Understanding plumbing terms and definitions is crucial for various reasons, especially when dealing with plumbing systems, installations, repairs, and maintenance. Here are some plumbing terms and definitions to carry through your plumbing career.
Elbow (Ell): A curved fitting, often at 90° or 45° angles, used to change the direction of a pipe run.
Escutcheon: A decorative metal flange or plate that covers and conceals the hole through which a supply line passes in a fixture or wall.
Fitting: Any component that connects two sections of pipe. Fittings come in various shapes, sizes, and connection styles, including elbows, couplings, bends, wyes, etc.
Fixture: Any device that receives or discharges water or wastewater, such as faucets, sinks, toilets, and tubs.
Flange: The rim or edge located at the end of a pipe shaft, designed to aid in connecting pipes together or anchoring them to surfaces.
Flapper: A rubber flap with a ball-like shape found at the bottom of a toilet tank. It lifts to initiate flushing and seals the tank for refilling, allowing water to flow from the tank into the bowl.
Flex Coupling: A rubber fitting secured with steel band clamps, commonly used to join sections of DWV (Drain-Waste-Vent) pipes. It can also connect PVC pipes to clay or cast iron pipes.
Flow Control Valve: A device designed to regulate water flow to a plumbing fixture. These valves are often used to enhance efficiency and reduce operational costs.
Flow Rate: The measurement of water flow through a plumbing system, typically expressed in gallons per minute (GPM) or gallons per hour (GPH).
Float Ball: A buoyant device connected to the ballcock within a toilet tank. It activates or shuts off the ballcock to control the filling of the tank.
Flux: A jelly-like substance applied before soldering copper pipes and fittings. It aids in bonding, prevents oxidation, and ensures a secure connection.
Galvanizing: The process of applying a zinc coating to a finished product, providing corrosion protection. This coating can be applied through hot dipping or electrolytic deposition.
Gasket: A flat component, usually made of rubber or fiber, used to create a watertight seal between metal joints.
Gate: A device that controls the flow within a conduit, pipe, or tunnel.
Gate Diverter: The pop-up lever on a bathtub faucet that activates the diverter valve, redirecting water flow from the tub faucet to the shower head.
Gauge: A measure of thickness, often used to describe the thickness of stainless steel used in sinks and lavatories. For instance, 10-gauge and 20-gauge stainless steel sinks undergo multiple polishing and buffing processes to achieve a high-quality finish.
GPF (Gallons Per Flush): A unit that measures the rate of water flow used by toilets and flush valves during each flush. Current regulations often mandate a maximum of 1.6 GPF, whereas older toilet styles commonly used 3.5 GPF.
Gravity Operated Toilet: A type of toilet that relies on the natural gravitational pressure of water stored in the tank to achieve effective flushing.
Gray Water: Wastewater originating from fixtures other than toilets. It includes water from sinks, showers, and laundry, and can sometimes be recycled for non-potable uses.
Grease Trap: A device designed to capture grease and prevent it from entering the sewer lines. It's often used in commercial settings such as restaurants to prevent grease buildup.
Hard Water: Naturally occurring water containing varying levels of impurities, typically calcium and minerals. Traditional hardness is measured in parts per million (ppm). Hard water generally falls within the range of 100 to 250 ppm.
Hanger: A supportive device used to hold and secure pipes in place.
Hose Bibb: An outdoor faucet commonly used to provide water supply for outdoor use and washing machines.
ID (Inside Diameter): The measurement of the inner width of a pipe.
Impeller: A rotating wheel with vanes located inside a centrifugal pump. As the impeller spins at high speed, it draws fluids in and propels them under pressure to the discharge outlet.
Interceptor: A device utilized to separate grease and oil from drainage systems, preventing these substances from entering the sewer.
kPa: A metric unit of pressure. 100 kPa is equivalent to one atmosphere of pressure.
L Tubing: A classification for copper tubing based on wall thickness, identified by a "blue" stripe. "L" type copper tubing has approximately 50 percent greater wall thickness compared to "M" type tubing.
Leach Lines: Pipes that carry effluent from a septic system to the leach field, an area of porous soil where treated waste is dispersed.
Low Consumption Toilet: A type of toilet designed to flush using 1.6 gallons of water or less, often referred to as "water-saving" toilets.
In summary, plumbing terms and definitions play a pivotal role in effective communication, safe practices, informed decision-making, and proactive maintenance within plumbing systems. This knowledge enhances your ability to navigate the world of plumbing effectively.
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