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Plumbing Glossary
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Familiarize
Yourself To Plumbing Terms. Many times plumbers will explain the problem
to the general public the best way they can using many unfamiliar plumbing terms. |
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| B Tank | Acetylene
tank holding 40 cu.ft. of gas, used for plumbing, once used to fuel Boats, thus the name. | | Back Flow | The circumstance of water traveling from one system back into any part of
the main distribution system, usually by siphoning. | | Back
Flow Preventer | A device to prevent backflow, esp. into a potable water supply. This is generally required for sprinkler systems,
handheld showers, pullout faucet spouts, kitchen sprayers, etc. | | Back Pressure | Pressure that resists the flow of fluid in a piping system. | | Back Siphonage | The negative pressure that causes backflow. | | Back vent | Plumbing fixture's separate vent in a building drainage system | | Back Wash | The process of cleaning a filter by reversing the flow of water through
it. Dirt is sent to waste. | | Backfire | Flashback
of flame through the burner venturi causing the gas to burn at the orifice. | | Backjet | Whirlpool jets located on the fixture wall behind a reclining bather. | | Backjet pulse cannister | A serviceable water-controlling device responsible for backjet pulsing action. | | Backup | Overflow of a plumbing fixture due to drain stoppage | | Backwater Valve | Sewer line valve that prevents sewage from flowing back into the house | | Baffle | An object placed in an appliance to change the direction of, or retard the flow of air, air-gas mixtures, or flue
gases | | Balancing Valve | A
water heater valve that controls water flow and balances heat distribution to different locations. | | Ball Check Valve | A valve that uses a ball to seal against a seat to stop flow in one direction. | | Ball joint | Spherical assembly allowing pivot rotations for showerheads. | | Ball Passage | This refers to the size of the ball that can pass through the trapway of
a toilet. This also relates to trapway size. In general, the trap size will be 1/8" larger than the maximum size ball
that can pass through it | | Ball Valve | A
valve that uses a ball to seal against the seat. | | Ballcock | The
fill valve that controls the flow of water from the water supply line into a gravity-operated toilet tank. It is controlled
by a float mechanism that floats in the tank water. When the toilet is flushed, the float drops and opens the ballcock, releasing
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. | | Balloon Bag | Device
that attaches to a garden hose & used to loosen a blockage in a clogged drain | | Band Clamp | A flexible band made of a variety of materials that has a cinching device
used to secure pipes. | | Band Hanger | Type
of pipe hanger that supports the pipe on a continuous strap of metal whose ends are joined at the top by a supporting rod.
This rod bots through the strap and is adjustable as to height. | | Barlow's Formula | An equation which shows the relationship of internal pressure to allowable
stress, nominal thickness and diameter. | | Barrier-Free | Relating
to handicap access, e.g. a shower enclosure system having minimal or no bottom track and openings that are wheelchair-accessible. | | Base | A substance that releases hydroxyl ions when dissolved in water. Bases react with acids to form salt and water. | | Basin | A circular vessel with sloping or curved sides that holds water for washing. A bathroom lavatory or sink. | | Basin Wrench | A wrench with a long handle with jaws mounted on a swivel that allows the
jaws to reach and handle nuts to fasten faucets to a previously installed sink. | | Basket Strainer | Basket-shaped strainer with holes and a slot that fits the sink drain to
allow water to run out but to catch food or other solids before they can enter the sewage system. | | BC | Brushed Chrome finish used on faucets. | | Beam
Clamp | A device to attach a pipe hanger to an overhead I-beam. These may be malleable, carbon steel, or galvanized, and
may be primed or painted. | | Bed Depth | The
height of the ion exchange or filter media in the vessel after preparation for service. | | Beehive Strainer | A strainer inserted into a urinal to prevent foreign matter from falling
into the drain. | | Bernoulli's law | The
principle that a stream of liquid or gas exerts less sideways pressure while in motion than while at rest. As a result, fluids
seem to be drawn into the stream, but are really pushed in by higher outside pressure. | | BHP | Brake horse power. The actual amount of horsepower being consumed by a pump as measured on a dynamometer. | | Bicarbonate Alkalinity | Alkalinity of a water due to the presence of bicarbonate ions. | | Bidet | A personal hygiene plumbing fixture similar in appearance to a toilet bowl used for washing genitals and posterior
areas of the body. It is mounted on the floor next to a toilet and consists of a washing basin, a hot and cold faucet, and
sprayer. | | Biochemical Oxygen Demand | Amount
of oxygen consumed in the oxidation of organic matter by biological action under standard test conditions; often used as a
measure of the strength of sewage and waste water. | | Biodegradable | Subject
to degradation to simpler substances by biological action, such as the bacterial breakdown of detergents, sewage wastes and
other organic matter. | | Bisque | The
rough, unpolished finish found in unglazed areas of vitreous china fixtures, such as inside the tank or the bottom of the
bowl. | | Black Oiled | Term
associated with pipe surface whereby material ordered in this manner is protected with a varnish-type oil on the O.D. for
temporary corrosion protection during transit and in short-term storage. | | Black Pipe | Lacquer-finish cast iron pipe. | | Blackwater | Wastewater from toilets or latrines and sinks used for food preparation
or disposal, or for the disposal of chemicals. | | Bleed | To
drain a pipe of excess air by opening a valve at the end of the pipe | | Blind Plug | Plug used on No Hub pipe. | | Block sensor mode | For Touchless faucets, a system mode that occurs when the faucet continually
senses an object, causing the faucet to stop functioning normally. The faucet will appear to be "OFF", and will
self-actuate every two hours to alert you to its condition. | | Blow Torch | A torch used to solder pipes, activated by pressurized fuel and air to generate
its flame. | | Blowbag | A drain-cleaning
device consisting of a rubber bladder with a hose fitting one one end and a nozzle on the other. The device attaches to a
water hose and is inserted into a clogged drainpipe. As water is introduced, it expands to grip the pipe, and releases pulsating
bursts of water through the nozzle, forcing water through the pipe to clear the obstruction. | | Blowdown | Partial venting or draining, under pressure, of the water side of a boiler
to reduce or remove unwanted contaminants. Also the pressure drop after releasing a pressure-relief valve. | | Blowfish | another name for blowbag | | Blown-Out Water Closet | A water closet bowl having a non-siphoning trapway at the rear of the bowl,
and an integral flushing rim and jet. | | BN | Brushed
Nickel finish used on faucets. | | Bodyspray | Shower
component used in conjunction with a showerhead to deliver flow of water. It is commonly used in multiples to create a custom
showering space. | | Boiler | A sealed tank
where water is turned to steam for heating or power. | | Boiler
Feed | A check valve controlling inlet water flow to a boiler. | | Boiling Point | The temperature at which liquid changes to vapor by the addition of heat. | | Bonnet | The top portion of a compression valve assembly, it holds the valve in place as it is tightened against the valve
seat at the other end of the assembly. | | Bowl | Water-containing
receptacle that receives liquid and solid body waste; usually classified as round or elongated | | Box | Internal (female) threaded end of pipe. | | Box
Flange | Flange containing internal (female) threaded pipe fitting | | Brackish Water | Water containing bacteria between 1.000 and 15,000 ppm of dissolved solids | | Braided Tubing | A flexible pressure tubing of synthetic material encased in braided threads
of steel, usually chrome plated or stainless. The braiding protects the tube from damage due to abrasion or crimping. Often
used in water supply lines. | | Branch | Any
part of a drain system other than the main, riser, or stack. | | Branch Vent | A vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack | | Brass | Slang for faucets and fittings regardless of materials used. | | Brine | A strong solution of sodium chloride (salt) used in the regeneration of ion exchange water softeners | | BTU | British Thermal Unit - A unit of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1 lb. of water 1 degree Fahrenheit | | Bubbler | Drinking faucet with flow-regulated push-button self-closing valve. Also
called a water fountain. | | Building Drain | The
lowest point in a drainage system where the interior drainage pipes meet and are conveyed it to the sewer. | | Built-ins | Shelves or storage units recessed flush with surrounding walls | | Burner | A heat producing device where the flame or heat is produced. | | Burst Pressure | The internal pressure that will cause piece of tubing to fail | | Bushing | A pipe fitting used to join two pipes of different sizes. A bushing is threaded
inside and out. Also a cylindrical part used as a lining or guide | | Butterfly
Valve | A valve made of a square, rectangular, or round disk attached to a shaft inside a body of the same shape. Rotating
the shaft 90 degrees opens or closes the valve. | | Buttress | The
raised portion of a shower curb that is on more than one level. | | BX Cable | Metallic sheathed cable containing A/C electrical wiring. Typically used
when wiring would otherwise be exposed. | | Bypass | type
of shower door that consists of two or more panels running in parallel tracks. |
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CAD | Computer Aided Design | | Calcium Carbonate | CACO3 - a white precipitate that forms in water lines, water heaters and
boilers in hard water areas; also known as scale. | | Calcium
Hypochlorite | Extract The matter adsorbed from a stream of water by activated carbon, and then extracted from the activated carbon
with chloroform, using a specific standardized procedure; a measure of the organic matter in a water. | | Calcium/ Magnesium | Two of the principal elements that, when dissolved, make water hard. Their
presence contributes to the formation of scale and insoluble soap curds. | | Capacity | 1) Pumps: The flow rate in gallons per minute or liters per minute
2)
water softeners/conditioners: Quantity of undesirable matter that can be removed by a water
conditioner under
standard test conditions. For ion exchange water softeners, this is expressed in
grains of hardness removal
between regeneration's and is related to a pound of salt used.
3) water filters: For filters, capacity may be expressed
in the length of time or total gallons delivered
between servicing.
4) water heaters: The
size in gallons of water of the storage tank (e.g. 40 gal, 75 gal, etc) | | Carbon Dioxide | A gas present in the atmosphere, formed by the decay of organic matter;
the gas in carbonated beverages; dissolved in water it forms carbonic acid. | | Carbonate Alkalinity | Alkalinity due to the presence of the carbonate ion (CO32). | | Carbonate Hardness | Water hardness due to the presence of calcium and magnesium carbonates and
bicarbonates in water; the smaller of the total hardness and the total alkalinity. | | Carbonizing | In a pump, where a reduction of hydrocarbons results in the formation of
carbon residue that will interfere with the movement of a mechanical seal. Often called coking. | | Carved glass | An artistic form of sandblasting that creates a multi-dimensional effect
through the varying depth of the design pattern. | | Casing | A
tubular structure intended to be watertight installed in the excavated or drilled hole to maintain the well opening and to
prevent ground water from entering the well. | | Cast
Iron | Heavy metal made of casting on molds to make fixtures such as sinks, tubs and lavatories, covered with a porcelain
enamel coating. Casting is made of a series of alloys primarily of iron, carbon, and silicon. | | Catch Basin | Large underground container, with a grate on the top, for collection of
storm water run-off. It catches or collects dirt and other debris and prevents them from polluting streams and lakes. | | Cathode | A negatively charged electrode. | | Cation | A positively charged ion in an electrolyte solution, attracted to the cathode by a difference in electrical potential. | | Caustic | The tendency of any substance to burn or destroy animal flesh or tissue.
The term is usually applied to strong bases. | | Caustic
Soda | The common name for sodium hydroxide. | | Cavitation | The
vacuum created when the discharge capacity of the pump exceeds the replacement in the suction line. This causes bubbling and
vibrations that can damage the pump if they occur over an extended period. | | CBD | Certified Bathroom Designer | | CC | Copper
to copper soldered. | | Celcon nut | Connectors
used to hand-tighten faucets to lavatory from underside of lavatory | | Centerset | Style of bathroom faucet having combined spout and handles, with handles
4 inches apart, center-to-center. Also a single-handle faucet installed on 4 inches center-to-center faucet holes. | | Centrifugal pump | A pump that moves water by centrifugal force developed by rapid rotation
of an impeller.. As the rotating impeller whirls the water around, centrifugal force builds up pressure forcing the water
through the discharge outlet. | | CFM | Cubic
feet per minute | | CFT | Hundred feet.
A selling unit of measure for pipe. | | CGR | Certified
Graduate Remodeler | | Chain Wrench | An
adjustable wrench in which a chain is used for gripping. Commonly used on large pipes. | | Chamfer | Beveled end, usually done on pipe prior to threading | | Check Valve | A type of backflow preventer installed in a pipe run that allows water to
flow in only one direction. | | China | A
material made from a clay and water mixture, coated with liquid glaze and fired under extremely high temperature to form a
hard, scratch and stain-resistant surface. | | Chlorine | A
gas, C2, widely used in the disinfection of water and an oxidizing agent for organic matter, iron, etc. | | CI | Cast Iron | | Circuit Vent | Plumbing
drainage system vertical vent which is run from the last two traps on a horizontal drain line to the main vent stack of a
building drainage system. | | Cistern | Rainwater
storage tank, often underground. | | Clamp Straps | Straps
used to hold or support pipes. | | Cleanout
Plug | A plug in a trap or drain pipe that provides access for the purpose of clearing an obstruction. | | Clevis | A U-shaped piece of metal with holes in the ends through which a pin is run to attach to pipes. | | Clevis Hanger | A type of pipe hanger with a swivel yoke supported at the top by an adjustable
vertical rod. This yoke bolts to pin holding a U-strap of metal (clevis) that supports the pipe. | | Clevis Insulator | A clevis hanger with an insulating bushing where the vertical rod bolts
to the yoke. Most often used with roller hangers and electrical conduit. | | Close Coupled | A toilet with a separate tank and bowl, secured to each other, and with
a separate tank cover. Also known as a two-piece toilet. | | Close Nipple | Short lengths of pipe that are threaded on both ends. The threads that are
so close together they almost join in the center. | | Closed
System | A system where the incoming cold water supply has a device that will not allow water to expand when heated. (i.e.
check valve, backflow preventer, pressure reducing valve, etc.) | | Closet | Toilet. | | 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 | An
anchoring ring that attaches to the closet bend and secured to the floor. The heads of closet bolts, used to secure the toilet
in place, insert into slots in the closet flange. | | Closet
Tube | A water supply tube used for toilets. | | CMPA | Cincinnati
Master Plumbers Association | | CO | Cleanout | | Coagulant | A material, such as alum, which will form a gelatinous precipitate in water,
and cause the agglomeration of finely divided particles into larger particles which can then be removed by settling and/or
filtration. | | Coagulant Aid | A
material which is not a coagulant, but which improves the effectiveness of a coagulant, often by forming larger or heavier
particles, speeding the reactions, or permitting reduced coagulant dosage. | | Coagulation | The process in which very small, finely divided solid particles, often colloidal
in nature, are agglomerated (lumped) into larger particles. | | Cock | A faucet or valve for regulating the flow of water. | | Cockhole Cover | A round cover-plate or disk installed on a sink to cover an unused faucet
hole. | | Coil Spring Tube Bender | A
flexible heavy-wire coil, which, when slipped over copper tubing, allows it to be bent without crimping. | | Coking | In a pump, where a reduction of hydrocarbons results in the formation of carbon residue that will interfere with
the movement of a mechanical seal. Also referred to as Carbonizing. | | Cold Drawn | Pipe or tubing that's pulled through a die to reduce diameter and wall
Produces closer tolerances and higher strength | | Cold
Vapor | Method to test water for the presence of mercury. | | Coliform Bacteria | Non-pathogenic microorganisms used in testing water to indicate the presence
of pathogenic bacteria | | Collar | A
galvanized sheet metal restricting device used in conjunction with plastic pipe. Its function is to direct and control the
intumescent action of the firestopping material. | | Colloid | Very
finely divided solid particles that remain suspended in a solution; the removal of colloidal particles usually requires coagulation. | | Combined Sewer | A sewer system that carries both sanitary waste and storm water runoff. | | Combustion Chamber | The location where combustion takes place. | | Combustion Gases | Gases released when a gaseous, liquid, or solid fuel reacts at an elevated
level that needs to be vented with gas or oil-fired water heaters. | | Commercial Heater | Water heaters used for more than a single-family dwelling. | | Commercial water use | Water for motels, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, other commercial
facilities, and institutions | | Commode | Toilet. | | Common Vent | Building drain system vertical vent which connects two or more fixture branches
on the same level. | | Compensated Hardness | A
calculated value based on the total hardness, the magnesium to calcium ratio, and the sodium concentration of a water. It
is used to correct for the reductions in hardness removal capacity caused by these factors in cation exchange water. | | Composite | Composite sinks made from high-tech, high-strength, color- impregnated that
resists shipping and scratching. | | Composting
Toilet | A self-contained toilet that use the process of aerobic decomposition (composting) to break down feces into humus
and odorless gases | | Compression Fitting | A
kind of tubing or pipe connection where a nut, and then a sleeve or ferrule is placed over a copper or plastic tube and is
compressed tightly around the tube as the nut is tightened, forming a positive grip and seal without soldering. Also a flexible
connector that has a nut and gasket designed to attach directly to an SAE standard compression thread, without the use of
a sleeve or ferrule. | | Compression Valve | A
type of valve that is often used for water faucets. It is opened or closed by raising or lowering a horizontal disk by a threaded
stem. | | Concealed Arm Carrier | One
of a variety of common mechanisms to securely mount a wall-mount lavatory. Unlike a hanger which only supports the lavatory
where it meets the wall, the carrier has long arms onto which the lavatory slides. | | Condensation | Water vapor that separates from products of combustion due to a reduction
in heating surface temperatures to below the dew point of surrounding air. Water formed when water vapor formed in gas combustion
loses heat before it passed out of the venting system. | | Conductance | In
water conditioning, the readiness of water to carry electricity. The unit of measure for conductance is the mho (reciprocal
ohm); it is used to approximate the dissolved solids content of water. | | Conductivity | The quality or power to carry electrical current; in water, the conductivity
is related to the concentration of ions capable of carrying electrical current. | | Conduit | Tube that houses electrical wiring. | | Conduit Clamp | A screw-down, U-shaped spring clamp formed out of a band of metal used to
hold conduit pipe | | Console Lav | A
table-like fixture with an integral lavatory. The back is fixed to a wall and the front is supported by brackets or legs. | | Console Table | Same as console lav. | | Consumptive water use | Total amount of water used by vegetation, man's activities, and evaporation
of surface water | | Continuous hinge door | A
shower door that has a full-length continuous metal hinge on the side of the door. | | Conventional Vent | Atmospheric venting that utilizes the natural convective rise of hot flue
gases through the system to release the products of combustion. | | Corporation Cock | A stopcock screwed into the street water main to provide the house service
connection | | Corporation Stop | The
stop connected to the water main, usually made of brass and can be connected to the main with a special tool without shutting
off the municipal supply. | | Corrosion | The
disintegration of a metal by electrochemical means. | | Corrosive
Water | A water condition of low pH (acid condition) that can corrode metal pipes, pool fixtures and pumps. (Unbalanced water) | | Coupling | Vent pipe hood, which protects it from the elements. | | Cowl | A short fitting used to join two pieces of pipe. | | CP | Polished Chrome finish used on faucets | | CPE
Solvent | Chlorinated polyethylene. A melting agent to form seams in shower pan liners. | | CPVC | Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride. Rigid plastic pipe used in water supply systems, where code permits. Withstands high
temperatures. Available in straight or in rolls. | | CR | Certified
Remodeler | | Crocus Cloth | Finer
than sandpaper grit on a cloth backing | | Cross-connection | Any
connection or situation that may allow wastewater to enter the supply system. | | Crown Weir | The interior projection in the outlet side of a P-trap to aid in maintaining
the water seal in the trap. | | Crown-vented Trap | An
air admittance valve attached to a drainpipe, protected by a check valve, designed to equalize pressure in the drain line
and to protect the trap seal. | | Crow's Foot | A
PVC tee with twin outlets at right angles off the main. | | CSST | Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing. Also known as TracPipe, it has a ployethylene jacket. | | CTS | Copper Tube Size. Refers to outside diameter; Used to size certain fittings and hangers | | Cubic Foot of Gas | The amount of gas that will occupy one cubic foot at a temperature of 60
degrees F, and under a pressure equivalent to that of 30 inches of mercury. | | Culvert | A pipe-like construction of concrete that passes under a road to allow drainage. | | Curb | A raised edge or border of a shower, usually made of tile, marble, or fiberglass. | | Curb Cock | Shutoff valve normally used with water meters set between the meter and
the building. | | Current | The movement
of electrons through a conductor, measured in amperes | | Curtain
Drain | A ditch sometimes filled with gravel or drainage tile which diverts storm water away from a structure | | Cut Lengths | Pipe cut to a specific length as ordered | | CW | Continuous Weld. A method of producing a small diameter pipe. | | Cycle | The number of times per second that a conductor of alternating current reverses polarity. (e.g. 60 cps A.C.) | | Cycle Time | The time beginning at the instant a toilet flush lever is actuated until the instant the water supply shuts off,
completing the flush cycle. |
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| Dam | The barrier built into a trapway of a toilet that controls the water level in the toilet bowl. | | DC | Direct Current. Electrical supply in which the polarity of the two wires does not change. | | Deck Mount | Describes a faucet that is mounted on the deck of the bathtub enclosure,
rather than on the rim of the bathtub or on the wall. Also referred to as a Roman spout faucet. Also known as a sunken tub,
the deck-mount tub is usually mounted on a platform and has no apron or decorative side. | | Deep Well | A well more than 25 ft. deep | | Degree Rise | Difference between the starting water temperature and the ending temperature
after heating is complete. | | Deionization | Process
of reducing water to a non-mineral state by passing it over a bed of resins | | Deionized Water | Water free of inorganic materials. | | Desanco Fitting | A type of compression adapter that connects tubular brass fittings to pvc
pipe | | Dew Point | Temperature
at which water vapor condenses to a liquid | | DI | Abbreviation
for "deionization" | | Dial Plate | Trim
piece found behind a single-control wall-mount faucet handle. Also known as a face plate. | | Diaphragm | Flexible membrane in a valve that deflects down onto a rigid area of the
valve body to regulate water flow from the supply lines. This eliminates the possibility of debris build-up within the valve. | | Die | Cutting device used to thread pipe. A set of these attach to dieheads, and mounted on a threader | | Dielectric | A nonconductor of direct electric current. | | Diffuser | Device for reducing the velocity and increasing the static pressure of a
fluid passing through a system | | Dilution
Air | Air that enters a draft hood or draft regulator and mixes with the flue gasses. | | Dip Tube | Tube inside the water heater that sends cold water to the bottom of the
tank. | | Direct Tap | Clamping
device that allows a branch line to be drilled and tapped off a main line. | | Direct Vent | A system that pulls outside air for combustion and vents combustion gases
directly outside without using a chimney. | | Directional
Jet | Whirlpool air discharge unit with pivot allowing discharge path to be adjusted by the user. | | Directional Tee | Tee fitting that allows direct flow in one direction by use of an internal
baffle. | | Discharge Head | Difference
in elevation between the liquid level of the discharge tank and the centerline of the pump. Also includes any additional pressure
head that may be present at the discharge tank fluid surface. | | Discharge Tube | Outlet tube that connects a disposer or sump pump to the drain line. | | Dishwasher Tailpiece | A flanged adapter connecting a basket strainer to the drainpipe with a dishwasher
inlet. | | Disposal Field | A
series of trenches conveying the effluent from the septic tank laid in such a manner that the flow will be distributed with
reasonable uniformity into natural soil. | | Diverter | Valves
which direct water to various outlets. They are used in showers, tubs, bidets, and sinks. | | Domestic Hot Water | Water heated for residential washing, bathing, etc. | | Dope | Pasty lubricant used on seal pipe threads prior to making a threaded pipe connection. | | Double Extra Strong | Standard pipe weight designation (XXS). Sometimes described as XXH (double
extra heavy). | | Double Horizontal Tee | A
PVC tee with twin outlets of a smaller diameter than the inlet. | | Double suction pump | A pump where the rotor is suspended between two bearings with the fluid
entering on either side of the impeller. Used at higher capacities | | Double Threshold | A shower base used in a corner application where one threshold is used as
an entrance and the other has a glass wall. | | Double
Wye Fixture | A fitting that has branches coming in at an angle from each side of the main to join the main run. | | Down Head Boring Gimlet | A flexible cutting tip for an auger cable | | Draft Diverter | A device fitted in the flue way of a gas appliance to prevent updraft, downdraft,
or the secondary flue blockage from obstructing the escape of combustion gases. | | Draft Inducer | See Flue Exhauster | | Drain | Any pipe that carries wastewater or water-borne waste. | | Drain Hub | Floor drain used with hubbed soil pipe. The bell (hub) section is countersunk
vertically in the floor and is covered by a flush-mounted grill. | | Drain Seal Gasket | Gasket used to seal a drain to a sink to prevent leaks. | | Drain Valve | Device designed to allow drainage of stored contents from a water heater. | | Drainage Tile | Historically, pipe shaped clay tiles installed in below-grade trenches for
gravity-rated drainage. PVC pipe is now commonly used for this purpose. | | Drawdown | The distance the water level drops below the standing water level while
the pump is operating. | | Drip Channel | A
metal channel that is designed to prevent water running down a shower door from dripping onto the floor when the door is opened. | | Drip Leg | A stub end pipe placed at a low point in the gas piping to collect condensate
and permit its removal. | | Drum Trap | An
obsolete, non-vented drain lead or cast iron canister trap formerly used in sewer lines. | | Dual Element Heater | An electric water heater with an upper and lower element for heating water. | | Duo Valve | A twin valve (hot & cold) with a single on/off lever used for washing
machine boxes | | Duostrainer | Sink
drain fitting consisting of a strainer body attached to the drain opening and a removable basket. Also called a strainer | | Duplex Basin | An ejector pump container, usually 30" x 36" or 36" x 36"
large enough for two pumps, used in multi-family buildings | | Duraflow | A process patented by Ace Duraflow Company to rejuvenate old corroded plumbing
by cleaning and lining with an Epoxy coating. | | DWV | Drainage,
waste, and vent systems, which remove wastewater. Not for drinking water. | | Dynamic Pressure | The pressure when the water is flowing. |
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| E. Coli | The
common abbreviation of Escherichia Coli. One of the members of the coliform groups of bacteria indicating fecal contamination. | | Earthquake Strap | A metal strap used to secure a water heater to the house frame or foundation. | | Eccentric shank | A shank or the fitting with a shank in which the centerline is offset to
allow minor compensation for supply lines that would be difficult to precisely position. | | ECO | Energy Cut Off. A safety device designed to shut power off to the water heater and prevent high temperature. | | Eductor | A device utilizing a nozzle and throat, installed in a stream of water to
create a partial vacuum to draw air or liquid into the stream; commonly used to draw regeneration chemicals into an ion exchange
water treatment system, such a softener or deionizer. | | EF | Energy
Factor. A measure of the overall efficiency rating of the water heater based on the model's recovery, efficiency, stand-by
loss and energy input. | | Efficiency | A
product's ability to utilize input energy, expressed as a percentage. | | Effluent | Septic system liquid waste | | Ejector | A mechanical device for pumping sewage from below the sewer line. | | Elbow | A fitting with two openings that changes the direction of the line. Also known as an ell. It comes in various angles
from 22 ½ degrees to 90 degrees; often referred to by their angles (i.e. 45, 90) | | Electric Resistance Weld Pipe (ERW) | Cold finished pipe made by a series of operations
in which the flat rolled material is cold shaped into tubular form and welded at the seam. The heat for the weld is generated
at the seam by the resistance to the flow of electric current applied through electrical contacts or an induction coil. | | Electrodialysys | A process which uses an electrical current and an arrangement of permeable
membranes to separate soluble minerals from water. It is often used to desalinate salt or brackish water . | | Electrolysis | A process involving chemical change caused by the passage of an electric
current through a liquid. | | Electrolyte | A
nonmetallic substance that carries an electric current, or a substance which, when dissolved in water, separates into ions
which can carry an electric current. | | Element | Heating
unit in an electric water heater | | Elevation | The
vertical distance between the level where fluid enters a pipe and the level where it leaves. It must be added to the Total
Discharge Head if the inlet is lower than the outlet and subtracted if the inlet is higher. | | Elongated | The shape of a some toilet bowls, where the bowl is about 2 inches longer
than the standard round front bowl, usually 14 inches wide by 18 ½ inches long. | | EMT | Electrical Metal Tubing; a thin wall galvanized steel pipe used to carry electrical or other types of conductors | | Enamel | An opaque vitreous composition applied by fusion to the surface of metal fixtures such as cast iron and pressed steel
tubs, lavs, and sinks. Enameled steel is less durable than enameled cast-iron. | | Enclosure | Panels of glass or other material used to form shower or tub stalls. | | End Body | A faucet valve body configuration in which both the inlet and outlet are
at the end of the valve body. | | End Drain | The
side of a tub where the drain is found. When facing a tub, if the drain is on the right, this is a Right-Hand tub (RH). If
on the left, it is a Left Hand tub (LH). On whirlpools, the pump is located opposite the drain. | | Endpoint | (1) The point at which a process is stopped because a predetermined condition
is met;
(2) in an ion exchange water softener service run, this is where the hardness of the softener effluent increases
to a predefined concentration, often 1.0 grain per gallon;
(3) in a filter service this may be where the pressure drop
across the filter reaches a predetermined value. | | Energy
Guide Label | Label required by the FTC on water heaters that show 1) an estimated annual cost of operation and 2) how that unit's
efficiency compares to all other comparable models. | | EPA | Environmental
Protection Agency | | ERW | Electric Resistance
Weld. Most common form of manufacture for pipes 2 3/8" to 22" in diameter. | | Escutcheon | 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 tank designed to absorb excess pressure due to thermal expansion. (e.g. closed system) | | Expansion Valve | Thermostatically controlled valve that controls liquid refrigerant. | | Extinction
Pop | A flashback
occurring when a burner is turned off | | Extra Strong | A standard pipe weight designation
(XS). Sometimes called XH (Extra Heavy) | | Extrusion | Refers to the
result of forcing molten metal or plastic through a die or mold to form a specific shape. Commonly refers to shower door components
such as jambs and headers that were created by extrusion. | | Eye of the
impeller | The
center of the impeller, where the fluid enters. |
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| F Rating | A
rating of effectiveness of firestop material, measuring its resistance to flames and water. | | Facultative Bacteria | Bacteria that can live under Aerobic or Anaerobic conditions | | Fall/Flow | The proper slope or pitch of a pipe for adequate drainage. | | Fascia | A decorative apron or front face. A wooden enclosure holding the main pump assembly for whirlpool and master baths. | | Faucet Threads | Special thread size for fittings that connect to faucets. A cone seal or
gasket is usually included because straight threads will not have a complete seal without a gasket. | | Fecal Coliform | The portion of the coliform bacteria group which is present in the intestinal
tracts and feces of warm-blooded animals. A common pollutant in water | | Fecal Material | Solid waste produced by humans and other animals and discharged from the
gastrointestinal tract. | | Feed Pump | A
pump that supplies water to a boiler. | | Feedwater | Water
introduced into a boiler during operation. It includes make-up and return condensate. | | Female Fitting | A fitting that receives a pipe or fitting. A fitting into which another
fitting is inserted. | | Female Threads | Faucet threads
that are in place on the inside of a fitting. | | Ferrous | Material
containing or derived from iron. | | Ferrule | Metal
cover piece for the lavatory overflow opening. | | FHT | Female
Hose Thread. (e.g. end of garden garden hose) | | Fiberglass | Glass
in a fibrous form used in the making of products such as shower stalls. | | Filter Element | A device within a filter tank designed to trap suspended solids as water
flows through it. | | Filtrate | Liquid that
has been passed through a filter | | Filtration
Rate | The rate at which the water is traveling through the filter, measured as GPM (gallons per minute) per sq. ft. | | Finish Plumbing | Installation of plumbing fixtures to make the system usable. | | Finished Water | Water that has completed a purification or treatment process | | Finishes | See BC, BN, CP, PB, SN, WH | | FIP | Female Iron Pipe connection. Standard internal threads on pipe fittings. | | Fire Hose Closet | Usually a compartment built into an interior wall, covered by a glass door,
holding a coiled fire hose connected to a water line, ready for immediate use in case of fire. | | Fire Stand Pipe | A main water line that feels water sprinkling system or fire hose connections.
This is separate from the lines feeding restrooms or other fixtures. | | Firestop | Materials that fill the opening around penetrating items such as cables,
cable trays, conduits, ducts, and pipes and their means of support through the wall or floor to prevent spread of fire. | | First Draw | Water that has been sitting in pipes or plumbing fixtures overnight and
is first drawn when taps are opened in the morning. For instance, where lead is present in plumbing, this water would have
the highest levels of lead contamination. | | First Hour
Delivery | Rating based on the combination of the usable stored volume of hot water in a tank plus the recovery capacity for
the first hour of operations. | | Fitting | Any pipe part used to join
together two sections of pipe, such as elbows, couplings, bushings, bends, wyes, etc. | | Fixed Cone Valve | A cylinder gate mounted with the axis horizontal. Also known as Howell Bunger
valve. | | Fixture | A device that provides a supply of water
or its disposal, e.g. sinks, tubs, toilets. | | Fixture Unit | An
arbitrary unit assigned to different types of plumbing fixtures, and used to estimate flow rate requirements and drain capacity
requirements. | | Flame Stability | Flames on a burner tend
to stabilize at a point where flow velocity out and burning back are equal. It changes when primary air or gas rate is adjusted. | | Flange | Extending rim or edge at one end of a pipe shaft that gives support or a finished appearance. | | Flapper | Flush ball; the moving part of the flush valve that seals the water into
the tank or allows water to exit the tank for the flush cycle. The most common replacement part used on conventional toilets. | | Flapper Valve | The part on the bottom of the toilet tank that opens to allow water to flow
from the tank into the bowl. | | Flare Fitting | A fitting used
to connect flex copper pipe, usually gas pipe | | Flaring Tool | Tool
used to create a cone-shaped enlargement at the end of a piece of tubing to accept a flare fitting. | | Flex Coupling | Rubber coupling used to join DWV Pipe. Can be used to connect PVC to Clay
or Cast Iron above or below ground. Also used for repairs, and attach by used of steel band clamps. | | Flexible Connector | A braided hose that connects a faucet or toilet to the water supply stop
valve. Serves as a riser but is much more flexible and easier to install. Usually stainless steel or PVC/Polyester reinforced
hose. | | Float Ball | The floating ball connected to the ballcock inside the tank that rises or
falls with changing water levels in the tank, and actuates or shuts off the ballcock as needed. | | Floating Flames | (Lifting Flames) - An undesirable burner operating condition, usually indicating
incomplete combustion in which flames leave the burner port to "reach" for combustion air. | | Flocculant | A chemical substance that promotes the aggregation or coagulation of suspended
particles in the water | | Flood Level Rim | The top edge
of a receptacle from which water overflows. | | Floor Drain | Drainage
fitting that sits flush with the floor, used in basements and showers. | | Floor
Flange | A fitting that connects a toilet to a floor drain. | | Floor Sink | Receptacle
usually made of enameled cast iron located at floor level and connected to a trap to receive the discharge from indirect waste
and floor drainage. Cleaner and more sanitary than regular floor drains. Usually used in hospitals & restaurants. | | Flow Control Valve | Device designed to reduce water flow to a plumbing fixture. Often used to
improve efficiency and reduce operating costs. Also a check valve that prevents flow reversal when heater is turned off. | | Flow Rate | Rating in gallons per minute(GPM) or gallons per hour.(GPH) | | Flue | A passageway for combustion by-products. | | Flue Baffle | A
device to deflect, check, or regulate flow through a pipe. | | Flue Damper | A
device to minimize heat loss through a venting system | | Flue Exhauster | A
fan installed in the vent pipe which will provide a positive induced draft. Sometimes called a draft inducer. | | Flume Spout | An open spout design that is also referred to as a waterfall spout. | | Flush Ball | Flapper | | Flush Bushing | For
whirlpools, a variable valve regulating the amount of water delivered to the jets. For faucets, a valve connector device controlling
water flow rate. | | Flush Joint | A Connection with both male
and female threads cut into the pipe | | Flush Valve | Flapper
Valve | | Flushing Surface | The interior surface of
the bowl and all other surfaces which may come into contact with water during flushing. | | Flush-mount Lavatory | Sink that sits flush and even with the countertop and is supported by a
metal ring. | | Flushometer | Toilet valve that automatically shuts
off after it meters a certain amount of water flow. | | Flushometer Tank System | Toilet
flushing system that uses supply water pressure to compress water to provide a pressurized flush as opposed to a gravity flush. | | Flushometer Valve | The valve located at the bottom of a gravity-operated toilet flush tank,
which opens when the trip lever is actuated, and closes when the tank has drained to the desired level. Usually also contains
an overflow tube. | | Flux | Paste applied to copper
pipes and fittings before soldering to help the fusion process and prevent oxidation. | | FMA | Abbreviation for free mineral acidity. | | FMPX | Female
pipe swivel connection | | FNPT | This
refers to the female pipe thread, in which the threads are on the inner side of the connection fitting | | Foam Insulation | Insulation surrounding the surface of a water heater tank. | | Foot Valve | A special type of check valve located at the bottom end of the suction pipe
on a pump; it opens when the pump operates to allow water to enter the suction pipe but closes when the pump shuts off to
prevent water from flowing out. | | Footprint | The area of
floor space taken up by a water heater or other appliance. | | Framed | A
bath enclosure system that mounts all glass or plastic panels in a metal frame. | | Frameless | A
bath enclosure system that minimizes the amount of metal used to hold the system panels and door in place. | | Free Available Chlorine | The concentration of residual chlorine present as dissolved gas, hypochlorous
acid or hypochlorite, not combined with ammonia or in other less readily available form. | | Freeboard | The vertical distance between a bed of filter media or ion exchange material
and the overflow or collector for backwash water; the height above the bed of granular media available for bed expansion during
backwashing; may be expressed either as a linear distance or a percentage of bed depth. | | Free-standing | Term used to describe a bathtub that is free of walls on all sides. | | French Drain | A covered ditch containing a layer of fitted or loose stone or other pervious
material | | Friction head difference | The difference in head required
to move a mass of fluid from one position to another at a certain flow rate within a piping system. It is also the specific
energy required to overcome friction in the system. | | Friction Loss | The
loss of pressure caused by the turbulence created in water while traveling through the pipe. | | Frost Line | The depth to which frost penetrates the earth | | Full Finished | Refers to tubular products in which the weld has been processed to produce
uniform strength and dimensions, and subsequently annealed to obtain proper corrosion resistance | | Full Hydraulic Capacity | The designed capacity of a pipe or conduit | | FVI | Flammable Vapor Ignition |
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| Ga. | Abbreviation
for gauge, the wall thickness of tubing | | Galvanic
Action | The phenomenon of corrosion of an anode (positive terminal - like on a battery). When two dissimilar metals are immersed
in an electrolyte, an electrical potential will exist between them. If the two are in an electrical contact, a current will
flow. The metal that becomes the anode (negative) of this cell will corrode and dissolve while the cathode (positive) will
be protected from corrosion. | | Galvanic series | A
list of metals with those on the top of the list being attacked by those lower down in the list. The father apart on the list,
the faster the attack. | | Galvanizing | The
process of applying a coating of zinc to the finished product to provide corrosion protection. The coating can be applied
by hot dipping or electrolytic deposition. | | Galvanometer | Laboratory
instrument that detects and measures small electric current. | | GAMA | Gas
Appliance Manufacturers Association | | Gas Cock | Plug
valve installed the main gas line and an appliance. | | Gas
Control | Device used to regulate gas pressure on a water heater. | | Gasket | Flat
device usually made of fiber or rubber used to provide a watertight seal between metal joints. | | Gate | A device that controls the flow in a conduit, pipe, or tunnel. | | Gate
Diverter | The pop-up lever on a tub faucet that activates the diverter valve | | Gauge
(gage) | Device for registering water level, discharge, velocity, pressure, etc. A number that defines the thickness of the
sheet used to make steel pipe. The larger the number, the thinner the pipe wall | | Gel/Grease
Cap | Waterproof wire connector | | GFCI | Ground
fault circuit interrupter. A device to cut off the flow of electricity if a short circuit is detected. | | Gland | In a pump, the part that holds one half of the mechanical seal and attaches to the stuffing box. | | Glaze | Glossy water-resistant, colored finish on vitreous china fixtures | | Globe
Valve | A gate valve with a curved chamber | | GPF | Gallons
per flush used in toilets. Current law requires maximum of 1.6 gpf. Older styles were usually 3.5 gpf. | | GPG | Grains per Gallon. A measurement of the amount of dissolved material in water. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 ppm | | GPH | Gallons per hour. A measure of flow rates. | | GPM | Gallons
per minute. The rate of flow by which faucets and showerheads are measured and regulated. | | gr | Grain - A unit of weight equal to 1/7000th of a pound, or 0.0648 gram. | | Grab
Bar | Safety bar installed in a bathtub or shower for use when bathing. | | Grain
(gr.) | A unit of weight equal to 1/7000th of a pound, or 0.0648 gram. | | Grain
Per Gallon (gpg) | A common basis for reporting water analyses in the United States and Canada; one grain per U.S. gallon equals 17.12
milligrams per liter (mg/1) or parts per million (ppm). One grain per British (Imperial) gallon equals 14.3 milligrams per
liter or parts per million. | | Gravity Operated Toilet | A toilet that
relies on the natural downward pressure of water in a toilet tank to flush the toilet effectively. | | Gray Water | Waste water from sinks, showers, and bathtubs, but not toilets. | | Grease Trap | A device that captures grease entering a system before it reaches the sewer
lines. Usually used in commercial applications such as restaurants or cafeterias. | | Greensand | A
natural mineral, primarily composed of complex silicates, which possesses ion exchange properties. | | Grip Fitting | A compression-type fitting used on PB pipe | | Grooved
Fitting | A gasketed mechanical pipe fitting made of ductile iron that is clamped onto a groove in a pipe rather than screwed
onto threads. It is mostly used in commercial applications on pipes larger than 1 1/2" in diameter. | | Ground Joint | A joint which consists of pressing two smooth mating surfaces together without
a gasket or supplemental sealant | | Ground Joint Union | Pipe
union that has a brass grounding section between the two halves. | | Ground Water | Naturally
occurring water rising from the water table of the surrounding land. | | Grounding | Connecting
a piece of electrical equipment to a "ground wire" which is connected to the electrical system ground at the circuit
breaker box. This helps to ensure that the circuit breaker will trip and cut off power in the event of a short circuit or
damage to insulation. | | Guide Arm | Valve which controls water
flow into the toilet tank. |
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| Handles | Faucet handles typically come in 3 styles: knob, lever, and cross. Some
manufacturers allow a customer to mix and match components to create a custom handle consisting of handle bases and handle
inserts. | | Handshower | A showerhead designed with a handle that's
connected to a water supply and a flexible hose. | | Hanger | A
device used to support pipes. | | Hard Water | Natural
water containing impurities in various proportions. Traditional hardness is a measure of calcium or dissolved solids in a
solution, measured in parts per million. Hard water generally ranges from 100 to 250 ppm. | | Hardness | The amount of dissolved minerals in water measured in grains per gallon
(GPG). The most common minerals are calcium and magnesium | | Hardness Leakage | The
presence of a consistent concentration of hardness in the effluent from an ion exchange water softener, often due to high
concentrations of hardness or sodium in the water being treated (see Leakage). | | HBA | Home Builders Association | | HC | Handicapped | | HD | Head | | Head | (1) The pressure of water (or steam) in
a closed system (see Pressure Head). It represents the differential in the gravitational force exerted by a liquid at two
different depths.
(2) Nautical slang term for toilet | | Head Loss | The
pressure of water as measured at a stated point, either in feet or in pounds per square inch (PSI). | | Heat Exchanger | A heat transfer system. | | Heat Sensors | Heat-triggered devices on sprinkler systems that release the flow of water. | | Heat Trap | Restriction of heat loss through water connections to a tank. | | Hermetic | Completely sealed, especially against the escape or entry of air. | | Hertz | A measure of frequency; one Hertz equals one cycle per second. | | Hex Key | Allen Wrench | | Hold
Down | A type of pipe anchor consisting of a U-strap bolted at either end onto a horizontal plate. | | Hole Saw | A small, cylindrical attachment for a power drill consisting of a circular
saw blade for cutting holes. | | Hollow-jet Valve | A
valve having a closing member that moves upstream to shut off the flow. The hollow-jet valve discharges a hollow or annular
jet dispersed over a wide area. | | 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 Bibb | An outdoor faucet, also used to supply washing machines. | | House Trap | U-shaped fitting with two adjacent cleanout plugs visible at floor level
if main drain runs under floor. | | HP | Horsepower | | HT | Hose threads. Note: Garden hose threads are different from standard pipe threads. | | Hub
& Spigot Piping | Gravity rated DWV or pressure pipe that has a bell-shaped section at one end and a straight section at the other.
As lengths are assembled, the straight end of one fits into the bell of the next. | | Hubless | Same
as no-hub. Cast iron drainage pipe with neoprene gaskets and clamps | | HVAC | Heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning. | | Hydration | The chemical
combination of water into a substance. | | Hydraulic Pressure | Pressure
that exists in a system containing non-compressible liquid. | | Hydrojet | Cold
inlet tube designed to reduce sediment build-up and increase efficiency in a water heater. | | Hydrolysis | The reaction of a salt with water to form an acid and a base. | | Hydronic | System of forced hot water. | | Hydrostatic Pressure | Pressure exerted by or existing within a liquid at rest with respect to
adjacent bodies | | Hydrostatic Test | Test using noncompressible
liquid under pressure at a level equal to or greater than the maximum pressure that will be utilized when in use, such as
in steam boilers. | | Hydrous | Containing water, water
of crystallization or hydration, as certain minerals or chemical compounds. | | Hydroxyl | The
chemical group or ion (OH) which is neutral or positively charged. | | Hygroscopic | Attracting
or absorbing moisture from the air; changed or altered by this absorption. | | Hypochlorite | The
OCL anion; calcium and sodium hypochlorite are commonly used as bleaches and disinfecting agents. |
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| ID | Inside
diameter. All pipes are sized according to their inside diameter. | | Immersion | A
term referring to something submerged in water. | | Impeller | Rotating
wheel with vanes found inside a centrifugal pump. As it spins at high speed it draws fluids in and thrusts them under pressure
to the discharge outlet. | | Incoming Inlet Temp. | Temperature
of water entering the tank. | | Incomplete Combustion | A
product of inadequate ventilation which restricts the flow of air into an appliance. This may lower oxygen content in the
surrounding air. | | Indirect Wastes | waste
pipe used to convey gray water by discharging it into a plumbing fixture such as a floor drain. | | Induction motor | The most common type used in industry. Has a slippage of 2 to 5 percent
compared to synchronous motors. | | Influent | The
stream entering a unit, stream or process, such as the hard water entering an ion exchange water softener. | | Injection | The drawing of primary air into a gas burner by means of a flow of fuel gas. | | Inlet | An entrance, opening, or aperture for the intake of fluid or gas. | | In-line
Pump | Small pump which pumps fluid through a line on which it is supported and mounted. | | Input | The amount of fuel used by a water heater in a given period of time, usually 1 hr. | | Input Rate | The quantity of heat or fuel supplied to an appliance, expressed in volume
of heat units per volume of time (BTUs/hour). | | Input Rating | The
gas burning capacity of an appliance in BTU's per hour as specified by the manufacturer. | | Insanitary | So unclean as to be a likely cause of disease; Contrary to sanitary principles
injurious to health. | | Insert Fittings | Fittings equipped
with external, annular rings fir gripping, which are inserted into flexible rubber or plastic tubing as a connection. | | Inserts | Faucet handles | | Instantaneous
Water Heater | A type of water heater that heats water as it flows through a heat exchanger coil. | | Insular | Kohler's
registered trade name for factory-installed insulation, which minimizes condensation on the outside of the tank when exposed
to high humidity. | | Insuliner® | Kohler's Registered
trade name for factory-installed tank insulation, which minimizes condensation on the outside of the tank (also known as tank
sweating) when exposed to high humidity | | Integral Stops | Stops
that allow the owner to shut off water supply at the faucet for maintenance without shutting off the water supply to the entire
house. | | Integral Vacuum Breaker | A
device typically used in a sink or shower sprayer to keep water from backflowing into the fresh water supply. | | Interceptor | Device for separating grease and oil from drainage system. See grease trap. | | Ion | An atom or group of atoms which function as a unit, and have a positive (cation) or negative (anion) electrical charge,
due to the gain or loss of one or more electrons. | | Ion
Exchange | A reversible process in which ions are released from an insoluble permanent material in exchange for other ions in
a surrounding solution; the direction of the exchange depends upon the affinities of the ion exchanger for the ions present,
and the concentrations of the ions in the solution. | | Ionization | The
process in which atoms gain or lose electrons; sometimes used as synonymous with dissociation, the separation of molecules
into charged ions in solution. | | IPS | Iron Pipe Size (OD). Same
as NPS. Standard pipe threads. Also Internal Pipe Swivel connection (female) | | Island Vent | An air admittance valve | | ISO | International\ Organization for Standardization based in Geneva Switzerland. Among the many standards it issues are
pump and seal standards for the metric community | | ISO
9000 | A series of five standards for developing a total quality management system. Developed by the International\ Organization
for Standardization. | | Isolation Mount | The
four small rubber feet located beneath a whirlpool's pump base, or attached to the pulse cannister assemblies, designed
to reduce noise and vibration when the whirlpool is running. | | Isothermal | Action
that takes place with no change in temperature. |
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| J Bend | The
trap section, with a 180-degree bend, or a multi-piece P-trap. Also called a return bend. | | J Hook | A pipe hanger in the shape of a J | | Jacket | Usually
refers to the heating/ cooling jacket surrounding the stuffing box on some pumps; The outer casing (shell) of a water heater. | | Jackson Turbidity Unit (JTU) | A quantitative unit of turbidity originally based on the comparison of a
liquid (such as water) with a suspension of a specify type of silica, using the turbidity measure in a Jackson Candle Turbidimeter. | | Jet | An orifice or other feature of a toilet that is designed to direct water into the trapway quickly to start the siphon
action. | | Jetport | Hydrojet dip
tube, which creates turbulence in the tank. | | Johnni-bolts | Closet
bolts, used to mount toilet bowls to the closet flange | | Joint | One
length of pipe | | Joint Runner | Collar
like device that keeps molten lead in place while sealing a joint in cast iron pipe. | | JTU | see: Jackson Turbidity Unit | | Junction
Box | Utility area where incoming current is connected in an electrical appliance. |
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| Kafer Fitting | Cast
iron drainage pipe fitting with threaded-on hub used to attach to existing cast iron lines | | Kilowatt | One thousand watts. | | Knockout Plug | PVC test plug | | Kollar
Kap | Styrofoam forms used to protect floor drains while concrete is being poured around them. | | kPa | A metric unit for pressure. 100 kPa = one atmosphere. | | KW | Kilowatt.
A measure of the rate of supply of energy or power, equal to 1000 watts or 3412 BTU per hour. |
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| "L" Tubing | An industry standard for copper tubing defined by the tube wall thickness
and identified by a "blue" strip. Type "L" copper tube wall is approximately 50% greater thickness than
Type "M" | | Laminar Flow | Streamline
flow in a fluid near a solid boundary | | Laminated
glass | Glass that has been made by uniting layers of glass in order to strengthen the glass. | | Langelier's Index | A calculated number used to predict whether or not a water will precipitate,
be in equilibrium with, or dissolve calcium carbonate. It is sometimes erroneously assumed that any water that tends to dissolve
calcium carbonate is automatically corrosive. | | Lateral
Sewage Line | A sewage line that connects one sewage pipe with another. | | Laundry
Tray | Laundry Tub | | Laundry Tub | Very
deep sink used in a laundry room for soaking or washing clothing. | | Lav | Lavatory | | Lav Tube | Water supply tube for lavatory | | Lavatory | A fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainage for washing. Bathroom
sink | | LDO | Lint, Dust, and Oil | | Leach Field | Porous soil area, through which septic tank leach lines run, emptying the
treated waste | | Leach Lines | Pipes
that carry effluent from the septic system out to the leach field. | | Leader | Pipe
carrying rainwater to the ground or sewer. | | Lean Mixture | An
air-gas mixture that contains more air than needed for complete combustion of the gas. | | Length | A unit of linear measure for pipes, such as 10 or 20 ft. | | LH | Left
Hand | | Lien | A legal right
to hold another's property, or to have it sold, or applied for payment of a claim, especially to satiisfy a debt. | | Lien Release | A written document from the contractor to the owner that releases the Lien,
Mechanic's or Material following its satisfaction. (see Mechanic's lien) | | Lien Waiver | A written document from a contractor or material supplier having lien rights
against an owner's property that relinquishes all or part of those rights. | | Life Cycle Labs | A place where water heaters are tested at an accelerated rate to simulate
life expectancies. | | Lifting Flame | See
Floating Flame | | Light Duty | Small
commercial applications | | Lime | See
sediment. | | Limit stop | Faucet
control unit used to adjust maximum water temperature | | Lock
Nut | Nut fitted into a piece of pipe and screwed onto another pipe to join the two pieces | | Low Consumption Toilet | A class of toilet designed to flush using 1.6 gallons of water or less.
Also known as "Water-saving" toilets. | | LP | Liquid
propane. A fuel for gas water heaters. |
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| "M"
Tubing | An industry standard for copper tubing defined by the tube wall thickness, identified by a "red" stripe | | Macerator | A device installed in a drain line between a toilet and the soil stack to
reduce solids to liquid form. | | Magnesium | One
of the elements in the earth's crust, the compounds of which when dissolved in water make the water hard. The presence
of magnesium in water is a factor contributing to the formation of scale and insoluble soap curds. | | Main | The primary artery of supply of the water supply or drain system in which all the branches connect. In the case of
drains, known as the Main Vent. | | Male Fitting | Fitting
that is inserted into another fitting | | Male Threads | Threads
on the outside of pipes and fittings | | Malleable
Fittings | Fittings made of cast iron. Metal which is soft and pliable. | | Manganese | An element sometimes found dissolved in ground water, usually with dissolved
iron but in lower concentration; causes black stains and other problems similar to iron. It can be removed by a water softener
or it can be precipitated by chlorine at a pH of 9.5 or above. | | Manganese
Greensand | Greensand which has been processed to incorporate in its pores and on its surface the higher oxides of manganese.
The product has a mild oxidizing power, and is often used in the oxidation and precipitation of iron, manganese and/or hydrogen
sulfide, and in their removal from water. | | Manhole | Access
opening to a hole, usually with a cover, through which a person may enter a sewer, boiler, drain, etc. (usually round to prevent
the cover from falling into the opening). | | Manifold | A
fitting that connects a number of branches to the main; serves as a distribution point. | | Manifold Pressure | The gas pressure in an appliance manifold upstream of the burner orifices. | | Manifolded Installation | Paralleling of water heaters for large hot water demand applications. | | Mapp Gas | A colorless, flammable gas made by combining liquified petroleum gas with
Methylacetylene-Propadiene. It is a stable, non-toxic fuel used in brazing and soldering. | | MC Tank | Acetylene tank holding 10 cu.ft. of gas, used for plumbing, once used to
fuel motorcycles. | | MCL | Maximum Contaminant
Level The maximum level of a contaminant allowed in water by federal law. Based on health effects and currently available
treatment methods | | Mechanical Controls | Dials,
slides, switches, knobs, buttons, and so forth used to operate ranges, ovens and cooktops. | | Mechanicals | The wiring, plumbing and heating and cooling systems in a building; also
the components with moving parts such as furnaces, plumbing fixtures, etc. | | Mechanic's Lien | A lien obtained by an unpaid subcontractor or supplier through the courts.
When enforced, real property - such as your home - can be sold to pay the subcontractor or supplier | | Metal fatigue | A breakage of the metal caused by the bending and flexing or the expansion
and contraction of a metal part beyond its endurance limit. | | Meter
Tailpiece | An adapter connecting a water meter to the water supply line. | | Meter Tile | The cylindrically shaped casing that forms the pit to hold a water meter.
It's usually made of plastic. | | MHT | Male
Hose Threads (threads on outside of connection) | | Micron | A
unit of measure, one thousandth of a meter. Used to describe the pore size of filters | | Millivolt | One thousandth of a volt. | | Minimum run time | The minimum length of time that the pump should run while refilling the
pressure tank | | Mini-widespread | A
special style of bathroom lav faucet having separate spout and handles, but small enough to fit 4 inch center-to-center faucet
holes. | | MIP | Male Iron Pipe
Connection. Standard external threads on pipe and fittings. | | Mission
Coupling | A neoprene flex coupling, connecting pvc to pvc or clay to pvc | | Mixer | The portion of a burner where air and gas are mixed before delivery to the burner ports. | | Mixing valve | Mixes hot and cold water to achieve a specified delivery temperature. | | MNPT | This refers to the male pipe thread, in which the threads are on the outer side on the connection fitting | | Moenstone | A blend of ceramic-like quartz (70%) and acrylic polymer (30%) that is impervious
to chips or water spots. | | Monitor Cover | The
cast iron lid that fits over a flange casting which is mounted on meter tile in a water meter pit. It consists of an outer
lid, an inner lid, and the flange casting in one or two pieces. | | Monobloc
Faucet | A single-handle faucet, usually a lever. | | Most
Probable Number (MPN) | The term used to indicate the number of organisms which, according to statistical theory, would be most likely to
produce the results observed in certain bacteriological tests; usually expressed as a number in 100 ml of water | | MPN | see: Most Probable Number | | MPX | Male
Pipe Swivel Connection. | | Multiport Valve | Rotary
type backwash valve. Can replace up to 6 regular gate valves. Serves various functions. | | Multi-stage pump | A pump that has more than one impeller. | | Municipal Water | Water supplied by a city for public use; tap water. Usually held in a reservoir |
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| N P S H A | Net
positive suction head available to prevent cavitation of the pump. It is defined as:
Atmospheric pressure + gage pressure
+ static pressure - vapor pressure - friction loss in the suction piping. | | N P S H R | Net positive suction head required to stop a pump from cavitating. This
number is provided by the pump manufacturer. | | Natural
Gas | A colorless, odorless fuel derived from the earth, consisting primarily of Methane (CH4). Odors are added to aid
in leak detection. | | Negative pressure | Less
than atmospheric pressure. | | NEMA | National
Electrical Manufacturers Association | | Neo Angle
Base | A shower base designed to allow the shower to fit into a corner using minimal floor space while maintaining an elegant
look | | Net Usable BTU | That portion
of a fuel's heat energy actually transferred into the water by a heater. | | NH | No Hub | | Nipple | A short length
of pipe installed between couplings or other fittings | | Nipple
Extractor | A tool used to unscrew sections of pipe | | NKBA | National
Kitchen and Bath Association | | No-hub Connector | A
connector for no-hub iron pipe consisting of a rubber sleeve and a stainless steel band secured by hose clamps. A variation,
a neoprene sleeve with two adjustable steel bands, is used for connecting dissimilar materials, as when connecting new plastic
pipe to an existing cast-iron drainpipe | | NOM | Nominal.
Usually refers to the Inside diameter of trade sizes of copper pipe and some CPVC pipes. Not for Iron Pipe connections. For
example, a ½" NOM Comp. Fitting is actually 5/8" because ½" pipe has an OD of 5/8". | | Non-CFC | Foam insulation that minimizes the use of Chlorofluorocarbons | | Non-ferrous | Not containing iron | | Nonpotable | Not suitable for drinking | | NPS | National Pipe Straight threads standard, Same as IPS | | NPS
(Discharge) | Nonpoint Source pollution: nutrients,. sediments, toxic substances, and pathogens that degrade waterways. NPS occurs
mainly through stormwater runoff. | | NPT | National
Pipe Tapered thread standard. The same as IPS | | NSF | National
Sanitation Foundation |
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| Oakum | Loosely
woven hemp rope that has been treated with oil or other waterproofing agent; it is used to caulk joints in a bell and spigot
pipe and fittings. | | Obscure glass | A
glass that lets light through but is not totally transparent. | | OD | Outside
diameter | | OEM | Original Equipment
Manufacturer | | OHM | A unit of electrical
resistance | | Oil Powered | A
water heater that uses oil as its fuel source | | One-piece
Toilet | A toilet in which the tank and bowl are manufactured as a single vitreous china fixture. One-piece toilets usually
have a lower profile than two-piece toilets. | | Operating
Cost | The cost of running a water heater for a given time period | | Orbital
Weld | A circumferential, full fusion weld used to join together two lengths of tubing. It is a GTAW welding process. Usually
to join coiled lengths | | Organic Matter | plant
and animal residues, or substances made by living organisms | | Orifice | An
opening through which gas is discharged and whereby the flow of gas is limited and/or controlled. | | O-Ring | Round rubber washer used to create a watertight seal, chiefly around valve stems | | Outlet Sewer | Pipe section in a septic system which runs between the septic tank and the
drainage field | | Outlet/Discharge | The
opening through which the water exits the pump | | Outside
Diameter | The diameter of a pipe measured from the outside edge | | Overflow
hood | On a bath drain, the decorative hood concealing the overflow | | Overflow Tube | The vertical tube inside a toilet tank that directs water into the bowl
in case the ballcock malfunctions. It is usually part of the flush valve. It prevents potential water damage caused by a tank
overflow. A "constant-running" condition alerts the user to a problem. On most toilets, the overflow tube also has
a refill tube flowing into it, which directs water from the ballcock through the overflow tube to the bowl, after a siphon
break. | | Ozone | An unstable form of oxygen
(O3 ), which can be generated by an electrical discharge through air or regular oxygen. It is a strong oxidizing agent and
has been used in water conditioning as a disinfectant. |
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| P & T
Relief Valve | Pressure and Temperature Relief Valve - Same as T & P | | P
O Plug | Lavatory drain with separate removable plug | | P
Trap | See trap | | Packing | Fibrous material
that is used on faucets to prevent leaks. | | Packing Nut | Nut
that holds the stem of a faucet in position & holds the packing material. | | Parallel System | Two or more identical size heaters piped with water connections, that is,
cold water travels equal distance into the inlets of the heaters from a "T" connection and hot water travels equal
distance from the outlet of the heaters to a "T" connection. | | PB | Polybutylene. A flexible plastic tubing used in water supply systems where allowed by code. Also, polished brass
finish on faucets. | | PDI | Plumbing and
Drainage Institute | | PE | Polyethylene
plastic material. Also Plain End pipe. | | Peak Hour
Demand | Time when the largest demand for hot water is needed. | | Peak
Load Period | The period of the day in which the system has the greatest demand. | | Penal Valve | A commercial flush valve, so-named because of its use in penal institutions | | Perfect Vacuum | Theoretically, space without matter in it. A perfect vacuum has never been
obtained. | | Perforated pipe | Pipe
designed to discharge water through small, multiple, closely spaced orifices or nozzles, placed in a segment of its circumference
for irrigation purposes | | Petcock | A
small faucet for draining liquids or relieving air pressure | | PEX | Cross-linked
polyethylene. PEX tubing is commonly used for hydronic radiant floor heat, but increasingly also used for water supply lines.
Stronger than PE. | | PH | Potential Hydrogen.
The hydrogen ion concentration of water to denote acidity or alkalinity, measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Below 7 denotes acidity;
above 7 denotes alkalinity. | | Phase | For
ease of production and distribution, A.C. is distributed in what is known as a 3 phase supply using three active wires and
one neutral wire. | | PHCC | Plumbing Heating
Cooling Contractors Association | | Phenol | A
poisonous and carcinogenic chemical often found in municipal water supplies. Also known as carbolic acid, phenol is a benzene
derivative | | Pickling | Pipe immersed
into acid bath for removal of scale, oil, dirt, etc | | Piezo
Switch | The electronic switch the bather uses to control the whirlpool and optional heater. This switch, based upon the piezo-electric
effect, generates a voltage when pressure is applied to it. | | Pilot | A
small burner used to ignite the main burner | | Pin | External
(male) threaded end. | | Pipe Dope | Slang
for pipe-joint compound. Substance applied to threaded fittings to create a watertight seal. | | Pitch | Downward slope of a drain pipe in the direction of the water flow. | | Pivot Door | A shower door that rotates on two metal pivots at the top and bottom of
the door. | | Plug | Male threaded
fitting which seals the end run of a pipe when fitted into a female threaded fitting. | | Plumb | Precisely vertical. Also to test for, or to make vertical. Also to perform plumbing work. | | Plumber's Helper | A plunger | | Plumber's
Putty | Pliable, popular putty used to seal joints between drain pieces and fixture surfaces. | | Plumbing Tree | Prefabricated set of drain waste, vent, and supply lines | | Plunger | A rubber suction cup approx 6" in diameter attached to a wooden dowel
handle used to free drain clogs | | Pneumatic | Pertains
to devices using compressed air. | | Point of
Use | Small water heater used for remote locations | | Poppet | Valve
that rises perpendicularly to or from its seat | | Pop-up
Assembly | The drain mechanism of a faucet installed on a lavatory. The drain stopper "pops" up and down, | | Pop-up Drain | Type of drain assembly for lavatory and bath. When a lavatory lift rod or
bath overflow plate lever is lifted, the pop-up drain closes so the lavatory or tub retains water | | Porcelain | White ceramic ware that consists of quartz, kaolin, and feldspar. It is
fired at high temperature on steel or cast iron to make the surface of some bathtubs, kitchen sinks, and bathroom lavatories. | | Porcelain Enamel | Vitreous enamel. Often refers to pressed steel products with a porcelain
glaze. | | Porosity | A measure of
the volume of internal pores, or voids, in ion exchangers and filter media; sometimes expressed as a ratio to the total volume
of the medium. | | Port | An opening in
a burner head through which gas or an air-gas mixture is discharged for ignition. | | POS | Porcelain on steel. A finish commonly used on sinks and tubs. | | Positive displacement pump | Called a PD pump. Gear, sliding vane, progressive cavity, lobe etc. the
capacity determined by the pump speed. The maximum head is determined by the horsepower available and the casing strength. | | Potable | Water suitable for drinking. | | Potentiometer | An adjustable resistor used to vary the sensing distance of the touchless
faucet. | | Powdercoat | A technique
for applying paint to aluminum shower door frames. The aluminum is covered with a powder of dry paint particles and is baked
in an oven. This causes the powder to melt and harden into a tough, colorful finish. | | Power Venting | Mechanical draft exhaust to outside, usually utilizing room air to support
combustion. | | PP | Polypropylene
pipe | | PPM | Parts per million. A unit
of measure for impurities in water. | | PR | Pressure
regulator. Usually required if water pressure ever exceeds 80 PSI on potable water supplies inside a structure. | | Pre-Charged Tank | A water storage tank pre-charged with air at factory featuring a vinyl bag
to separate water from air which prevents waterlogging. This tank design provides greater drawdown than standard tanks. Pre-charged
tanks do not require air volume control. | | Preheated
Water | Water that has been tempered (heated) for inlet supply. | | Pressure
Balance Valve | Shower mixing valve that automatically maintains balance between incoming hot and cold water supplies by immediately
regulating fluctuations in pressure. As a result, temperature remains constant, though the outlet pressure may drop. Also
known as an anti-scald valve. | | Pressure Head | Pressure
in a plumbing system. The unit of measure which is the vertical force exerted by water at a depth of one foot. | | Pressure Loss | The term given for the loss of pressure that occurs whenever water moves
through a pipe or when water moves uphill against the force of gravity. If the total pressure loss in a piping system exceeds
the available static water pressure the water will not flow. | | Pressure
Reducing Valve | A valve that automatically reduces inlet water pressure to a specified value at its outlet under static cold water
conditions. | | Pressure Regulator | A
device for controlling and maintaining a uniform outlet gas pressure. | | Pressure Tank | Device used to pump water from a well | | Pressure Tubing | Tubing used to conduct fluids under pressure or at elevated temperatures
or both, and produced to stricter tolerances than pipe. | | Primary
Air | Air which is mixed with gas before the gas leaves a burner port to burn. Ideal burning condition generally is 10
cubic feet of air per one cubic foot of gas. | | Primary
Air Inlet | The opening(s) through which primary air is admitted into a burner. | | Priming Jet | Opening in bowl through which tank-supplied water flows, designed to propel
waste up into the trapway. | | PSI | Pounds
per square inch | | PSIG | Pounds per square
inch gauge | | Public Sewer | A
common sewer directly controlled by public authority. | | Pull-out
Spray | Single-control kitchen faucet which offers a retractable hose and sprayhead to be used for food preparation and cleaning | | Pumping Level | The lowest water level reached during pumping operation. | | Purged Line | A plumbing line in which the faucet has been opened and allowed to run for
a specified length of time, usually1-5 minutes | | PVC | Polyvinyl
chloride. A rigid white or cream-colored plastic pipe used in non-pressure systems, such as drainage, waste, and vent systems. | | PVD | Physical Vapor Deposition, a modern plating process used mostly with polished brass or gold finishes on faucets.
Vaporized zirconium reacts with nitrogen and other gases to form a very durable surface, which will not tarnish or discolor. |
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| R & D | Reamed
and Drifted. Pipe commonly used in water wells having a special, heavy-duty coupling and a guaranteed I.D. clearance | | Rail Fittings | Fittings with setscrews rather than threads, which hold pipes used for hand
railings. Available in various sizes and configurations to suit a number of applications. Not used for plumbing or conduit. | | Rated Storage Volume | Quantity of water stored in a tank. | | Raw Water | Water supplied to the plant before any treatment. | | Reamer | A grinding tool used to level or remove burrs from valve seats in faucets so that the valve stem will fit properly. | | Recessed Tub | A tub that has a decorative finish on one side only, and surrounded by three
walls. The apron, or skirting, may not be included and must be ordered separately. The most popular style. | | Recirculating Harness | PVC tubing setup that circulates water throughout a whirlpool system, delivering
water to the jets | | Recovery | The amount of
water in gallons that can be heated in one hour. (gph) | | Recovery
Capacity | The amount of water in gallons per hour raised 100 degrees F at a given thermal efficiency and BTU per hour input. | | Red Water | Water which has a reddish or brownish appearance due to the presence of
precipitated iron and/or iron bacteria | | Reducer | A
fitting that connects pipes of different sizes together. | | Reed
Switch | A serviceable, magnetic sensing switch that triggers the water flow to stop when the neck jet pillow (with magnet)
is removed from the whirlpool | | Refill Tube | The
tube that directs water from a ballcock into the overflow tube to refill the bowl after a siphon break | | Reflective glass | glass that bounces back at least some of the light that strikes it. | | Relief Valve | A valve that opens to relieve excess temperature. | | Repair Clamp | Sleeve type clamp used to repair a split pipe, held in place by bolts | | Residential | Water heaters for single family dwellings. | | Residual Chlorine | Chlorine Chlorine remaining in treated water after a specified period of
contact time to provide continuing protection throughout a distribution system; the difference between the total chlorine
added, and that consumed by oxidizable matter. | | Return
Circulation System | Tempered water from or near the point of usage which eliminates waste of hot water used for long runs and adds storage
to the system. | | Revent | Pipe installed
specifically to vent a fixture trap. Connects with the vent system above the fixture. | | Reverse Osmosis | A water treatment method whereby water is forced through a semi permeable
membrane which filters out impurities. | | Reverse Trap
Water Closet | A water closet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl, and integral flushing rim and jet. Min. dimensions
are 9" x 8" water spot and 1 ½" ball pass. | | RF | Recovery
Factor - Rating based on the efficiency of the product which is input required to raise 1 gallon of water 1 degree Fahrenheit | | RH | Right Hand | | Rich Mixture | A
mixture of gas and air containing too much fuel or too little air for complete combustion of the gas. | | Rigid Pipe | Pipe designed to transmit the backfill load to the foundation beneath the
pipe. Rigid pipe must be supported on the bottom portion of the pipe | | Rim Holes | A series of small holes in the underside of a toilet rim, around the circumference
of the bowl. Incoming water flows down into the bowl through these holes, creating a rinse effect or wash over the entire
inner surface of the bowl. | | Riser | A
vertical metal or plastic tube or assembly that connects a faucet to the water supply stop valve. Usually made of copper.
Metal Flex Risers are corrugated to facilitate bending. Also a supply line that rises from one story to the next. | | Roller Hanger | A pipe hanger similar to a clevis hanger except that the yoke bolts to a
roller rod instead of a metal strap. This roller rod supports the pipe and permits horizontal movement. | | Roman Spout | Deck-mounted faucet spout. | | Roof Drain | A drain installed at the low spot in a roof that channels water into a drainpipe
to prevent pooling | | Roof Flashing | Sheet
metal installed at any break in a shingled roofline to prevent leaks. Also around sewer vents, fluepipes. | | Root Valve | A multi-port valve commonly used on gauges or switches in high pressure,
high temperature, or under otherwise severe process conditions. Typically built with non-rotating and non-threaded stems. | | Rough-in | Installation of the drain, waste, vent, and supply lines in a structure
to the proposed location of each fixture. | | Rough-in
Dimensions | The distance from a finished wall or floor to the center of the waste or supply opening or mounting holes on a plumbing
fixture. | | Round Front Bowl | Standard
shape of the front of a toilet bow, having dimensions of 14" wide by 16 ½" long from center of seat hinge
holes to front outside rim edge. | | Run | A
complete or secondary section of pipe that extends from supply to fixture or drain to stack. | | Running Trap | An in-line trap mounted in a horizontal drainpipe, where the inlet and outlet
are parallel. |
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| Saddle Tee | Fitting that taps into the side of a pipe, used to make quick connection
to an existing line | | Saddle Valve | A
valve mounted on a pipe run by a clamping device, or saddle tee to provide a water supply for a low-demand device. | | SAE | Society of Automotive Engineers standard; a thread size used on nuts and bolts but not pipe connections. | | Safe Drinking Water Act | An amendment to the Public Health Service Act, which was passed in 1976
to protect public health by establishing uniform drinking water standards for the nation. In 1986 SDWA Amendments were passed
that mandated the EPA establish standards for 83 drinking water contaminants by 1992 and identify an additional 25 contaminants
for regulation every 3 years thereafter. | | Safety Shutoff
Valve | A device on a gas appliance that shuts off the gas supply to prevent a hazardous situation. A flame safety shutoff
operates when the actuating flame becomes extinguished. | | Sag
Pipe | A section of a sewer line that is placed deeper in the ground than normal in order to pass under utility piping,
waterways, rail lines, highways, or other obstacles. The sewer line is raised again after passing under the obstacle. | | Sanitary Fitting | Fitting that joins the assorted pipes in a drain, waste, and vent system,
designed to allow solid material to pass through without clogging. | | Sanitary
Sewer | House drain that carries wastewater away from the house to a sewer system or septic tank. | | Saponification | The process in which a fatty acid is neutralized with an alkali or base
to form a soap. | | Scale | A thin coating
or layer, usually calcium on the bottom of a tank or interior parts that may prevent heat transfer. | | Schedule | Numbers assigned to different wall thicknesses of pipe (e.g. sch 40) | | Scupper | Drain, normally located on a roof or deck that allows rain water to drain
off. | | Sealed Combustion | Sealing
of combustion chamber to prevent spillage of combustion products. | | Sealed
Combustion Heater | A heater which pulls combustion air from outside the structure and vents combustion by-products to the outside. | | Seal-Off Fitting | Fitting which prevents gas leakage from moving from one section of pipe
to another. | | Seamless Pipe | Pipe
with no weld in the circumference | | Secondary
Air | The remaining air needed for complete combustion besides primary air. This is the air surrounding the flames outside
the burner ports. | | Sediment | The substance
that settles on the bottom of a water tank. Also known as lime. | | Self-Rimming | A
style of bathroom sink with a rolled and finished edge | | Self-rimming
Sink | Sink with no metal ring that has a built-in lip of the same material which supports it in the vanity top. | | Sequestering Agent | A chemical compound sometimes fed into water to tie up undesirable ions,
keep them in solution, and reduce their effects. For example, polyphosphate can sequester hardness and prevent reactions with
soap. | | Serial/Model/Rating Plate | A
permanent information plate attached to major home appliances. The plate includes product model and serial numbers, plus information
about wattage or BTU requirements. | | Series System | System
where a primary heater preheats water to a given desired general purpose temperature and feeds into another heater. | | Service Entrance | Pipe connecting the water company piping to the water meter. | | Service Pressure | The range of pressure in the pressure tank during the pumping cycle, usually
expressed in pounds per square inch gauge (P.S.I.G.). | | Service
Sink | Deep fixed basin, supplied with hot and cold water, which is used for rinsing of mops, disposal of cleaning water,
or washing clothes and other household items. | | Service
Tee | Tee fitting with male threads on one run opening and female threads on the other two. | | Setting | Pumps: vertical distance in feet from the top of the well to the top of
the pump. | | Sewer Ejector | See
ejector. | | Sewer Gas | Gases, esp.
methane, which may be combustible and poisonous from the decay of organic materials in the sewer system | | Shallow Well | A well with a pumping head of 25 feet or less, permitting use of a suction
pump | | Shower Receptor | A one-piece
base (floor) unit used as a shower, for example, to catch water and direct it to a center drain. | | Shroud | Color-matched component under a wall-mount lavatory that covers the drain outlet for aesthetic purposes | | Shutoff Valve | Most commonly refers to angle stops installed under sinks and toilets, but
also valves installed on branch lines and alongside the meter. | | Side
Cutter | A heavy duty auger tip for large diameter pipes | | Sight
Hole | Generally a window on oil-fired products that allows the viewing of burner and flame patterns. | | Sillcock | Hose bib | | Simplex
Basin | An ejector pump container usually 18" x 30" for single family homes. | | Single Threshold | Type of shower base used in a three wall installation with the threshold
being the side with the door. | | Sink | A
stationary basin connected with a drain and water supply for washing and drainage. | | Siphon | A pipe connecting two canals. A tube or pipe through which water flows over a high point by gravity. | | Siphon Break | The point in a toilet flush cycle when air is re-introduced into the trapway,
breaking the siphonic action. This is characterized by the deep gurgling sound heard at the end of a flush. | | Siphon Wash Closet | A toilet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl and integral flushing
rim, and minimum dimensions of 5" x 4" water spot and 1 ½" ball pass. | | Siphoning | The suction or pulling effect that takes place in the trapway of a toilet
as it is filled with outgoing water and waste. | | Siphon-Jet
Water Closet | A toilet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl and an integral flushing rim and jet. | | Siphon-Vortex Water Closet | A toilet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl integral flushing rim
and a water supply system with or without a jet, which does not feed directly into the trap. | | SJ | Slip Joint | | Sleeve | Pipe
which is passed through a wall for the purpose of inserting another pipe through it. | | Slide Bar | Type of shower component designed for the attachment of a handshower. The
mounting bracket can be adjusted at different heights to accommodate individual preference. | | Sliding Inner Door | A door that slides along the combustion chamber radius for easy access to
the burner and pilot. | | Sliding panels | the
moving panels in a bypass door. (as in shower doors) | | Slip
Gasket | Elastomer (natural occuring elastic substance) gasket, usable with a hub and spigot pipe because it has a tapered
cross section | | Slip Joint | A
connection made with compression fittings. | | SMLS | Seamless
pipe | | SN | Satin nickel finish | | Soda Ash | the common name for sodium carbonate, Na2CO3 a chemical compound used sometimes
used in soap and detergents to neutralize acid water. | | Soft
Flame | A flame partially deprived of primary air such that the combustion zone is extended and the inner cone of the flame
is ill-defined. | | Soft Water | Water
that has a low calcium and magnesium content | | Soil
Cutter | A device used to cut No Hub pipe, consisting of a handle and a cutting chain, similar to a chain wrench in appearance | | Soil Pipe | A sewer pipe for carrying off waste from toilets. | | Soil Stack | Largest vertical drain line to which all branch waste lines connect. This
line carries waste to the sewer line. | | Solder | A
metal alloy that is melted to create a fused joint between metal pieces. Also the act of melting solder into the joint. | | Solenoid | A coil of wire in the form of a cylinder that, when carrying a current,
resembles a bar magnet. | | Solute | The
substance which is dissolved in and by a solvent. Dissolved solids, such as the minerals found in water, are solutes. | | Solvent Weld | Any of the types of PVC pipe and fittings that are fastened together with
solvent-based cement | | Soot | A
black substance, mostly consisting of small particles of carbon, which can result from incomplete combustion and appear as
smoke. | | Spark Ignition | Intermittent
ignition devices that utilizes a spark to light a flame. | | Spark
Test | A test procedure to evaluate the integrity of the glass lining. | | Specific Gravity | The ratio of the weight of a specific volume of a substance compared to
the weight of the same volume of pure water at 4oC. | | Specific
Heat | Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of a substance one degree Celsius. | | Spigot | The plain end of a cast-iron pipe. The spigot is inserted into the bell end of the next pipe to make a water tight
joint. | | Spigot Soil Adapter | Hub
adapter to connect PVC with soil pipe. | | Spline adapter | Device
sometimes required to form a mating connection between the splines of a valve stem and the splines inside a faucet handle. | | Spore | Specialized reproductive bodies or resting cells that resist adverse conditions which would readily destroy the parent
organism. | | Spud | A threaded opening
on the water heater tank. Also a tool for digging having characteristics of a shade and chisel. | | SS | Stainless Steel | | Stack | The
vertical main in the drain, waste, and vent system, extending one or more stories. | | Stacking | The ability of hot water to form layers of different temperatures in the
tank stratification. | | Stainless Steel | Steel
sinks made of solid stainless material, durable, and immune to rust and corrosion. The gauge measures the thickness of the
steel, with a lower number indicating thicker steel. Their underside is often sprayed with a rubberized undercoating to provide
a sound-deadening barrier, eliminate condensation, and reduce heat transfer. | | Stand Pipe | Open vertical pipe that receives water from a washing machine. Also the
vertical pipe run supplying water to a fire sprinkler system; also large vertical pipe into which water is pumped in order
to produce a desired pressure; a high vertical pipe or reservoir that is used to secure a uniform pressure in a water-supply
system | | Standing Pilot | see
pilot | | Static Discharge Head | The
vertical distance from the pump to the highest outlet in the water system Stand By Loss. The amount of heat lost while a unit
is in stand by mode. | | Static Lift | The
vertical distance between source and discharge water levels in a pump installation | | Static Pressure | The pressure when no water is flowing. | | Static Water Level | The undisturbed level of water in the well before pumping. | | STD | Standard | | Stem | Part of the
faucet that holds the handle on one end and the washer on the other. | | Stiffener | A galvanized bushing used to strengthen tubing to fit in a leadpak coupling | | Stillson Wrench | Pipe wrench | | Stop | The
shutoff valve under sinks and toilets. Allows water supply to be cut off to one fixture without affecting the water supply
to other fixtures. | | Stop and Drain Fitting | Plug-type
valve used to tap into a water main to control the flow to a branch line, which has a side opening to shut off the water and
allow it to drain out so the pipe won't freeze. | | Stop
Valve | same as stop | | Storage Tank | A
tank used to hold a specific volume of water | | Storm
Drain | Drain used to receive and convey rain water, surface water, and ground water away from buildings. | | Straight Cross | Fitting that connects four pipes of the same diameter. | | Straight Pipe Threads | A special kind of straight thread used only on iron pipe, toilet, and faucet
fittings. A cone seal or gasket is usually included because straight threads will not form a complete seal without a gasket
of some kind. | | Straight Stop | An
emergency stop valve that is usually installed before the water supply line to toilets and faucets. Similar to angle stops
but the line does not change direction. | | Strainer
Pot | A housing on the influent side of a pump that serves as a priming chamber and a receptacle for the strainer basket. | | Strap Wrench | Tool with metal body and heavy cloth or metal mesh belt used for turning
pipe | | Street Ell | An 90 degree
elbow joint with a hub on one end and male threads on the other. Used to make an angled connection between pipe or tubing
and a fitting with a hub. | | Stub-Out | Short
lengths of pipe installed during rough-in to which fixtures and drains will eventually be installed. | | Stud Guard | Short band of metal attached to wall studs to prevent nails from penetrating
and damaging pipes | | Stuffing box | That
portion of the pump that held the packing and now holds the mechanical seal. | | Submergence | The distance the ejector, foot valve or submersible pump is installed below
the pumping level | | Suction head | The
head on the suction side of the pump. This is subtracted from the discharge head to determine the head being produced by the
pump. It is a sum of the static, pressure and friction heads. | | Suction
Static Lift | Same as Suction Static head. This term is only used when the pump centerline is above the suction tank fluid surface | | Sulfate | A chemical compound that can cause laxative effects and give off a medicinal
taste in concentrations around 30 gpg. In high concentration with high calcium hardness, it forms a white insoluble compound
that is difficult to remove. | | Sulfur | A
yellowish solid element. The term also commonly describes to water containing hydrogen sulfide gas. The presence of Sulfur
is marked by a smell like rotten eggs. | | Sump | A
pit or pool for draining, collecting, or storing water. A chamber which provides water to the pump | | Supply Kit | Usually a kit of all parts needed to connect a faucet or toilet to the pipes
coming out of the wall. Usually includes stop valves, water connectors, and escutcheons. | | Supply Stop | The valve controlling water supply to a toilet. | | Surface Mount | Typically refers to thermostats mounted on the outside of the tank that
senses temperature through the steel tank. | | Surface Pump | A
mechanism for removing water or wastewater from a sump or wet well. | | Suspended
Solids | Solid particles in water which are not in solution. | | SV | Service
Victory. A designation for service weight cast iron drainage pipe. | | Sweating | Slang
term for soldering. Also formation of condensation on the outside of pipes or toilet tanks. | | Sweep | A drain ell fitting with a long radius that allows for smooth passage of waste. Fittings with abrupt changes of direction,
such as a vent tee, may only be used for vents. | | Swing
Joint | A flexible sprinkler connection made by connecting three threaded elbows fittings together |
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| T & C | Threaded and Coupled. Some cast iron pipe is sold threaded with a coupling
attached. | | T & P Valve | Temperature
& pressure relief valve. A safety device used to expel excess pressure or heat from inside a tank. | | T & S | Tub and Shower | | Tail
Pipe | The pipe added below the jet assembly, in a weak well application. | | Tailpiece | Section of pipe that runs between a fixture outlet and the trap | | Tank | Fixture reservoir for flush water. On a conventional toilet, the ballcock, flush valve, and trip lever are installed
in the tank. A tank lid closes the top tank opening | | Tank
Cross | A double-tee-shaped fitting installed between a shallow well pump and the bladder tank with integrated valve and
guage fittings, and an outlet for a pressure-relief valve. | | Tankless
Water Heater | Instantaneous water heater | | Tannin (Tannic
acid) | A substance occurring naturally in well water. It is produced by decaying vegetation, and causes the water to have
a yellow of light brown color and can provide a bitter taste. There is currently no EPA regulatory level for tannin in water. | | Tap Adapter | Fitting with one plain end and one threaded female end | | Tap Tee | Cast iron tee with a threaded female side inlet | | Tap Water | Water provided by a water company by way of the home's plumbing system. | | Tapered Pipe | Standard type of threads used on iron pipe and pipe fittings. | | TBE | Threaded both ends | | TDS | Total
dissolved solids | | Tee | T-shaped fitting
with three openings that allow another pipe to be joined at a 90 degree angle, used to create branch lines. | | Teflon Tape | A fluorocarbon polymer with non-sticking properties used to wrap pipe threads
to seal a joint | | Temperature Rise | The
number of degrees Fahrenheit that incoming water must be raised to reach the desired water temperature. | | Tempered glass | glass that has been annealed or strengthened bt a process of grandually
healing and cooling. Once a piece of glass has been tempered, it cannot be cut. If it breaks, it breakes into many small pieces.
By code, all shower doors must be made of tempered glass. | | Tempering
Valve | A in-line hot/cold mixing valve | | Test Plug | A
rubber plug that is used to seal off sections of pipe to allow testing for leakage. | | Test Tee | A tee with a removable plug for permitting access to a drainage line | | Therm | Measurement of 100,000 BTU's. | | Thermal Efficiency | Ability
to transfer and absorb heat from fuel sources into the water. | | Thermal
Expansion | The effect of water expanding when heated. | | Thermal
Stratification | see stacking | | Thermocouple | Small
electric generator. Electron flow between the hot junction of 1200 degrees F and cold junction of 600 degrees F creates millivoltage. | | Thermopile | Apparatus that consists of a number of thermocouples combined so as to multiply
the effect and is used for generating electrical current. | | Thermostat
(Lower) | Device which automatically maintains a predetermined temperature in an appliance. | | Thermostat (Upper) | Device which automatically maintains a predetermined temperature in an appliance,
usually equipped with a safety shutoff. | | 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. | | Threaded | A helical or spiral ridge on a screw, nut, or bolt. | | Throatplate | The underside portion of some faucet spouts which also use a top shroud
to cover an assembled faucet waterway. The throatplate is only visible when viewed from a very low angle. | | Tile Rise (Buttress) | The raised portion of a shower curb that is on more than one level. | | TO | Threads Only | | Total Discharge Head | The
total pressure or head the pump must develop. It is the sum of the depth to pumping level, elevation, service pressure, and
friction loss. | | Total Dissolved Solids | A
measure of the total amount of dissolved matter in water | | Total
Head | The difference between the head at the discharge and suction flange of the pump ( syn Total Dynamic Head, pump head,
system head). | | Touchless Faucet | Commercially
installed faucet or urinal valve that function using infrared sensor system | | Toxicity Test | Test to determine the toxicity of a chemical or an effluent using living
organisms. It measures the degree of response of an exposed test organism to a specified chemical or effluent | | TPI | Threads per inch | | Transite Pipe | Pipe
manufactured from asbestos and concrete, commonly found in water mains. | | Transom Panel | a panel usually located above the door of an enclosure. It can be used to
keep steam inside of a steam-shower unit. Some open to vent steam. | | 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. | | Trap Arm | The waste arm portion of a drainage trap. | | Trap Dip | The U-bend portion of a drainage trap. | | Trap Drain | A flex adapter to connect 1 ¼" to 1 ½" drain pipe | | Trap Primer | A small feeder line connecting the cold water line directly to the drainage
trap, which releases a small amount of water to the trap should it run dry to maintain the water seal. | | Trap Seal | Height of water in a toilet bowl "at rest.". It provides the water
seal which prevents sewer gases from entering the home. It is measured from the top of the dam down to the inlet of the trapway.
Also referred to as deep seal. | | Trap Weir | See
Crown Weir. An interior projection in the outlet side of a trap to aid in maintaining a water seal. | | Trapway | Channel in a toilet that connects the bowl to the waste outlet. It 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. | | Trim | Any
non-vitreous china toilet components, except the seat. Includes such items as ballcock, bolt caps, trip lever. | | Trip Lever | Flush handle and actuating arm on a toilet tank. Also the lever that opens
and closes the drain on the bathtub waste and overflow. | | Tube
Talon | Plastic hanger for mounting copper pipe | | Tube
Valve | A valve which is opened or closed by mechanically moving a tube upstream or downstream by an actuating screw | | Tube Washer | Replacement washer for one end of a closet tube | | Tuberculation | The process in which blister-like growths of metal oxides develop in pipes
as a result of the corrosion of the pipe metal. Iron oxide tubercles often develop over pits in iron or steel pipe, and can
seriously restrict the flow of water. | | Turbidity | Water
cloudiness caused by suspended particles | | Turbulent
Flow | Fluid flow in which the velocity at a given point varies erratically in magnitude and direction. | | Two-Piece Toilet | Toilet with a separate tank and bowl. Also referred to as a close-coupled
toilet. | | Type "L" Tube | An
industry standard for copper tubing defined by the tube wall thickness and identified by a "blue" strip. Type "L"
copper tube wall is approximately 50% greater thickness than Type "M." | | Type "M" Tube | An industry standard for copper tubing defined by the tube wall thickness
and identified by a "red" stripe | | Tyseal Gasket | Gasket
for joining SV cast iron pipe into a hub |
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| UL | Underwriters
Laboratories | | ULF | Ultra low flush.
Widely used description of 1.6 gpf or less toilets. | | Ultracoil | True
double wall heat exchanger | | UNC | Unified
National Coarse Thread. A standard kind of coarse straight thread used on fittings, nuts, and bolts. Not for pipes. | | UNF | Unified National Fine Thread. A standard kind of fine straight thread used on fittings, buts, and bolts. Not for
pipes. | | Uni-flex | One piece stop
and riser combination. One-piece supply. | | Uniformity
Coefficient | A measure of the variation in particle sizes of ion exchange resins and filter media. It is defined as the ratio
of the size of particle that has 60 percent of the material finer than itself, to the size of the particle that has 10 percent
finer than itself. | | Union | 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. | | Universal Plumbing
Code | A system of procedures designed to provide consumers with safe and sanitary plumbing systems and used throughout
the United States by local jurisdictions | | Urinal | A
plumbing fixture which receives only liquid body waste and conveys the waste through a trap seal into a gravity drainage system. | | Urinal Strainers | Refers to a domed metal
piece fastened to the bottom of an urinal to prevent debris from plugging the trapway of the unit. | | Usable Storage | Percentage of hot water
that can be drawn from a tank before the temperature drops to a point that it is no longer considered hot. | | USEPA | The abbreviation for "United States
Environmental Protection Agency" | | USPHS | The
abbreviation for "United States Public Health Service" | | Utility sink | Deep fixed basin, supplied with hot and cold water, which is used for rinsing
of mops, disposal of cleaning water |
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| Vacuum Breaker | An anti-siphon device that prevents the backflow of contaminated water into
the water supply system. | | Valve | A
device that regulates the flow of water | | Valve Dressing | Resurfacing
a worn valve seat with a special tool. Stops leaks by providing a smooth sealing surface. Applies only to older compression
style faucets. | | Valve Seat | The
non-moving part of a valve. Water flow is stopped when the moveable portion of the valve comes in contact with the valve seat. | | Valve Seat Wrench | Hexagonal end wrench inserted into the hexagonal opening in a valve seat
for installing or removal. | | Vanity | A
bathroom storage cabinet under the wash basin. | | V-clip | A
clip shaped like the letter "V" used on a lavatory drain lift linkage assembly to easily adjust connection of the
drain to the lift rod. | | Velocity Head | The
amount of energy required to accelerate water to a given velocity; expressed in feet per head | | 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 Header | A
vent pipe into which several vents connect. The vent pipe leads to the vent stack and out of the building. | | Vent Stack | Upper portion of the soil stack above
the topmost fixture through which gases and odors escape. | | Venting Materials | Materials used for venting, i.e. PVC, CPVC, ABS, metal. | | Venturi | A short tube with a tapered constriction in the middle that causes an increase
in the velocity of flow of a fluid and a corresponding decrease in fluid pressure and that is used for creating a suction
in a vacuum pump | | Viscosity | The
resistance of fluids to flow, due to internal forces and friction between molecules, which increases as its temperature decreases. | | Vitreous | Surface material on some plumbing fixtures
derived from or consisting of glass, translucent, and low on porosity. | | Vitreous China | Ceramic materials fired at high temperature to form a non-porous body, having
exposed surfaces coated with ceramic glaze fused to the body. This is used to form bathroom fixtures such as toilets, bidets,
and lavs. | | Volatile | Capable of vaporization
at a relatively low temperature. | | Volt | Unit
of measure of electromotive force | | Volumetric | Referring
to measurement by volume rather than weight. | | Volute
casing | Derives is name from a spiral shaped casing surrounding the pump impeller. It converts velocity energy to pressure
energy. | | Voral Tube | Flexible
steel hose used for hand-held shower sprays. |
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| Wall Thickness | The thickness of the tubing wall. | | Washdown Water Closet | Water closet having a siphon trapway at the front of the bowl, and integral
flushing rim. | | Waste & Overflow | Drain
assembly for a bathtub. The outlet at the top removes the overflow water during tub filling and the drain at the bottom removes
wastewater when the tub is drained. | | Waste Arm | Drain
extension pipe, usually to extend a sink drain into a wall. | | Waste
Plug | Drain stopper on a bathtub drain | | Waste Shoe | Bathtub
drain assembly | | Waste Stack | See
Soil Stack. The vertical main pipe in a drainage system, extending one or more stories. | | Water Closet | A toilet | | Water
Hammer | A loud banging noise caused by the hydraulic shock of suddenly shutting off a water supply, where water moves against
the side of containing pipe or vessel. | | Water Hammer
Arrestor | A device installed near a fixture to absorb the hydraulic shock caused by a sudden shutoff of water. | | Water Horse Power (W H P) | The calculated horse power produced by the pump using the formula WHP =
head x gpm/3960 | | Water Service Pipe | The
pipe from the water main or other sources of potable water supply to the water-distributing system of the building served. | | Water Spot | Water surface in the toilet bowl once the flush is completed. | | Water Table | Level below the earth's surface at which the ground becomes saturated
with water. | | Waterway Fitting | A
channel through which water can flow; connects water heater to inlet and outlet lines. | | Watt | A unit of electrical energy or power. One ampere x one volt equals one watt. | | Watt Density | Amount of watts concentrated per square inch of element blade surface area. | | Wave Washer | A washer, common in drain linkages, which provides pressure against a ball
or other mechanism even when the opposing nut is not fully tightened | | WC | Water Closet | | Weak Well | Weak
well application occurs when the pump lowers the water level in the well faster than the well can replenish itself. | | Weir | A long notch with a horizontal edge, as in the top of a vertical plate or plank, through which water flows, used
in measuring the quantity of flowing water. | | Well
Casing | A steel or plastic pipe inserted into a drilled well to prevent dirt and debris from contaminating the water | | Wellpoint | A pipe fitted with a driving point and a fine mesh screen used to remove
underground water. A complete set of equipment for drying up ground including wellpoints, connecting pipes and pumps. | | Wet Vent | Drain or waste pipe that also acts for one or more fixtures on the same
line. | | WH | White finish
on faucets | | Whirlpool Tub | A
bathtub with circulation jets in various spots throughout the tub that provide therapeutic massaging action. | | Widespread | A style of bathroom lavatory faucet having separate spout and handles, usually
8" from center of handle to handle. | | Working pressure | Maximum
pressure of the operating system permissible. | | Working
Water | Water used in a home for most general purposes including bathing and laundering | | Wrought Copper Fittings | Plumbing fittings used to connect copper tubes made of mechanically worked
and toughened copper as opposed to an as-cast brittle copper. | | Wye | A
Y-shaped fitting with three openings used to create branch lines. Allows one pipe to be joined to another at a 45 degree angle. |
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| XH | Extra
Heavy | | XL | Extra Large | | XLG | Extra Long | | XS | Extra
Small |
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| Yellow Tipping | A flame condition caused by too severe a reduction in primary air. The yellow
color is caused by glowing carbon particles in the flame. It can be corrected by the injection of more primary air. | | Yoke | Usually a brass casting that holds both the hot and cold valves and the mixing chamber for the water. May also refer
to an assembly of copper or other metal which serves the same function. | | Yoke Vent | A pipe connecting upward from a soil or waste stack to a vent stack for
the purpose of preventing pressure changes in the stacks. |
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| Zeolite | A
group of hydrated sodium aluminosilicates, either natural or synthetic, with ion exchange properties. | | Zero Soft | Water with a total hardness less than 1.0 grain per U.S. gallon, as calcium
carbonate. | | Zone of Aeration | The
layer in the ground above the water table where the available voids are filled with air. Water falling on the ground percolates
through this zone on its way to the aquifer. | | Zone
of Saturation | The layer in the ground in which all of the available voids are filled with water. |
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