Whether you just bought your first place or you've owned your home for decades, there are plumbing terms all homeowners should know. Here is our glossary of plumbing definitions for your studying pleasure!

1. 60 Plumbing Terms
Homeowners Should Know
By Apollo Drain & Rooter Service

2. Our Plumbing Glossary
An auger is a man-eating giant, right? And, PEX,
you can get nice ones if you lift weights a lot.
No? Well, no. That’s not right at all. “Auger” and
“PEX” are plumbing terms.
Not everyone needs to be fluent in the
language of plumbers. But if you know a little of
the lingo, the next time you talk pipes with a
plumber, you’ll know that ABS is a type of
piping and not that area you’re targeting with
sit-ups.

3. AABS: acrylonitrile butadiene
styrene is a plastic piping used in
drains and vents.
Adapter: joins one type of pipe to
another.
Auger: a flexible rod with a cutting
device on one end used to clear
clogs in drains. An auger is a type
of plumber’s snake.

4. BBackflow: water that backs into part of the
main distribution system.
Backflow preventer: a device that stops back
flow, used on pullout faucets, handheld
showers and sprinkler systems.
Ballcock: toilet tank assembly that releases
water into the bowl to start the flush cycle.
Black water: waste water from toilets.

5. CCIPP: cured in place pipe, a trenchless method to repair pipes without digging.
Cleanout: an opening giving access to a drain line or trap.
Code: legal requirements for plumbing work that prescribe safe practices.
Compression fitting: a fitting for copper or plastic pipe that is placed and
tightened by hand.
CPVC: chlorinated poly-vinyl chloride is a plastic pipe used to make hot and cold
water pipes.

6. DDam: a barrier in a toilet trapway that controls water
level.
Diverter: a valve fixture that directs water from a tub’s
faucet to its shower head.
Dope: lubricant for pipe threads.
Drain-waste-vent (DWV) system: pipes that carry waste
from a building to the public sewer or septic tank, also
vents sewer gases up through a roof to the outdoors.

7. EEffluent: liquid waste from a
septic system.
Elbow: a curved fitting used on
pipes.

8. FFlapper: part of a flush valve that seals water into a toilet tank
when closed and allows water to exit when open.
Flow control valve: valve to reduce the flow of water to a fixture.
Used to improve efficiency.
Flow rate: rate of water flow in gallons per minute (GPM) and
gallons per hour (GPH).
Float ball: float connected to ballcock inside toilet tank. The float
rises and falls with water level during a flush cycle.

9. GGrease trap: captures grease
entering a drainpipe before it
reaches the sewer, usually used
in restaurants. Requires periodic
cleaning.
Gray water: waste water from
fixtures other than a toilet.

10. HHose bibb: an outdoor faucet,
also may be used as supply
valves for washing machines.

11. IInside diameter (ID): most pipes
are sized by their inside
diameter.
Interceptor: separates grease
and oil from drainage systems.

12. MMain: primary passage of a water
supply or drain system to which
all other pipes connect.
Manifold: a fitting that joins
branches of a system to a main.

13. OOverflow tube: tube inside a toilet
tank that prevents overflow by
sending water into the bowl if the
ballcock fails.
O-ring: a rubber washer used to
create a seal between two parts in
valve stems.
Outside diameter (OD): measures the
outside diameter of a tube or pipe.

14. PPB: polybutylene, a plastic tubing.
PE: polyethylene, a plastic tubing.
PEX: cross-linked polyethylene, a plastic tubing that is stronger than PE.
Plumber’s putty: dough-like sealer used on fixtures.
Plumbing snake: thin, flexible length of metal used to clear clogged pipes.
Plunger: a rubber cup attached to a handle that uses suction to dislodge clogs from drains.
Potable: water safe for drinking and cooking.
PVC: polyvinyl-chloride, a rigid plastic pipe

15. RReducer: fitting that joins pipes of
different sizes.
Riser: any vertical pipe.
Rough-in: early stages of a
plumbing project where supply
and drain-waste-vent line are
installed.

16. SSanitary sewer: underground drainage system that carries waste to a treatment plant.
Septic tank: reservoir that collects liquid and solid waste before diverting liquid waste
to a drainage field.
Sewer drain: carries waste from a building to a sanitary sewer or septic tank.
Shutoff valve: valve under a sink or toilet that shuts off water supply.
Soil stack: vertical drainpipe that carries waste toward the sewer drain.
Snake: a flexible rod used to clear clogs in drains. Snakes come in various sizes. Some,
such as toilet augers, are designed for a specific type of drain.
Solder: technique that fuses metal pieces in a watertight joint.

17. TTailpiece: pipe that bridges a
drain outlet and a trap.
Tee: T-shaped fitting used to
connect three sections of pipe.
Trap: section of a fixture drain
creates a water seal to prevent
sewer gases from entering a
home or building. Code requires
all fixtures have a trap.

18. VValve: regulates the flow of
water in a pipe or fixture.
Valve seat: static part of a
valve.
Vent: vertical or sloped part of
a drain pipe that permits
sewer gases to exit a building.
Required for all fixtures.

19. WWater hammer: loud noise caused by sudden stop in water flow,
causing pipes to hit against a framing member.
Water hammer arrestor: device installed near fixtures or
appliances to absorb the shock created by a sudden water
shutoff.
Water supply system: network of pipes and fittings that
supplies pressurized water.
Wet vent: a pipe for draining wastewater and venting air.

20. Thanks for checking out our plumbing glossary!
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