Glossary
Categories
Plumbing Definitions
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. ABS is a hard, black plastic piping material used for vents and drains. PVC can also be used in the same applications.
Access Panel
This is a point at which you can access your plumbing or electrical system for servicing. Typically a small, disguised door or panel.
Acid
A substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Most acids dissolve common metals and will react with a base to form a salt.
Acidity
The level on concentration of acid in water. Acid will neutralize an alkali or base.
Aerator
Found inside the tip of a faucet it mixes air with water to prevent splashing.
Alkali
Alkali is a water soluble, mineral compound. It feels soapy to the touch. However, strong Alkali can cause severe burns. The measure of Alkalinity in water is referred to as pH.
Angle Stop
The shutoff valve between the water supply line and the fixture.
Backflow
Backflow is the flow of water back to the main water supply.
Backflow Preventer
A device that prevents backflow into the system and contamination of drinking water.
Ballcock
The Ballcock is activated by a float and is found in the toilet’s water tank. When you flush a toilet the float drops, opens the Ballcock and fills the tank. Once the tank is full the float rises and closes the Ballcock.
Bidet
A bathroom plumbing fixture for personal hygiene. It’s similar in appearance to a toilet bowl used for personal hygiene. A Bidet is located next to a toilet and consists of a hot and cold faucet, a washing basin and a sprayer.
Bleed
To Bleed means to drain a pipe, tube or hose of excess air by opening a valve.
Centerset
Centerset refers to a bathroom faucet that consists of a spout and one handle on each side. Faucets are commonly four inches centerset or eight inches centerset.
Check Valve
A non-return valve where water may only pass in one direction.
Cisten
Rainwater storage tank.
Clarity
Clarity is the measure of water’s clearness.
Closet Auger
Flexible, curved bar used to release toilet clogs.
Closet Flange
A Closet Flange, also known as a toilet flange is used to mount a toilet to the floor. It connects toilet to the drainage system.
Dec-Mounted Faucet
A Deck-Mounted Faucet is a type of faucet that mounts on the deck of a bathtub rather than on the wall. A roman tub faucet is a Deck-Mounted Faucet.
Dip Tube
Tube inside a water heater that sends cold water to the bottom of the tank.
Diverter
A valve witch directs water to various outlets. An example of a commonly used diverter is one in tub and shower combinations changing the water flow from the shower head to the tub faucet.
Drain
Any pipe which caries off water and wastes in a plumbing drainage system.
Drop-In
A Drop-In is a style of sink or tub that has a mounting rim which supports it.
Drum Trap
An obsolete, non-vented, lead or cast iron trap that was formerly used in sewer lines.
DWV
DWV is an acronym that stands for Drain, Waste, Vent. DWV are the three main parts of a drainage system.
E Coli
E Coli is a member of the coliform group of bacteria. It is an indicator of fecal contamination. E Coli is an abbreviation for Escherichia Coli.
Elbow
An angled pipe fitting with an opening at each end. Angles vary from 22.5° to 90°.
Elongated Bowl
Toilet bowl that has a dimensional width of 14” by 18 ½” long.
Escutcheon
A decorative flange beneath a faucet handle. An Escutcheon covers the faucet stem and the hole in the wall or fixture.
Expansion Tank
A tank that is designed to absorb thermal expansion pressure.
Female Fitting
A Female Fitting is a fitting that allows for another to fit inside of it.
Female Threads
Female Threads are threads that are place on the interior of a pipe or fitting.
Fixture
A Fixture holds fresh water at the point of use and disposes of wastewater. A fixture might be a sink, tub or toilet.
Flange
A Flange provides strength for guidance or for attaching to another object.
Flapper Valve
A Flapper is in the tank of the toilet. Like it’s name it flaps to allow water to flow from the tank into the bowl.
Float Ball
The Float Ball is in the tank of the toilet. It is connected to the ballcock and rises and falls with the changing water levels. It operates the ballcock by closing it when the water level is sufficient.
Flow Rate
The Flow Rate measures the faucet’s GPM (gallons per minute). A economical flow rate might of a flow rate of 2.5 GPM where a whirlpool tub faucet might be as high as 18 GPM.
GPF
Gallons per Flush. A unit of measure that indicate the rate of flow for toilets. Some newer toilets might have a 1.6 GPF where older toilets are about 3.5 GPF.
Gravity Operated Toilet
A toilet that relies on the natural downward pressure in a toilet tank.
Handshower
A Handshower is attached to the end of a flexible hose one can hold during showering.
Hose Bibb
An outdoor faucet. Also known as a spicket.
Instantaneous Water Heater
Like the name, this is a hot water heater that heats water instantly as it flows to your faucet. Also known as a “tankless water heater”.
Jacuzzi
Jacuzzi is actually a trademarked name. The Jacuzzi Brothers created the whirlpool tub back in the 1950’s to treat a family member’s arthritis. They marketed their first “Jacuzzi” in 1968.
Laundry/Utility/Service Sink
A sink that is extra deep for use in cleaning laundry or small equipment.
Lavatory
A sink that is in a washroom.
Leach Field
Porous soil that a septic tank leach line runs to. Its use is to empty the treated waste.
Main
A general term referring to the main channel of the plumbing system that both the drain and supply branch off.
Male Threads
Threads that lay on the outside of a fitting.
Manifold
A Manifold serves as a distribution point. A fitting that connects a number of branches to the main.
Mechanicals
Mechanicals are the parts in a building that have moving parts. They are the wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling components.
Mixing Valve
A Mixing Valve is the part of a faucet which allows the mixing of hot and cold water to reach a preferred temperature.
Nipple
A short length of pipe that is installed between couplings or other fittings for correct fit.
P-Trap
A P-Trap has the appearance of an upside down P. The P-Trap design routes drainage horizontally back through the wall to connect with the DWV.
Peak Hour Demand
Peak Hour is the hour at which the demand for water in the highest.
Pedestal Lavatory
A Pedestal Lavatory (or sink) is a basin which is primarily supported by a pedestal leg.
pH
Potential Hydrogen. Hydrogen ion concentration in water represents acid or alkaline.
Pitch
Pitch is a downward slope. Plumbers need to have a correct pipe pitch for correct flow from DWV to leach field.
Plumber's Putty
Pliable putty that is used to seal joint between pipes and fixtures.
Plumbing Code
The legal guidelines to which all plumbers must adhere to.
Potable Water
Water that is acceptable for drinking.
Pressure Balance Valve
Also may be known as an Anti-Scald Valve. The Pressure Balance Valve is the shower mixing valve that maintains balance between incoming hot and cold water supplies by regulating fluctuations in pressure.
Pressure Tank
A pressure tank is used to pump water from the well into the home.
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride. A rigid white colored plastic pipe that is used in drainage, waste and vent systems.
Recovery Capacity
The heat recovery rate of the water that you are using from the hot water tank.
Reverse Osmosis
A treatment method where water is forced through a semi permeable membrane at a high pressure and filters out impurities.
Riser
A vertical pipe that carries water to its fixture.
Roman Tub Faucet
A type of faucet that is mounted to the deck of a tub and not the wall.
Rough-In
The installation of DWV and supply lines to the fixture locations.
Round Front Toilet
Toilet which have a much more round appearance than a elongated bowl. Dimension are about 14” wide by 16 ½” long.
Run
A Run is the section of pipe that extends from the supply to the fixture or drain and to the stack.
S-Trap
The S-Trap has the appearance of an S. It is designed to route waste vertically down through the floor connecting to the DWV.
Self-Rimming Sink
A Self-Rimming bathroom and kitchen sink that has a finished edge and installs on top of a counter relying on the counter for support.
Service Entrance
In plumbing, the service entrance is the pipe which connects the water company piping to the water meter.
Shower Arm
A Shower Arm connects the showerhead to the water supply and delivers water to the shower head.
Shutoff Valve
There should be a Shutoff Valve located at each fixture to shut the supply water off to each point. There is also a main Shutoff Valve that is located beside the water meter.
Sillcock
Also known as a spicket or hose bib. An outdoor faucet.
Single-Hole Faucet
A Single-Hole Faucet is a faucet that installs into a single fixture hole.
Sleeve
Sleeves are used for the insulation and protection of walls and pipes. A sleeve in inserted into a wall so that other pipes may be inserted.
Slide Bar
A Slide Bar is a type of shower component that is designed for the attachment of a hand shower. It allows for the vertical placement and individual preference.
Stack
The vertical main in the DWV system that extends through one or more stories.
Stand Pipe
A large vertical pipe into which water is pumped in order to produce a desired pressure.
Sump
A pit or pool for draining and collecting of water.
Supply Lines
Supply Lines carry fresh water to fixtures in a home.
Tankless Water Heater
Also known as an “instant water heater”. A Tankless Water Heater is a water heater which heats water as it passes through the exchanger. There is no storage tank necessary.
Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve
The Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve is a safety device that is used to expel excess pressure or heat from inside a tank.
Three-Handle Faucet
A Three-Handle Faucet uses separate handles for hot and cold water but have an additional handle to convert water from the bath spout to the showerhead.
Top Mount Faucet
The whole faucet fits through the holes on the top of the sink and a plate covers the body of the faucet.
Trap
A Trap is the curved section of the drainpipe that is attached to every fixture. A Trap prevents odors of sewage and waste. There are “P” traps and “S” traps.
Trim
The Trim of a fixture is the exposed part of the fixture. It may include handles, faucet, etc.
Two-Hole
A "Two-Hole" consists of a single hole faucet mount and an accessory such as a soap dispenser or sidespray.
Undercounter Sink
This type of sink is mounted to the underside of the counter.
Urinal
A Urinal is a plumbing fixture designed for liquid waste from men.
Usable Storage
Usable Storage is the percentage of hot water that can be drawn from the water tank before the temperature drops to a point that it’s no longer producing “hot” water.
Valve
A mechanism that control the flow of water to or from a pipe.
Vent
A Vent protrudes from the roof and allows air to pass through drainpipes. A Vent ensures the proper flow of wastewater.
Vessel Sink
A lavatory that has finished walls on the outside and inside. A Vessel Sink is designed to sit on top of a countertop for a unique appearance.
Viscosity
Viscosity is the resistance of fluids to flow. Viscosity can also be defined as “thickness”.
Wall-Mount Sink
As the name states, this is a sink that is mounted from a wall.
Waste and Overflow
Drain assembly for a bathtub. The outlet at the top removes “overflow” when filling a tub while the bottom removes waste.
Water Closet
The term Water Closet comes from the British English definition of a small private room containing a single toilet.
Water Saving Toilet
A classification of a toilet which uses no more than 3.5 gallons and no less than 1.6 gallons per flush.
Whirlpool
Bathtub Fitted with jets which propel a current of warm water in a swirling motion.