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Plumbing Glossary Common Plumbing Terms

Plumbing Glossary

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Components and Fixtures

A

Aerator: Insert that mixes air into flowing water to reduce splashing and is screwed onto a faucet

B

Ball Check Valve: Valve with a ball used to stop liquid flowing in one direction

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

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

G

Gasket: Ring made of fiber or flat rubber and used between metal fixtures to create a watertight seal

I

Interceptor: Device in drain systems used to separate oil and grease

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

O

O-Ring: Makes valve stems watertight via a round rubber washer

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
Shutoff Valve: Value used for repairs to stop water supply and is generally under the toilet or sink

T

Tee: Used where three pipes cross and is a T-shaped fitting
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

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 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

General Plumbing Terms

B

Bleed: The act of opening a valve at the end of a pipe to release excess air
Branch Drain: The fixture drain which connects to the main drain pipeline
Brass: Generic term used to refer to a faucet or fixture

E

Effluent: Liquid waste that is found in a septic system

F

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
Gray Water: Water waste produced from fixtures that are not toilets

K

KiloPascal (kPa): Unit of pressure in the metric system equaling 1/100th of an atmosphere

M

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

P

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

R

Riser: Pipes that bring water to a fixture or higher floor from the branch and are vertical

S

Sediment: Debris that is often found near the bottom of water tanks
Soil Pipe: Pipe from a toilet that carries waste

T

Trap Seal: Water that acts as a liquid seal in a trap

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

Septic System Specific Components

A

Absorption Field: Seeping field, also known as a leach field, designed to disperse and filter liquid waste from a septic tank

L

Leach Line: Pipes from septic tank to absorption/leach field that carry liquid waste

S

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

Tools and Materials

A

ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene which is commonly found in drains, waste lines, and vents and is a black plastic pipe
Auger: Used to pull clogs from toilet traps and is a flexible rod with a curved end

B

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

C

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

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
PVC: White pipe used for waste or vent pipes or drains and made of rigid polyvinyl-chloride plastic

S

Snake: Used to dislodge clogs in a drain and is a flexible and thin cord of spiral-wound metal

T

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

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