A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ABS:
(Aristocraft bristone styrine) A rigid black plastic piping used for waste, vent, and drain lines.
"A" Valve:
A manual gas shut-off valve.
Access Panel:
An opening in the wall or ceiling near the fixture that allows access for servicing the plumbing/electrical system.
Adaptor:
A fitting that unites different types of pipe together, for example: ABS (Aristocraft bristone styrine) to cast iron pipe.
Aerator:
A device screwed into the end of a faucet spout that mixes air into flowing water, and controls flow to reduce splashing. It sometimes contains a baffle to reduce flow to 2.5 gpm.
Airbreak:
An airbreak is a physical seperation which may be a low inlet into the indirect waste receptor from the fixture, appliance, or device indirectly connected.
Air Lock:
Blockage in the flow of liquid, esp. on the suction side of a pump caused by an air bubble in the line.
Angular Discharge Tube:
A discharge tube that changes the direction of water flow to approximately 90 degrees.
Angle Stop:
A shutoff valve between the water pipes and a faucet. Its inlet connects to the water supply pipe in a wall, and its outlet angles up 90 degrees toward the faucet. These are usually used to shut off water to a fixture in case of an emergency repair rather than daily usage.
Anti-Siphon:
Device used to prevent the backflow of liquid into a system. Used on sprinkler systems to prevent water from trickling back into the supply that is feeding it.
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Ball Check Valve:
A valve that uses a ball to seal against a seat to stop flow in one direction.
Basin Wrench:
A wrench with a long handle with jaws mounted on a swivel that allows the jaws to reach and handle nuts to fasten faucets to a previously installed sink.
Basket Strainer:
A basket-shaped strainer with holes and a slot that fits into a sink or shower drain to allow water to run out but to catch food or other objects before they can enter the sewage system and possibly clog the drain.
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Catch Basin:
Large underground container, with a grate on the top, for collection of storm water run-off. It catches or collects dirt and other debris and prevents them from polluting streams and lakes.
Centerset:
Style of bathroom faucet having combined spout and handles, with handles 4 inches apart, center-to-center. Also a single-handle faucet installed on 4 inches center-to-center faucet holes.
Check Valve:
A type of backflow preventer installed in a pipe run that allows water to flow in only one direction.
Circuit Vent:
Plumbing drainage system vertical vent which is run from the last two traps on a horizontal drain line to the main vent stack of a building drainage system.
Common Vent:
Building drain system vertical vent which connects two or more fixture branches on the same level.
Compression Fitting:
A kind of tubing or pipe connection where a nut, and then a sleeve or ferrule is placed over a copper or plastic tube and is compressed tightly around the tube as the nut is tightened, forming a positive grip and seal without soldering. Also a flexible connector that has a nut and gasket designed to attach directly to an SAE standard compression thread, without the use of a sleeve or ferrule.
Compression Valve:
A type of valve that is often used for water faucets. It is opened or closed by raising or lowering a horizontal disk by a threaded stem.
Culvert:
A pipe-like construction of concrete that passes under a road to allow drainage.
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Desanco Fitting:
A type of compression adapter that connects tubular brass fittings to PVC pipe.
Dishwasher Tailpiece:
A flanged adapter connecting a basket strainer to the drainpipe with a dishwasher inlet.
Duo Valve:
A twin valve (hot & cold) with a single on/off lever used for washing machine boxes.
DWV:
Abbreviation for Drain, Waste and Vent.
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Earthquake Strap:
A metal strap used to secure a water heater to the house frame or foundation.
Escutcheon:
A decorative metal flange or trim shield beneath a faucet handle that covers the faucet stem and the hole in the fixture or wall.
Expansion Tank:
A tank designed to absorb excess pressure due to thermal expansion (e.g. closed system).
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Fall/Flow:
The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage.
Female Fitting:
A fitting that receives a pipe or fitting. A fitting into which another fitting is inserted.
Floor Flange:
A fitting that connects a toilet to a floor drain.
Flushometer:
Toilet valve that automatically shuts off after it meters a certain amount of water flow.
Flushometer Tank System:
Toilet flushing system that uses supply water pressure to compress water to provide a pressurized flush as opposed to a gravity flush.
Flux:
Paste applied to copper pipes and fittings before soldering to help the fusion process and prevent oxidation.
Footprint:
The area of floor space taken up by a water heater or other appliance.
French Drain:
A covered ditch containing a layer of fitted or loose stone or other pervious material.
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Gate Diverter:
The pop-up lever on a tub faucet that activates the diverter valve.
Gravity Operated Toilet:
A toilet that relies on the natural downward pressure of water in a toilet tank to flush the toilet effectively.
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Horizontal Branch:
Lateral drain pipes that run from plumbing fixtures to the waste stack in a building or in the soil.
Hose Bibb:
An outdoor faucet, also used to supply washing machines.
House Trap:
U-shaped fitting with two adjacent cleanout plugs visible at floor level if main drain runs under floor.
Hubless (No-Hub):
Cast iron drainage pipe with neoprene gaskets and clamps.
Hydronic:
System of forced hot water.
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I.D.:
Abbreviation for inside diameter. All pipes are sized according to their inside diameter.
Indirect Wastes:
Waste pipe used to convey gray water by discharging it into a plumbing fixture such as a floor drain.
Instantaneous Water Heater:
A type of water heater that heats water as it flows through a heat exchanger coil.
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Jet:
An orifice or other feature of a toilet that is designed to direct water into the trapway quickly to start the siphon action.
Kafer Fitting:
Cast iron drainage pipe fitting with threaded-on hub used to attach to existing cast iron lines.
Knockout Plug:
PVC test plug.
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Lavatory (Lav):
A fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainage for washing. Also referred to as a restroom or a bathroom.
Leach Field:
Porous soil area, through which septic tank leach lines run, emptying the treated waste.
Leader:
Pipe carrying rainwater to the ground or sewer.
Lock Nut:
Nut fitted into a piece of pipe and screwed onto another pipe to join the two pieces.
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Main:
The primary artery of supply of the water supply or drain system in which all the branches connect. In the case of drains, known as the Main Vent.
Male Threads:
Threads on the outside of pipes and fittings.
Manifold:
A fitting that connects a number of branches to the main; serves as a distribution point.
Multi-Stage Pump:
A pump that has more than one impeller.
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No-Hub Connector:
A connector for no-hub iron pipe consisting of a rubber sleeve and a stainless steel band secured by hose clamps. A variation, a neoprene sleeve with two adjustable steel bands, is used for connecting dissimilar materials, as when connecting new plastic pipe to an existing cast-iron drainpipe.
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O-Ring:
Round rubber washer used to create a watertight seal, chiefly around valve stems.
Oakum:
Loosely woven hemp rope that has been treated with oil or other waterproofing agent; it is used to caulk joints in a bell and spigot pipe and fittings.
Outlet Sewer:
Pipe section in a septic system which runs between the septic tank and the drainage field.
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Packing:
Fibrous material that is used on faucets to prevent leaks.
Packing Nut:
Nut that holds the stem of a faucet in position & holds the packing material.
Pipe Dope:
Slang for pipe-joint compound. Substance applied to threaded fittings to create a watertight seal.
Plumber's Putty:
Pliable, popular putty used to seal joints between drain pieces and fixture surfaces.
Pop-Up Drain:
Type of drain assembly for lavatory and bath. When a lavatory lift rod or bath overflow plate lever is lifted, the pop-up drain closes so the lavatory or tub retains water.
Port:
An opening in a burner head through which gas or an air-gas mixture is discharged for ignition.
Positive Displacement Pump:
Called a PD pump. Gear, sliding vane, progressive cavity, lobe etc. the capacity determined by the pump speed. The maximum head is determined by the horsepower available and the casing strength.
Pressure Balance Valve:
Shower mixing valve that automatically maintains balance between incoming hot and cold water supplies by immediately regulating fluctuations in pressure. As a result, temperature remains constant, though the outlet pressure may drop. Also known as an anti-scald valve.
Pressure Tubing:
Tubing used to conduct fluids under pressure or at elevated temperatures or both, and produced to stricter tolerances than pipe.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride):
A rigid white or cream-colored plastic pipe used in non-pressure systems, such as drainage, waste, and vent systems.
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Reamer:
A grinding tool used to level or remove burrs from valve seats in faucets so that the valve stem will fit properly.
Recovery Capacity:
The amount of water in gallons per hour raised 100 degrees F at a given thermal efficiency and BTU per hour input.
Return Circulation System:
Tempered water from or near the point of usage which eliminates waste of hot water used for long runs and adds storage to the system.
Revent:
Pipe installed specifically to vent a fixture trap. Connects with the vent system above the fixture.
Reverse Trap Water Closet:
A water closet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl, and integral flushing rim and jet.
Riser:
A vertical metal or plastic tube or assembly that connects a faucet to the water supply stop valve. Usually made of copper. Metal Flex Risers are corrugated to facilitate bending. Also a supply line that rises from one story to the next.
Roof Flashing:
Sheet metal installed at any break in a shingled roofline to prevent leaks. Also around sewer vents, fluepipes.
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Saddle Valve:
A valve mounted on a pipe run by a clamping device, or fitting that taps into the side of a pipe, used to make quick connection to an existing line to provide a water supply for a low-demand device.
Sanitary Fitting:
Fitting that joins the assorted pipes in a drain, waste and vent system; designed to allow solid material to pass through without clogging.
Sanitary Sewer:
House drain that carries wastewater away from the house to a sewer system or septic tank.
Self-Rimming Sink:
Sink with no metal ring that has a built-in lip of the same material which supports it in the vanity top.
Service Entrance:
Pipe connecting the water company piping to the water meter.
Shroud:
Color-matched component under a wall-mount lavatory that covers the drain outlet for aesthetic purposes.
Siphon-Vortex Water Closet:
A toilet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl, integral flushing rim, and a water supply system with or without a jet, which does not feed directly into the trap.
Sleeve:
Pipe which is passed through a wall for the purpose of inserting another pipe through it.
Soil Stack:
Largest vertical drain line to which all branch waste lines connect. This line carries waste to the sewer line.
Solder:
Metal alloy that is melted to create a fused joint between metal pieces. Also the act of melting solder into the joint.
Stack:
The vertical main in the drain, waste, and vent system, extending one or more stories.
Stand Pipe:
Open vertical pipe that receives water from a washing machine. Also the vertical pipe run supplying water to a fire sprinkler system; also large vertical pipe into which water is pumped in order to produce a desired pressure; a high vertical pipe or reservoir that is used to secure a uniform pressure in a water-supply system.
Static Lift:
The vertical distance between source and discharge water levels in a pump installation.
Stop Valve:
The shutoff valve under sinks and toilets. Allows water supply to be cut off to one fixture without affecting the water supply to other fixtures.
Sump:
A pit or pool for draining, collecting, or storing water. A chamber which provides water to the pump.
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T & P Valve:
Temperature & pressure relief valve. A safety device used to expel excess pressure or heat from inside a tank.
Tailpiece:
Section of pipe that runs between a fixture outlet and the trap.
Tail Pipe:
The pipe added below the jet assembly, in a weak well application.
Tank:
Fixture reservoir for flush water. On a conventional toilet, the ballcock, flush valve, and trip lever are installed in the tank. A tank lid closes the top tank opening.
Tank Cross:
A double-tee-shaped fitting installed between a shallow well pump and the bladder tank with integrated valve and gauge fittings, and an outlet for a pressure-relief valve.
Tee:
A T-shaped fitting with three openings used to create branch lines.
Thermocouple:
Small electric generator. Electron flow between the hot junction of 1200 degrees F and cold junction of 600 degrees F creates millivoltage.
Thermostatic Valve:
Pressure-balancing shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control. When temperature or pressure fluctuations occur at the water inlets, a thermal actuator adjusts the hot and cold ratio to maintain the original temperature setting.
Trap:
Curved section of drain line that prevents sewer odors from escaping into the atmosphere. All fixtures that have drains must have a "P" trap installed. A toilet is the only plumbing fixture with an "S" trap.
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Uni-flex:
One piece stop and riser combination. One-piece supply.
Union:
Three piece fitting that joins two sections of pipe, but allows them to be disconnected without cutting the pipe. Used primarily with steel pipe; never in a DWV system.
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Vent:
A pipe that allows air into a drain system to balance the air pressure, preventing water in the traps from being siphoned off.
Vent Header:
A vent pipe into which several vents connect. The vent pipe leads to the vent stack and out of the building.
Vent Stack:
Upper portion of the soil stack above the topmost fixture through which gases and odors escape.
Vent System:
A vent is a pipe or pipes instalto provide a flow or air to or from a drainage system to provide a circulation of air within such system to protect trap seals from siphonage and back-pressure.
Venturi:
A short tube with a tapered constriction in the middle that causes an increase in the velocity of flow of a fluid and a corresponding decrease in fluid pressure and that is used for creating a suction in a vacuum pump.
Viscosity:
The resistance of fluids to flow, due to internal forces and friction between molecules, which increases as its temperature decreases.
Vitreous China:
Ceramic materials fired at high temperature to form a non-porous body, having exposed surfaces coated with ceramic glaze fused to the body. This is used to form bathroom fixtures such as toilets, bidets, and lavatories.
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Washdown Water Closet:
Water closet having a siphon trapway at the front of the bowl, and integral flushing rim.
Waste & Overflow:
Drain assembly for a bathtub. The outlet at the top removes the overflow water during tub filling and the drain at the bottom removes wastewater when the tub is drained.
Widespread:
A style of bathroom lavatory faucet having separate spout and handles, usually 8" from center of handle to handle.
Yoke:
Usually a brass casting that holds both the hot and cold valves and the mixing chamber for the water. May also refer to an assembly of copper or other metal which serves the same function.
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Yoke Vent:
A yoke vent is a pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack to a vent stack for the purpose of preventing pressure changes in the stacks.
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