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Terminology
ABS - ABS is the acronym for the material Aristocraft Bristone Styrine. Waste, vent, and drain lines use these firm, black, plastic pipes.
Access Panel – Enables access to plumbing or electrical systems via a hole in a wall or ceiling.
Adaptor - Different sizes and styles of pipes can be joined using adaptors.
Aerator - An aerator is found at the faucet's end; it mixes water with air to ensure that the faucet's flow is smooth and continuous.
Angle Stop – Typically located between a faucet or toilet and the water pipes, the angle stop functions as a shutoff valve. This right-angled valve located next to a fixture should be shut off in an emergency situation.
Backflow - When liquid flows in the wrong direction and backs up into the water supply instead of moving toward the proper outlet.
Backflow Preventer - A backflow preventer, as its name suggests, is a device that keeps backflow from happening.
Ballcock - A ballcock is a device which controls the flow of water to the toilet from the water supply pipe. The ballcock is controlled via a tank float. After the flush, the float drops and the ballcock allows water to refill the toilet tank. Once the tank is refilled, the float rises and the ballcock is turned off.
Clarity – The degree of water clearness.
Closet Auger - A closet auger is used to remove clogs within the toilet trap, and consists of a flexible bar with a curved top part.
Cock – Also known as a ballcock.
Coupling - A coupling is a fitting that allows two pipes or other items to fit together tightly.
Diverter - A valve used to direct water to several openings and found in fixtures such as showers, bathtubs, sinks and bidets.
Drain – Pipe(s) designed to divert liquids away from the system.
DWV - Stands for Drain, Waste and Vent--the 3 main components of a drainage system.
Elbow - An angled pipe used to change the direction of the line. They are available with many different angles.
Female Fitting - A female fitting is a shape of fitting into which another type of fitting is inserted.
Fitting – A comprehensive term, normally relating to faucets, shower valves or to distinct piping features.
Fixture - Fixtures include sinks, toilets, tubs, and other items. Any appliance that receives fresh water and releases waste water.
Flapper Valve - A flapper valve normally rests at the base of the toilet tank, and when opened, lets water drop into the bowl from the tank.
Flushometer - A toilet valve used to regulate the amount of water flow which operates by automatically closing after allowing in a specified amount of water.
GPM - Stands for Gallons Per Minute. This is a unit of measurement used to gauge the flow rates of fixtures such as faucets and showerheads.
GPF - Means Gallons Per Flush. This is the unit in which toilet flow rates are measured.
Hot Water Main - The hot water main is the primary pipe through which hot water is brought to your home's fixtures.
ID - The Inside Diameter (ID) measurement is calculated inside the pipe opening.
IPS – Standard measurement of the outside diameter of a pipe. Abbreviation for Iron
Pipe Size.
Lid - The lid is the removable cover on top of the commode's tank.
Main - The central channel where all the branches of both the supply and drain systems hook together.
Manifold – This type of fitting serves as a distribution point that connects several branches to the main.
Mixing Valve - A mixing valve is the part of a faucet in which hot and cold water blend, so that the faucet water comes out at the desired temperature.
Nipple - A short, threaded piece of pipe found between couplings or other fittings. Typically used as a to extend connections.
Pipe Wrench – This tool is used for holding and turning pipes; it has two serrated jaws, one of them is adjustable.
Plumber's Putty - Plumber's putty is a widely used substance used to fill the spaces between fixtures and pipes.
Plumbing Code – An official guide for plumber's work.
Plunger - A tool usually made up of a handle and rubber head which uses air pressure to unclog drains and toilet traps.
PVC - An abbreviation of Polyvinyl Chloride, a hard white plastic of which water supply pipes are commonly made.
Riser - A vertical pipe which carries water to a plumbing fixture.
Shutoff Valve – (see also: Angle Stops)--Either branch line valves or the main valve found next to the water meter. In case of emergencies, shutoff valves should be activated.
Sleeve - An enclosing pipe that provides a conduit for another pipe to pass through a wall.
Strainer - A component which traps solid objects but which allows liquids to flow through, usually placed in sinks and bathtubs.
Supply Lines - Water carried to a fixture via pipes.
Trap - To keep sewer gases and other odors from entering the air, each fixture in the plumbing system is equipped with these curved drainpipe sections. Every fixture except the toilet comes with a "P" trap attached. Toilets have "S" traps installed in lieu of "P" traps.
Valve – This mechanism controls liquid or gas flow through a pipe.
Vent - Pipes extending outward through the roof, used to assure the appropriate flow of wastewater by introducing air into drainpipes.
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