plumbing fixtures correctly for both safety reasons and to prevent damage to things that are not removed. This course covers the procedures for removing common bathroom and kitchen fixtures, including sinks, toilets, tubs, and showers.
What You’ll Learn:
- What are the proper procedures for demolition and replacement of bathroom and kitchen fixtures?
- How to remove a sink and bath vanity?
- How to remove a toilet, tub, and shower?
- How to remove or modify kitchen plumbing?
PLMB106: Plumbing Fixtures Overview
This course explores all the materials, configurations and components of various plumbing fixtures. It begins in the bathroom, taking a look at lavatory materials and mounting types. After that you’ll learn about kitchen sinks and faucets before heading back to the bathroom. You’ll discover how many different showers, bathtubs and showerheads there are, as well as the benefits of each. Finally, this course takes you through the anatomy and function of toilets. Understanding these topics is essential to being able to make an informed and professional recommendation for what fixture would be best suited for an individual situation.
What You’ll Learn:
- The types and benefits of lavatory mounting styles
- The types and benefits of lavatory materials
- The types and benefits of lavatory faucets
- The types and benefits of kitchen sinks
- The types and benefits of kitchen faucets
- The types and benefits of bathtub and shower enclosures
- The types and benefits of bathtub and shower materials
- The types and benefits of toilets
- The anatomy of a toilet
- The basic functionality of a toilet
Already set on the basics? Additional courses with advanced content and challenging field simulations include:
- PLMB201: Electric Water Heater Troubleshooting
- PLMB202: Toilet Troubleshooting
- PLMB203: Kitchen Sink Troubleshooting
- PLMB204: Gas Water Heater Troubleshooting
Whether you’re just entering the field, want to refresh your plumbing know-how or advance in your career, SkillMill™ is the ultimate digital-first tool to supplement your in-the-field experience and sharpen your plumbing skills from home.
