semplr.

Exams · Certifications · Licensing

Journeyman Plumber Exam

Scenarios: practice questions

Our Journeyman Plumber bank has 19 questions on this topic. Here are 5 of them with answers; the full mock exam draws from every topic, like the real one.

Start the free mock exam

Question 1

A customer says the kitchen faucet's flow is weak but pressure elsewhere is fine. What should be checked first?

  1. The water heater's thermostat setting
  2. The aerator for debris
  3. The vent stack
  4. The main shutoff
Show the answer

B. The aerator for debris — Clean or replace the aerator.

Question 2

A new basement bathroom is below the sewer level. What is needed?

  1. A larger drain only
  2. A sewage ejector (pump) system with proper venting
  3. A backflow valve only, with no pump or other special venting needed
  4. Nothing
Show the answer

B. A sewage ejector (pump) system with proper venting — Gravity drainage won't work.

Question 3

Why might a plumber install a high loop or air gap for a residential dishwasher drain?

  1. To reduce noise
  2. To make the dishwasher drain faster by adding gravity to the discharge hose
  3. To prevent waste water from backing into the dishwasher
  4. To heat the water
Show the answer

C. To prevent waste water from backing into the dishwasher — Check local code for which is required.

Question 4

An outdoor faucet bursts every winter. What is the best solution?

  1. Wrap it in tape
  2. Increase water pressure
  3. Install a frost-free sillcock with a vacuum breaker, sloped to drain
  4. Remove the vacuum breaker
Show the answer

C. Install a frost-free sillcock with a vacuum breaker, sloped to drain — Disconnect hoses in winter.

Question 5

A customer's tap water smells like rotten eggs only from the hot tap. What is a likely cause?

  1. A gas leak
  2. A broken vent
  3. A reaction between the water heater's anode and sulfate-reducing bacteria
  4. A dry trap
Show the answer

C. A reaction between the water heater's anode and sulfate-reducing bacteria — Replacing the anode with an aluminium/zinc type often helps.

More Journeyman Plumber topics