A | B | C | D | F | G | I | M | O | P | R | S | T | V | W
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A (index) | |
| Adaptor | A fitting that joins two different types of pipes together. Or a fitting that joins threaded with none threaded pipe (as in: female adaptor or male adaptor). |
| Air Gap | Air-filled space allowing contaminated water to discharge freely, preventing the contaminated water from ever siphoning back into the potable water supply. |
| B (index) | |
| Backflow | A flow of fluid in the opposite direction of its regular flow. |
| C (index) | |
| Check Valves | Valve that lets water flow in one direction only. |
| Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) | Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride is a plastic product designed for drinking water at temperatures up to 180 degrees (where code permits). Comes in straight or rolls, generally off white colored (orange for fire sprinklers). |
| Clamp Straps | Straps used to hold or support pipes. |
| Cleanout | Opening providing access to a drainpipe or trap under a sink; closed w/ a threaded plug. |
| Compression Fitting | An easy-use connector for copper or plastic pipe connection, created by tightening a nut and thereby compressing a washer or gasket to form a water tight seal. |
| Copper Pipe | Rigid form (hard) pipe made of copper and sold in different lengths. DWV (drain, waste, vent) - large size Type K - thick wall Type L - medium wall Type M - thin wall. |
| Copper Tubing | Soft, pipe like material sold in pipe lengths & rolls. |
| Cross Connection | Physical connection or arrangement between two separate piping systems, one containing potable water. The other water of unknown or questionable safety |
| D (index) | |
| Dynamic Pressure | The pressure when the water IS flowing. |
| F (index) | |
| Fall | The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage. |
| Female Threads | Pipe threading on the inside of the pipe. |
| Fitting | A broad based term usually referring to faucets, shower valves, and tub fillers. Also refers to various piping parts such as tees and elbows. |
| Fixture | Broad term in plumbing/kitchen/bath that could be an entire toilet, sink, tub, etc. Or it could be the devices that provide a supply of water. |
| Flux | A substance that aids, induces, or otherwise actively participates in fusing or flowing, as a substance applied to a surface to be joined by welding, soldering, or brazing to facilitate the flowing of solder and prevent formation of oxides. |
| G (index) | |
| Gasket | Flat device, usually made of fiber or rubber, used to provide a watertight seal between metal parts of joints. |
| Grade | Slope or pitch, known as "the fall", usually expressed in drainage piping as a fraction of an inch per foot. |
| Gray Water | Household water recycled from sinks, bathtubs, washing machine and showers used to water a structure's landscaping. |
| I (index) | |
| IPS | Iron Pipe Size. Standard pipe threading, measured by the inside of the pipe |
| M (index) | |
| Male Threads | Pipe threading on the outside of the pipe. |
| Manifold | The branch pipe arrangement that connects several input pipes into one chamber or one chamber into several output pipes. A filter manifold connects several input pipes from the filter septa back into one common pipe. |
| Micron | A unit of length equal to one millionth (10-6) of a meter. Microns are used to describe the pore size of filter media. |
| O (index) | |
| OD | Outside Diameter. The measurement of a pipe from outside edge to outside edge. |
| O-Ring | Round rubber washer used to create a watertight seal, chiefly around valve stems. |
| P (index) | |
| Packing Nut | Nut that holds the stem of faucet in position & contains or confines the packing material. |
| Petcock | A small, manually operated faucet or valve for draining off liquids or releasing air pressure. The air-relief valve on a filter is an example. |
| Pipe Joint Compound | Material used as lubrication or sealer on threads of pipes & fittings. |
| Pitch | Downward slope of a drain pipe in the direction of liquid flow. |
| Plumbing Code | Legal requirement for plumbing installations. |
| Potable | Fit to drink. |
| Power Snake | Electrically powered plumber's snake tool used for clearing blockages in a main drain or sewer. |
| Pressure Gauge | A gauge with an analog dial indicating the pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure that has built up within a closed container, such as a filter. |
| Pressure Regulator | Device installed on a water supply line to reduce water pressure. |
| Pressure Relief Valves | A brass or plastic, manually operated valve located at the top of a filter tank for relieving the pressure inside the filter and for removing the air inside the filter, called bleeding the filter. Also referred to as a Air-Relief valve. |
| Pump | A mechanical device, usually powered by an electric motor, which causes hydraulic flow and pressure for the purpose of filtration, heating and circulation of pool and spa water. |
| R (index) | |
| Riser | The straight piping attached to tub faucet valves to raise the faucet higher above the rim of the surface. Sometimes referred to as deck-mount couplers. Also, the pipe connected to the top of the tub faucet body to allow a shower head attachment. |
| Rough-In Dimension | Distance from a finished wall or floor to the center of the waste or supply opening or mounting holes on a plumbing fixture. It also refers to a preliminary step to measure and prepare the surface to accept such piping as a drain and water supply lines. |
| S (index) | |
| Saddle Tee | Fitting that taps into the side of a pipe, used to make a quick connection to an existing water line. |
| Shutoff Valves | A stop valve on a water supply tube that cuts off the flow of water when turned. Allows water to be turned off locally without shutting off supply to entire house. Refer to Straight Stop Valves or Emergency Stop Valves |
| Slip Fitting | Copper or plastic coupling w/o an interior ridge or shoulder. Used when repairing or extending pipe. |
| Solder | Any of various fusible alloys, usually tin and lead, used to join metallic parts. |
| Static Pressure | The pressure when NO water is flowing. |
| Supercoated Brass | A protective finish applied to brass to prevent tarnishing. |
| Sweat Soldering | Method of connecting copper tubing w/ solder & a propane torch. Also referred to as a sweated connection. |
| Swing Arm Couplers | Parts attached to a faucet body to allow for a greater range of installation possibilities for non-standard faucet drillings. Also referred to as swivel connectors or S-unions. |
| T (index) | |
| Teflon Tape | A tape used to wrap threaded pipe fittings to create a water-tight seal. |
| Trap | A 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 that has an "S" trap instead of a "P" trap. |
| V (index) | |
| Vacuum Breaker | A small device used as an attachment to a handshower hose to prevent back siphoning of bath water – usually a plumbing code requirement. |
| Valves | Device that controls the flow of liquid or gas through or from a pipe. Types of plumbing valves are: compression valves, ball valves, sleeve-cartridge valves, ceramic disc valves and more. |
| W (index) | |
| Washerless Faucets | Washerless faucets are cartridge faucets, ball faucets and ceramic-disc faucets. Please refer to the individual faucet for more details. |
| Water Filters | A water filter is required to remove parasite contamination in big city municipal water supplies, and growing concerns about well water contamination in rural areas. It does away with the inconvenience and expense of purchasing bottled water. For freshly filtered water, connect a unit to the water line either at the main line or at a specific area such as a kitchen faucet. Water flows through a cartridge system which is made from composite media, carbon, charcoal or a combination of these materials, to remove contaminants from the drinking water supply (click here for info) . The cartridges are replaceable (refer to water filter replacement cartridges). Styles include; whole house filters, undersink and under-counter filters and refrigerator filters. There are also reverse osmosis styles. (refer to reverse osmosis). |
| Water Hammer | Pounding or knocking sound in water pipes, due to a sudden change in the pressure when a faucet is shut off. |