This page reviews common terms used in the Plumbing field.
A
ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene which is commonly found in drains, waste lines, and vents and is a black plastic pipe.
Absorption Field: Seeping field, also known as a leach field, designed to disperse and filter liquid waste from a septic tank.
Aerator: Insert that mixes air into flowing water to reduce splashing and is screwed onto a faucet.
Auger: Used to pull clogs from toilet traps and is a flexible rod with a curved end.
B
Ball Check Valve: Valve with a ball used to stop liquid flowing in one direction.
Bleed: The act of opening a valve at the end of a pipe to release excess air.
Blowbag: Tools used for clogged drains made of a nozzle with rubber bladder attached; bladder swells to fill pipe and will release bursts of water to create a path through the barrier.
Branch Drain: The fixture drain which connects to the main drain pipeline.
Brass: Generic term used to refer to a faucet or fixture.
C
Closet Bend: Curved fitting connecting toilet to the drain, located under toilet.
Closet Flange: Often called a floor flange, ring used to connect to closet bend and anchor a toilet.
Copper: A metal pipe and fitting used to create water systems.
CPVC: Black PVC pipe, frequently used in water supply systems, made from chlorinated polyvinyl-chloride and treated to endure high temperatures.
D
Dope: Lubricant used for plumbing pipe threads.
E
Effluent: Liquid waste that is found in a septic system.
F
Fitting: A piece that connects two sections of pipe.
Flow Control Valve: Device that can reduce water flow to plumbing fixtures while improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Flow Rate: Amount of water that flows through a plumbing system and can be measured in gallons per hour (GPH) or gallons per minute (GPM).
G
Gallons per Flush (GPF): The amount of regulated water needed to flush a toilet; the current maximum amount of GPF for new toilets is 1.6 GPF.
Gasket: Ring made of fiber or flat rubber and used between metal fixtures to create a watertight seal.
Gray Water: Water waste produced from fixtures that are not toilets.
I
Interceptor: Device in drain systems used to separate oil and grease.
K
KiloPascal (kPa): Unit of pressure in the metric system equaling 1/100th of an atmosphere.
L
Leach Line: Pipes from septic tank to absorption/leach field that carry liquid waste.
M
Main: All branches connect to this main pipeline in a drain system or supply.
Manifold: Multiple branches that connect to the main via a fitting and act as a distribution point.
Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL): The maximum level of contaminants by law that is permitted in a water supply.
N
Non-Ferrous: Does not contain iron.
O
O-Ring: Makes valve stems watertight via a round rubber washer.
P
PEX: Polyethylene that is cross-linked and stronger than normal PE.
Plumber’s Putty: Putty used to seal joints between metal pieces and fixture settings with a dough-like consistency.
Plunger: Commonly used to unclog toilets and drains, this “plumber’s helper” is a 6-inch rubber suction cup that has a wood handle.
Polybutylene (PB): Can be used for bathroom fixtures in some supply lines and is bendable tubing
Polyethylene (PE): Used in supply lines and are flexible pipes.
Potable: Water that has been deemed safe to consume.
Pressure Head: The vertical pressure force that is caused by water at a depth of one foot; pressure in a plumbing system; unit of measure.
PVC: White pipe used for waste or vent pipes or drains and made of rigid polyvinyl-chloride plastic.
R
Riser: Pipes that bring water to a fixture or higher floor from the branch and are vertical.
S
Scald Guard: Valve that shifts back and forth behind shower handle when there are sudden pressure drops; keeps the pressure balance between hot and cold in your shower.
Sediment: Debris that is often found near the bottom of water tanks.
Septic Tank: Tank that temporarily stores solid, liquid, and sludge waste; mainly used where sewer lines aren’t available like in rural settings; connected to absorption field where liquids drain.
Shutoff Valve: Value used for repairs to stop water supply and is generally under the toilet or sink.
Snake: Used to dislodge clogs in a drain and is a flexible and thin cord of spiral-wound metal.
Soil Pipe: Pipe from a toilet that carries waste.
T
Tee: Used where three pipes cross and is a T-shaped fitting.
Teflon Tape: Tape wrapped around threads of a pipe in order to create a tighter joint seal; made from fluorocarbon polymer with non-stick properties.
Trap: Plumbing portion that is curved and made to hold enough water that will seal or block that piece of pipe from odors, pests, and gasses.
Trap Seal: Water that acts as a liquid seal in a trap.
V
Valve Seat: The section of a valve that is stationary
Vent: Section of drainpipe that is vertical or sloped and allows sewer gasses to escape while being replaced by outdoor air, so pressure isn’t lost during venting.
W
Water Hammer: Hydraulic shock caused when the water supply is cut off suddenly and often produces a loud banging sound.
Water Hammer Arrestor: Device that absorbs hydraulic shock and helps prevent the water hammer banging sound that happens when water supply is suddenly cut to a fixture.
Wye Fitting: Two sections of pipe are connected at a 45-degree angle with drain fitting.