Glossary Items starting with "B"

• Backflow - Flow of water or other substances into the distributing pipes of a potable supply of water from unintended sources.
• Back Flow Preventer - Prevents water or other substances from traveling back into the main distribution system. A backflow preventer is required for sprinkler systems, handheld showers, pullout faucet sprouts, kitchen sprayers, and other various devices.
• Back Pressure - Pressure against the flow of fluid in a piping system.
• Back Siphonage - The reverse flow of liquid due to a partial vacuum in the pipe.
• Backup - A clogged plumbing fixture due to drain stoppage.
• Backwater Valve - A valve within the sewer line that prevents sewage from reversing travel into the building.
• Ball Check Valve - A valve that utilizes a ball to seal an area and stop flow in a certain direction.
• Ballcock - The fill valve that determines the flow of water from the water supply line to the toilet tank.
• Basin Wrench - A long-handled wrench with jaws mounted on a swivel that can reach nuts in a previously installed sink.
• Basket Strainer - A strainer that fits into a sink or shower drain that allows water to run through, but catches food, hair, and other objects to prevent clogging.
• Bidet (pronounced Bid-day) - Consisting of a washing basin, hot/cold faucet, and sprayer, it is mounted near a toilet for the purpose of washing one’s self.
• Bleed - Bleeding is the process of draining a pipe, tube, or hose of excess air.
• Blowbag - Blowbags are devices that clean drains. They are made up of a rubber bladder with a hose fitting on one end and a nozzle on the other. The blowbag is attached to a water hose and the hose is inserted into a clogged drainpipe. Water is expelled in pulses, forcing water through the clog.
• Boiler - A tank that heats water and turns it to steam for power or hot water.
• Branch - Various parts of a drain system, less the main, riser, or stack.
• Branch Vent - A vent that connects 1+ single vents with a vent stack.
• BTU (British Thermal Unit) - A unit of heat energy needed to raise 1 lbs. of water by 1 degree.

Glossary Items starting with "C"

• Catch Basin - A below ground container with a grate that collects storm water run-off. It catches debris, preventing water pollution.
• Centerset - A type of bathroom faucet with a spout and handles that are 4 inches apart.
• Cesspool - A cesspool is an underground excavation in the ground that receives the discharges of a drainage system. It retains the organic, solid matter and permits the liquids to seep through.
• Check Valve - A backflow preventer that only permits water to flow in one direction.
• Circuit Vent - A vertical vent drainage system run from the last two traps on a horizontal drain line to the main vent stack.
• Cistern - An underground rainwater storage container.
• Cleanout Plug - A cleanout plug provides access to a drain pipe to clear out obstructions.
• Closet - Another phrase for toilet.
• Closet Auger - A rod that can access the built-in trap to remove clogs.
• Closet Bend - A fitting mounted below the toilet, connecting the closet flange with the toilet drain.
• Closet Flange - A closet flange is an anchoring ring that attaches to the closet bend, and then is secured to the floor.
• Cock - A faucet or valve that regulates the flow of water; it is also known as a ballcock.
• Common Vent - A drain system within a building that connects 2+ fixture branches on the same level.
• Compression Fitting - A pipe connection where a nut and sleeve is place over a tube, compressing it tightly around the tube as the nut is tightened; this forms a seal without soldering.
• Compression Valve - A valve used for water faucets. It opens and closes by raising and lowering a horizontal disk.
• Coupling - A hood for the vent pipe.
• CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) - A plastic pipe used in some water supply systems, depending on code requirements.
• Culvert - Similar to a pipe, a construction of concrete that allows drainage underneath a road.

Glossary Items starting with "D"

• Desanco Fitting - A compression adapter that attaches tubular brass fittings to PVC pipes.
• Diaphragm - To prevent debris build-up within the valve, a diaphragm is a flexible membrane within a valve that regulates water flow from the supply lines.
• Dip Tube - A tube with the purpose of bringing cold water to the bottom of the water heater tank.
• Direct Tap - A clamp on a branch line that takes it off of the main line.
• Discharge Tube - A discharge tube is an outlet tube that connects a disposer/sump pump to a drain line.
• Disposal Field - A series of trenches that distribute waste uniformly into the soil.
• Dishwasher Tailpiece - An adapter that unites a basket strainer to a drainpipe with a dishwasher inlet.
• Diverter - Used in showers, tubs, bidets, and sinks, they are valves that direct water to certain outlets.
• Drip Leg - A pipe with one closed end that is placed at a low point in the gas piping to collect and remove condensate.
• Drum Trap - This type of trap is no longer used. It was formerly used as a trap in sewer lines.
• Duo Valve - A hot and cold valve with a single on/off lever used for washing machines.
• DWV - Abbreviation for Drain, Waste and Vent.

Glossary Items starting with "E"

• E Coli - An abbreviation for Escherichia Coli, a bacteria that reveals fecal contamination.
• Earthquake Strap - A metal strap that secures a water heater to a building’s frame or foundation.
• Efficiency - Generally expressed as a percentage, a term that describes the ability to utilize energy.
• Effluent - Liquid waste from a Septic system.
• Elbow - A pipe fitting that changes the direction of the line.
• Escutcheon - A trim beneath a faucet handle that covers the faucet stem and the hole; the escutcheon is used for vanity purposes.
• Expansion Tank - A tank with thermal expansion that has the ability to absorb excess pressure.

Glossary Items starting with "F"

• Fall/Flow - For the purpose of adequate drainage, the accurate slope of a pipe.
• Female Fitting - A fitting in which another fitting or pipe is inserted.
• Finish Plumbing - Plumbing fixture installation to make a system usable.
• Fixture - The device within a plumbing system that provides a supply of water and or its disposal.
• Flapper Valve - A piece of equipment on the bottom of the toilet tank that opens and closes, regulating the flow of water from the tank into the bowl.
• Float Ball - A ball connected to the ballcock that rises and falls with the water within the tank. It regulates the ballcock as needed.
• Floor Flange - A piece of equipment that connects a toilet and floor drain.
• Flushometer - A valve within a toilet that automatically shuts off after it reads a pre-set amount of water.
• Flushometer Tank System - A toilet flushing system that uses water pressure to flush instead of the traditional gravity flushing system.
• Flux - Flux is a paste that assists with the fusion of copper pipes and fittings before soldering. The paste helps the fusion and prevents oxidation.
• Footprint - The amount of floor space taken by an appliance.
• French Drain - A covered ditch with a layer of stones or other material.

Glossary Items starting with "G"

• Gas Cock - A plug valve that is installed and used between a main gas line and an appliance.
• Gas Control - A piece of equipment that controls gas pressure on a water heater.
• Gate - A Gate manages the flow in a conduit, pipe, or tunnel.
• Gate Diverter - A lever on a tub that activates the diverter valve.
• Gravity Operated Toilet - A flushing system that uses the natural downward pressure of water in a tank to effectively flush the toilet.
• Gray Water - Gray water is waste from sinks, showers, and bathtubs.

Glossary Items starting with "H"

• Horizontal Branch - Drain pipes that run laterally. They run from plumbing fixtures to waste stacks in a building or in the soil.
• Horizontal Run - The horizontal length between where the fluid enter a pipe and where it leaves.
• Hose Bibb - An outdoor faucet.
• House Trap - A u-shaped fitting that has two adjacent cleanout plugs.
• Hubless (No-Hub) - A drainage pipe made of cast iron that utilizes neoprene gaskets and clamps.
• Hydronic - A system that transports heat through circulated water.

Glossary Items starting with "I"

• I.D. - The abbreviation for inside diameter.
• Indirect Wastes - A waste pipe that discharges gray water by discharging it into a plumbing fixture.
• Instantaneous Water Heater - A water heater that uses a heat exchanger coil to heat the water.

Glossary Items starting with "J"

• Jet - A toilet feature that directs water into the trapway to begin the siphon action.
• Johnni-bolts - A johnni-bolt or closet bolt is used to mount a toilet bowl to the closet flange.

Glossary Items starting with "K"

• Kafer Fitting - A cast iron drainage pipe that attaches to the existing case iron lines.
• Knockout Plug - PVC test plug.

Glossary Items starting with "L"

• Lavatory (Lav) - Another term for bathroom or restroom.
• Leach Field - For the purpose of emptying treated waste, a porous soil with septic tank lines running through it.
• Leader - A leader is a pipe that carries rainwater to the ground or sewer.
• Lock Nut - A nut that joins two pipes together.

Glossary Items starting with "M"

• Main - All branches connect to this main water supply.
• Male Threads - The threads that are seen on the outside of pipes and fittings.
• Malleable Fittings - A pliable fitting made of metal.
• Manifold - A type of fitting that connects branches to the main.
• Mechanicals - The moving part components of plumbing, heating, and cooling systems in a building.
• Multi-Stage Pump - A pump with multiple impellers.

Glossary Items starting with "N"

• Nipple - A short length of pipe that is installed between fittings.
• No-Hub Connector - Used to connect different materials together. It consists of a rubber sleeve and a stainless steel band with hose clamps.

Glossary Items starting with "O"

• O.D. - Abbreviation for Outside Diameter.
• O-Ring - Used around valve stems, a rubber washer that creates a watertight seal.
• Oakum - Oakum woven hemp rope that has been treated with a waterproofing agent. It caulks bell and spigot pipe and fitting joints.
• Outlet Sewer - An outlet sewer is a pipe section that runs between a septic tank and drainage field in a septic system.

Glossary Items starting with "P"

• Packing - A material used on faucets that prevents leaks.
• Packing Nut - A nut that keeps the faucet in position and holds the packing material.
• PB (Polybutylene) - A type of flexible, plastic tubing used in some water supply systems.
• Peak Hour Demand - The peak hour demand is the time of day when hot water demand is at its climax.
• pH - pH is the amount of hydrogen ion concentration in water. The pH scale measures the alkalinity and acidity.
• Pipe Dope - A nickname for a material that is applied to a threaded fitting to create a watertight seal.
• Pitch - The slope of a drain pipe in the direction of the water flow.
• Plumb - The act of performing plumbing work.
• Plumber's Putty - Pliable putty that seals joints between drains and fixtures,
• Plumbing Tree - A set of drain waste, vent, and supply lines that have been pre-fabricated.
• Plunger - A rubber headed instrument that creates suction in a drain line or toilet and pushes a clog through the line.
• Pop-Up Drain - A type of drain assembly that uses lavatory lift rod or bath overflow plate lever. When it is lifted, the pop-up drain closes for the purpose of retaining water.
• Port - The opening in a burner head that allows gas or air-gas mixture to escape for ignition.
• Positive Displacement Pump - The PD pump makes a fluid motion by containing a fixed amount and moving it into the discharge pipe.
• Pressure Balance Valve - A shower mixing valve that maintains a balance between hot and cold water supplies by automatically regulating fluctuations in pressure. The result is constant temperature.
• Pressure Tank - A pressure tank is used in a well to pump water.
• Pressure Tubing - A pressure tube conducts fluids under pressure or at high temperatures.
• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - A PVC plastic pipe is used in non-pressure systems, such as drainage, waste, and vent systems.

Glossary Items starting with "Q"

Glossary Items starting with "R"

• Rated Storage Volume - The amount of water within a tank.
• Reamer - A grinding tool that levels valve seats in faucets to improve the valve stem fit.
• Recovery Capacity - The amount of water in gallons/hour raised to 100 degrees at a given thermal efficiency.
• Reducer - A reducer connects different sized pipes together.
• Return Circulation System - A system that eliminates the waste of hot water for long runs; this system also adds storage.
• Revent - A pipe that connects with a vent system, used to vent a fixture trap.
• Reverse Trap Water Closet - A water closet that has a siphonic trapway at the back of the bowl.
• Rigid Pipe - A pipe that transmits the backfill load to the foundation beneath the pipe.
• Rim Holes - A number of holes circulated around the toilet rim. The incoming water flows into the bowl through the holes, washing the inner surface of the bowl.
• Riser - An assembly that connects a faucet and water supply stop valve. It is also a name of a supply line that goes from one story to the next.
• Roof Flashing - Installed to prevent leaks, it is a sheet metal at the break of a shingled roofline, sewer vents, and flue pipes.
• Rough-In - Installation into the proposed location of the drain, waste, vent, and supply lines.
• Rough-In Dimensions - The measured length between the center of a waste/supply opening or fixture to a wall or floor.
• Run - A section of pipe that extends from supply to fixture or drain to stack.

Glossary Items starting with "S"

• Saddle Valve - A valve mounted on a pipe run near a clamping device or fitting. It enters the side of the pipe and provides a water supply for a low-demand device.
• Sanitary Fitting - A fitting that is designed to allow solid material to pass without clogging a drain, waste, and/or vent system.
• Sanitary Sewer - A drain that takes wastewater away from the house to a disposal system such as a sewer system or septic tank.
• Self-Rimming Sink - A sink with a built-in lip of the same material that supports the vanity top.
• Service Entrance - A pipe that connects the water company supply to the water meter.
• Setting - The distance from the top of the well to the top of the pump.
• Shroud - A drain outlet cover mounted below a wall-mount lavatory.
• Siphon-Vortex Water Closet - A type of toilet that has a trapway at the back of the bowl, integral flushing rim, and a water supply system that does not go into the trap.
• Sleeve - A pipe that runs through a wall to allow another pipe through it.
• Slip Joint - A connection made with compression fittings.
• Soil Stack - A main drain line that all branch lines connect to carry waste to the sewer.
• Solder - Melted metal alloy that fuses joints of metal together.
• Spud - A spud is a threaded opening on a water heater tank.
• Stack - A vertical main that reaches multiple stories; the main resides in the drain, waste, and vent system.
• Stand Pipe - A stand pipe is the name of several pipe types. A stand pipe is a vertical pipe that receives water from washing machines; a water supply for a fire sprinkler system, or a vertical pipe that has water pumped into it to produce a certain pressure.
• Static Lift - In a pump installation, the vertical length of space between the source and discharge water levels.
• Stop Valve - A valve beneath sinks and toilets that shuts off the water supply to one fixture without affecting the other.
• Straight Cross - A straight cross connects four pipes of the same diameter together.
• Sump - A pit for draining, collecting, or storing water.
• Sweating - Sweating has two definitions. It is slang for soldering and a term for condensation that builds outside of pipes or toilet tanks.

Glossary Items starting with "T"

• T & P (temperature and pressure) Valve - A T&P valve is a piece of safety equipment that expels extra pressure or heat from within the tank.
• Tailpiece - A piece of pipe that is fitted between a fixture outlet and its trap.
• Tail Pipe - The tail pipe is added below the jet assembly in a well system.
• Tank - A tank is part of a toilet system. It is a reservoir for flush water. The tank houses the ballcock, flush valve, and trip lever as well.
• Tank Cross - A fitting installed between a well pump and a bladder tank with valve, gauge, and an outlet for a pressure-relief valve.
• Tap Tee - A tee made of cast iron; this tee has a threaded female inlet.
• Tee - A t-shaped fitting that has three openings for branch lines.
• Thermocouple - A thermocouple is a small electric generator.
• Thermostatic Valve - For showers, this valve balances pressure and temperature control.
• Trap - A curve in a drain line that traps sewer odors, preventing them from escaping into the atmosphere. All drains have “P” traps, but toilets have “S” traps.
• Trap Arm - In a drainage trap, the trap arm acts as a waste arm.
• Trap Dip - In a drainage trap, the trap dip is the u-bend.
• Trap Primer - A line that connects the cold water line to the drainage trap for the purpose of releasing small amounts of water into the trap to maintain the water seal.
• Trap Seal - A trap seal is the height of the water in a toilet bowl while not in use. It acts as a water seal to prevent sewer gases from seeping into the home.
• Trapway - A connection between the bowl and waste outlet in a toilet. Trapways are measured by the largest diameter ball that can pass through it.
• Trip Lever - The handle and actuating arm on a toilet tank or the lever that controls the drain on a bathtub.

Glossary Items starting with "U"

• Uni-flex - A one-piece stop and riser.
• Union - A three piece fitting that joins two pipes together with the ability to disconnect without cutting the pipe.
• Usable Storage - The percentage of hot water that can be taken from a tank without lowering the temperature to the point it is not considered hot.

Glossary Items starting with "V"

• Vacuum Breaker - A device that prevents the backflow of impure water into the water supply system.
• Valve Seat - A part of the valve that is stationary. Water flow halts when the moveable portion of the valve meets the valve seat.
• Vent - For the purpose of preventing siphoning, a pipe that brings air into the drain system to balance air pressure.
• Vent Header - Several vents connect to the vent header, which leads to the vent stack.
• Vent Stack - The top portion of a soil stack, that allows gases and odors to escape.
• Vent System - A vent system provides an airflow to and from the drainage system. The air protects against siphoning and back-pressure.
• Venturi - For the purpose of creating a suction in a vacuum pump, a venturi is a short, narrow tube that increases the speed of the flow of a fluid and decreases the fluid pressure.
• Viscosity - Viscosity is the resistance of fluid flow due to molecular friction.
• Vitreous China - A non-porous ceramic used for bathroom fixtures.