ABS or Aristocraft Bristone Styrine - a rigid black plastic pipe used for drain, waste

and vent lines.

Access Panel - an opening in the wall or ceiling near a fixture that allows for access
to service the plumbing or electrical system

Angle Stop - a shutoff valve between a water supply pipe and the fixture it supplies.
Used to shut off water to a fixture in the event of failure or repair.

Anode Rod - a rod inside of a water heater that protects the tank from corrosion;
usually made of magnesium or aluminum; most manufacturer warranty lengths vary
depending upon the quality of the anode rod of a water heater.

-BBackwater Valve - sewer line valve that prevents sewage from flowing back into the
house.

Ball Check Valve - a type of backflow preventer that uses a ball to seal against a
seat in a valve. It is installed on a water line so that water is allowed to flow in one
direction only.

Ballcock - the fill valve that controls the flow of water from the supply line into a
gravity-operated toilet tank. Its controlled by a mechanism that floats in the tank
water. When the toilet is flushed, the float drops and opens the ballcock. This
releases water into the tank and/or bowl. As the water in the tank is restored, the
float rises and shuts off the ballcock when the tank is full.

Branch - any part of a drain system other than the main, riser or stack; also known
as a lateral line.

Branch Vent - a vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack.

BTU or British Thermal Unit - a unit of heat energy required to raise the temperature
of 1 lb. of water 1 degree Fahrenheit.

-CCheck Valve - a type of backflow preventer installed on a pipe so that water is

allowed to only flow in one direction.
City Sewer - sewage disposal system operated by the city or county.
Cleanout Plug - a plug in a trap or drain pipe that provides access to the drain line
for the purpose of clearing an obstruction.

Closet - toilet; also known as a water closet

Closet Auger - a flexible rod with a curved end used to access the toilet's built-in
trap and remove clogs.

Closet Bend - a curved fitting mounted immediately below the toilet that connects
the closet flange to the toilet drain.
Closet Flange - anchoring ring that attaches to the closet bend and secures it to the
floor. Closet bolts that secure the toilet in place are insert into slots in the closet
flange.

-DDiaphragm - flexible membrane in a valve body that regulates water flow from the
supply lines and reduces build-up within a valve
Dip Tube - the tube inside a water heater that sends cold water down to the bottom
of the tank
Drip Leg- a stub-ended pipe installed at the low point on a gas line; collects
condensation and debris and allows for its removal; also known as a sediment trap

-EEscutcheon - 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 device designed to contain excess pressure due to thermal
expansion

-FFall - also known as flow; the proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage
Fixture - in plumbing, the devices that provide a supply of water and/or its disposal
(example: sinks, tubs, toilets etc...)
Flapper Valve - the part on the bottom of the toilet tank that opens and allows water
to flow from the tank into the bowl

Float Ball the floating ball connected to the ballcock inside the tank that rises or falls with the
changing water level in the tank

Floor Flange - a fitting that connects a toilet to the sewer line; also known as a
closet flange

Flushometer - toilet valve that automatically shuts off after it meters a certain
amount of water flow; Flushometers are usually found on commercial grade toilets
-GGas Cock - gas valve installed on main gas line and on a gas appliance to allow the
gas to be shut off when necessary

Gas Control - device used to regulate gas pressure on a water heater.

Gate Valve - a device that controls the flow of liquid in a pipe.

Gravity Operated Toilet - a toilet that relies on the natural downward pressure of
water in a toilet tank to flush the toilet effectively; most toilets in American homes
are gravity operated

Gray Water - waste water from sinks, showers, and bathtubs, but not toilets

-H-

Horizontal Branch - lateral drain pipes that run from plumbing fixtures to the waste
stack in a building or in the soil

Horizontal Run - the horizontal distance between the point where fluid enters a pipe
and the point at which it leaves

Hose Bib - an outdoor faucet or spigot typically used for watering plants, washing
cars etc...

-I-

Instantaneous Water Heater - a type of water heater that heats water as it flows
through a heat exchanger coil; also known by the brand name "Insta-Hot"

-M-

Main Line - the primary line that supplies water from the water company's meter at
the street up to the point where it enters the home; all other supply lines in the
home branch out from this main line

-N-

Nipple - a short length of pipe installed between couplings or other fittings.

No-Hub Connector - a connector for no-hub iron pipe consisting of a rubber sleeve
and a stainless steel band secured by hose clamps. Or a a neoprene sleeve with two
adjustable steel bands that is used for connecting dissimilar materials (for example,
when connecting new plastic pipe to an existing cast-iron drainpipe.) Usually used in
older homes.

-P-

Pitch - Downward slope of a drain pipe in the direction of the water flow, also known
as the fall of the pipe.
Polybutylene - This is a soft, gray or blue plastic pipe that was widely-used from the
mid- 70s to the mid- 90s across the nation. Since then it has become known that
polybutylene deteriorates over time and leaks.

Power Flush System - Toilet flushing system that compresses water to provide a
pressurized flush as opposed to a gravity flush. Power assisted toilets are more
typically found in business or commercial settings.

PRV or Pressure Reducing Valve - a special valve installed on the main water line
coming in to the home so that water entering the valve from municipal mains is
constricted within the valve body. It reduces water pressure coming in to your home
from the high level used by the water company down to a level that can be used in
your home without damaging your fixtures.

PVC - Polyvinyl chloride. A rigid white or cream-colored plastic pipe used in nonpressurized systems, such as drainage, waste, and vent systems.

-R-

Rated Storage Volume - Quantity of water stored in a tank.

Rim Holes - a series of small holes in the underside of a toilet rim around the
circumference of the bowl. Water flows down into the bowl through these holes and
washes over the entire inner surface of the bowl.

Riser - a vertical metal or plastic supply line that connects a faucet or shower fixture
to the water supply stop valve. It is usually made of copper though Metal Flex Risers
are corrugated to facilitate bending. Also, the name of a supply line that rises from
one story to the next.

-SSaddle 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.

Septic Tank - The holding tank for a small scaled sewage treatment system that
serves a home that does not have a connection to the local city or county sewage
pipes. The term septic refers to the anaerobic bacteria that live in the tank and
decompose the waste discharged into the tank.
Sewage Ejector Pump - These pumps are required where wastewater cannot flow to
its destination by means of gravity at a velocity of at least 2 feet per second. Nearly
all residential plumbing systems rely on the force of gravity to move waste through
the lines; but, occasionally, a fixture needs to be installed below the nearest
available sewer or septic line (for example in a basement bathroom). The waste
from the drain for this fixture must be lifted to the level of the main drain.

Shroud - Color matched component under a wall-mount lavatory that covers the
drain outlet for aesthetic purposes

Straight Stop Valve - A shutoff valve, like the angle stop but without the 90 degree
turn.

Sump Pump - This type of pump is used where basement flooding happens regularly.
A pit is dug in the basement. The water accumulates in the pit. Then, the sump
pump pushes the water outside the home and away to an area where it is no longer
problematic.

Supply Line - a metal or plastic line that carries water from the Main Line to an
individual fixture (e.g. faucet, toilet, etc.) in the home.

-T-

T&P Valve or Temperature and Pressure Valve - temperature & pressure relief valve.
A safety device used to expel excess pressure or heat from inside a tank. If the
water in the tank gets too hot, some of it is released through the T&P valve.

Tailpiece - section of pipe that runs between a fixture outlet and the trap.
Thermocouple - small electric generator. Electron flow between the hot junction of
1200F and cold junction of 600F 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. The S trap is built in to the base of the
toilet.

Trap Seal - Height of water in a toilet bowl at rest. This water prevents sewer
gases from entering the home.
Trapway - Channel in a toilet that connects the bowl to the waste outlet. This is
where the siphonic action takes place. The trapway is measured in terms of the
largest diameter ball which can pass through it. Also called the passageway. A toilet
with a wide trapway can help reduce clogs.

Trip Lever - Flush handle and actuating arm on a toilet tank that is attached to the
flapper to make the toilet flush. Also the lever that opens and closes the drain on
the bathtub waste and overflow.
-UUnion - 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

-V-

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 Stack - Upper portion of the vent line about the topmost fixture through which
gases and odors escape.

-WWashing Machine Box - A fixture on the wall in the laundry area that holds the hot
and cold supply lines for the washing machine. It also has a connection to the drain
line so that water from the washing machine can be pumped out to the drain.

Water Hammer - A loud annoying noise or vibration made by your pipes when you
turn the water on or off. It is caused by a pressure surge or wave when water in
motion is forced to stop or change direction suddenly; for example, when a valve is
suddenly closed. This pressure wave can cause major problems, from noise and
vibration to pipe collapse. Water hammer can be stopped by adding

Winterization - The act of preparing a vacant home for winter by draining out the
water heater and water lines and applying products to toilet bowls to prevent them
from freezing.