Plumbing Terminology: A Brief Glossary for Homeowners

• Apr 15, 2016
• electric-admin
• 0

The world of plumbing comes with its own complete set of niche terms and vocabulary, and the terminology you come across can be confusing for any homeowner. In case you happen to find plumbing jargon particularly confusing, here are some of the most common plumbing terms you’ll hear as a homeowner, defined.

Auger

Generally speaking, an auger is a long and flexible rod or cable that plumbers use to remove clogs in pipes. There are a variety of auger types. Sink augers are lighter in weight are designed to have the cable coiled inside a canister; as you pull the cable out of this canister and send it down the drain, you can turn the handle to rotate the cable and clear the blockage. Toilet augers, meanwhile, feature a long handle that you can turn to clear a blockage once the cable has been fed down the toilet drain. Drum augers are motorized augers that are powerful enough to cut through tree roots.

Ballcock

The ballcock is the valve in a toilet tank that controls refilling of the tank. It is connected to a float via a metal arm, which, once it gets high enough during refilling, shuts off the valve.

Coupling

A coupling is a small fitting that is used to join two pieces of pipe.

Flange

A flange is the curved end of a pipe shaft that allows you to connect the pipe to another segment of pipe, or to anchor the segment to the floor.

Flapper

The flapper is the rubber disc or ball in a toilet tank that lifts to allow water to flush through and then goes back down to seal off the tank, allowing the toilet to refill. The flapper is what lifts up as you push down on the flusher.

Gasket

A gasket is a flat fiber or rubber device that helps provide a watertight seal between metal joints.

Hydro jet cleaning

This is a type of cleaning performed by a professional plumber, using high pressure water to clear blockages.

PVC

PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride. It is a type of rigid white plastic pipe that is frequently used for non-pressure systems, such as waste and vent systems.

Rooter service

Rooter service is really just another term for mechanized drain cleaning, which uses a powerful motorized drum auger to clear your pipes of tree roots.

Septic system

A septic system is a small-scale sewage treatment system that features a septic tank with anaerobic bacteria for breaking down waste. Septic systems are most commonly found in rural areas, as the lack of connection to main sewage pipes makes them more economical. Unlike municipal sewage systems, care for a septic system is the responsibility of the homeowner. This means that every two to five years, the homeowner must hire a professional plumber to have the system cleaned and inspected every few years.

Sump pump

A sump pump is most commonly found in the basement of a home, and it is used to pump out water that has accumulated in the sump basin. Sump pumps essentially collect water from around your foundation and direct it away from your foundation, protecting your basement from flooding.

About the Author

electric-admin