It’s time you plumbed the depths of your knowledge. If the only plumbing terms you can come up with are faucet and plug then you could be in hot water. You need to find out the difference between your auger and your flapper.
Once you’re in the know, you’ll be able to carry out some simple plumbing tasks yourself. If not, you’ll at least be able to communicate better with the professionals. Read on for your very own A to Z ‘cut out and keep’ guide.
Auger
This is a flexible metal rod. It often has a cutting or clearing device at one end. You’ll need one to clear out clogs in drains.
Closet augers or toilet augers are plumbing terms used to describe augurs with a tubular guide to help them through toilet traps. You can even find bigger and longer augers which are used to clean out underground drain lines.
CPVC
This stands for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride pipe. It’s a type of plastic often used for hot and cold drinking water piping.
Drain
This forms the opening to a piping system that’s there to remove wastewater and move it away for treatment or reuse. A lot of drains are open, but some floor drains have a protective grate over them to collect debris and prevent blockages.
Energy Stars
These are the international standards for energy efficiency. They originated in America. Electrical appliances have to conform to certain standards to qualify. These include dishwashers and washing machines.
Faucet Screen
This is the small metal screen which catches small pieces of debris found in the water system. You’ll find it found in the faucet arm nozzle.
Flapper
This is the hinged part of a kind of shut-off valve to stop or close off water flow. You’ll find a common flapper at the bottom of a toilet water tank. This is raised to begin the flush cycle. It then shuts when the tank’s empty to allow it to refill.
Float Valve
This is a kind of control valve that closes off your water supply at a particular level. It often consists of a hollow ball mounted on a rod connected to the valve. When the ball rises with the water level, the valve closes until water flow has stopped.
Galvanized Steel Piping
This kind of steel water piping is coated with a zinc compound. The zinc slows down any potential corrosion which is essential when water is flowing through pipes.
GPM
This refers to gallons per minute. It’s typically used to describe the number of gallons of water a fixture uses to operate.
Hose Bibb
This can be an external or internal valved water fitting. It will be one to which a water hose can be connected. You’ll often find internal hose bibbs in the laundry area for a washing machine to hook up to.
Master Plumbers
These guys will have completed both their apprenticeship and journeyman training. They’ll normally have ten to fifteen years experience and have to pass a state plumbing exam.
Overflow
This is a kind of drain which is used to stop a fixture from overfilling. You’ll often find a little opening near the top of the bathroom sink, for example. This connects to the sink drain to stop an overflow.
P-trap
This is a sink drainpipe styled in the shape of a ‘P.’ It will run from the sink and through the floor to the main drain piping.
The shape helps to trap a small quantity of water, stopping sewer odors from entering the home. An S-trap has a similar purpose but is used when any water leaves through a wall rather than the floor.
pH
This stands for potential of hydrogen. It’s the measurement used to show how much acidity or alkalinity is in any given substance.
Plungers
These are suction devices. They’re cupped and have a handle to help you to clear clogged drains.
Pressure Gauge
This is a measuring device used to establish the pressure in a piping system.
Rain Barrel
This is a container or tank used to collect rainwater.
Septic System
This is a complete system of sewage removal. It will include the septic field and the septic tank. There will be no direct connection to a municipal or commercial sewage system.
Septic Tank
This is the underground tank where sewage is broken down. It is typically composed of two chambers.
Sewer Connection
This is where your home’s sewage pipe connects to the city or municipal sewage system.
Shutoff Valve
This can refer to any piping valve that cuts off the flow of water in your pipes. You’ll often find water meter shutoff valves underground in a cupboard.
More shutoff valves are usually located under the sink or beside your toilet. This allows you to turn off the water to these particular fixtures without having to turn the entire supply off.
Sink Basins
These are the bowls of your sink. A lot of kitchens have two connected basins. This leaves one for washing and the other for rinsing.
Sump Pump
This is a pump used to take away water from a collection pit.
Vent Stack
Vent pipes allow equalization of pressure in the drain system with atmospheric pressure. That stops vacuum conditions which could interfere with the natural flow of the drain piping.
Water Meter
This is a gauge used to measure the quantity of water flow in your system.
Water Pressure
This is the amount of force which your water system produces. It’s measured in pounds per square inch.
Water Softener
This can refer to any appliance designed to remove chemicals such as calcium from your drinking water supply.
Well Pump
This is the pump you’ll need to pull water from an underground natural water source.
Plumbing Terms You Need to Know
Learning some plumbing terms will help you to understand how the water and waste systems work in your home. They’ll also help you to communicate any issues you may have to your plumber.
Continue reading our blog for more educational articles to help expand your horizons.
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