Plumbing Glossary

ABS Pipe

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. A black plastic pipe commonly used in plumbing for drains, waste, and venting systems.

Aerator

A small mesh screen attached to the end of a faucet that mixes air into the water stream, reducing water usage and preventing splashing.

Angle Stop

A shut-off valve typically located under sinks or behind toilets, allowing water to be turned off at the fixture without shutting off the main water supply.

Anode Rod

A sacrificial rod installed inside a water heater tank that attracts corrosive elements in the water, extending the life of the tank.

Backflow Preventer

A device installed on water pipes that allows water to flow in only one direction, preventing contaminated water from backing up into the clean water supply.

Baffle

An object placed in an appliance, such as a water heater, to change the direction of or restrict the flow of water.

Ball Valve

A valve that controls water flow with a pivoting sphere inside. Known for their durability and excellent shut-off capabilities.

Cast Iron Pipe

Heavy metal piping used primarily in older homes for sewer and drain lines. Known to corrode and scale over decades of use.

Cleanout

An accessible pipe fitting with a removable plug that provides access to plumbing lines for clearing clogs and performing camera inspections.

Descaling

The process of removing mineral buildup, rust, and scale from the inside of pipes (often cast iron) using specialized abrasive tools.

Drain Snake

A flexible auger used to dislodge clogs in plumbing drains. Also known as a plumber's snake.

Effluent

Liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea, or processed by a septic system.

Epoxy Lining

A trenchless pipe repair method where a resin-coated sleeve is inserted into an existing damaged pipe, curing to form a new seamless pipe within the old one.

Flapper

A rubber seal inside a toilet tank that lifts to release water into the bowl during a flush and closes to allow the tank to refill.

Float Valve

A mechanism inside a toilet tank or sump pit that controls the water level by operating a valve as a float rises or falls.

Greywater

Relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances.

Hard Water

Water that has high mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium, which can cause scale buildup in pipes and water heaters.

Hydrojetting

A method of cleaning pipes using high-pressure water streams to remove severe blockages, grease, and tree roots.

P-Trap

A U-shaped section of pipe located beneath sinks and other fixtures that holds a small amount of water to prevent sewer gases from entering the home.

PRV (Pressure Reducing Valve)

A valve installed on the main water line that reduces high incoming city water pressure to a safe level for the home's plumbing system.

PVC Pipe

Polyvinyl Chloride. A white plastic pipe commonly used for cold water supply lines, irrigation, and drainage systems.

Repiping

The process of completely replacing the hot and cold water supply pipes in a home, often upgrading from old galvanized or copper pipes to modern PEX tubing.

Rooter Service

A general term for drain cleaning and pipe clearing services, originally named for the process of removing tree roots from sewer lines.

Septic Tank

An underground chamber made of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic through which domestic wastewater flows for basic treatment.

Slab Leak

A water leak that occurs in the pipes located beneath the concrete foundation (slab) of a home.

Sump Pump

A pump used to remove water that has accumulated in a water-collecting sump basin, commonly found in basements.

Trenchless Repair

Methods of repairing or replacing underground pipes without digging a continuous trench. Examples include epoxy lining and pipe bursting.

Water Heater (Tankless)

A water heater that instantly heats water as it flows through the device, rather than storing hot water in a large tank.

Water Softener

A system that removes calcium and magnesium from hard water, replacing them with sodium ions through an ion exchange process.

Weeping

A term used to describe a very slow, minor leak where water slowly seeps or 'weeps' from a pipe joint or fitting.