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1. What are they?
A plumbing fixture can be any device that is connected to a plumbing system and interacts with
water (whether it be delivering the water or draining it).
Each plumbing feature will be designed for a particular use, and while the core design will be the
same for many of these items, the use and design can vary; depending on the device they can be
practical or ornamental and generally are designed with one function in mind.
Bathtub
A bathtub is a large container that is filled with warm or hot water and allows a person to
bathe while fully immersed in the water. Modern bathtubs are made from fiberglass and
acrylic, but more expensive and often more durable baths are made from enamel, cast iron,
steel and for the opulent waterproof wood.
The bathtub is commonly found in the bathroom, and often has a shower attachment that allows the
person to stand in the bath and take a shower, thus giving the common bath more versatility.
Most modern baths have overflows, drains and faucets (taps) that assist in the delivery and draining
of water – in days gone by, water was often heated in a kitchen and placed in the bath using
buckets. As manufacturing techniques have advanced, the number and variety of tubs available has
increase. The most common bath tubs are:
 Western-style bathtubs– these are the modern tubs that are in the majority of households.
They are long and generally fairly thin and allow the bather to be fully immersed. Generally they
are attached to the wall and covered by a cabinet so there is no plumbing shown.
 Eastern-style bath tubs- shorter and deeper than the western tub thus allowing for the person
to bathe standing up.
 Claw-foot Tub – this late 19thcentury luxury item is the predecessor of the modern tub. While
antique claw-foot tubs are made of cast iron, the modern claw-foot tubs are made from modern
materials such as acrylic and thus are less expensive. Claw-foot tubs generally hold more
water than a standard tub and are designed to stand alone without any need for a cabinet or to
be attached to the world. They add a certain elegance to any bathroom.
 Whirl-pool tubs– many newer homes come installed with whirlpool tubs. These are often
designed for two people and incorporate nozzles that force air (or sometimes water) out to
provide a relaxing massage. They are usually bigger than a standard bath but require cabinets.
They are usually attached to a wall.

2.  Hot-tub – essentially a hot tub is a very large bath for up to 8 people. It is usually installed
outside and keeps the water at a constant temperature (usually around 98 degrees Fahrenhe it).
With the use of chemicals and filters a hot tub can use the same water for 3 months or more
and can even be used in winter. A hot tub can have different configurations, with different types
of nozzles and seats
Sink
A sink is a bowl shaped plumbing fixture that is usually used for washing hands, dishes and other
small objects (including my Chihuahua!). Often called a basin there are usually several sinks in
every household.
The sink will have a faucet (or faucets) that provide both hot and cold water, and sometimes come
with a spray that allows a sustained strong stream of water. Sinks usually have drains and
sometimes integrated soap dispensers.
Sinks often become clogged due to debris, soap and gunk that gets trapped in the piping; often you
can clear the clog yourself although in extreme cases you may have to call in a professional
plumber. Sinks come in many shapes and varieties. The most common sinks are:
 Self-rimming sinks- these are often used in kitchens and sit in a ‘hole’ that is cut into the
countertop. They are suspended by the rim and when installed correctly the seal between the
sink and countertop is watertight.
 Bottom-mount sinks– these sinks are clamped underneath the countertop; the hole therefore
must have a finished edge. It is generally harder to keep the seal waterproof. Bottom-mount
sinks are more expensive (including the additional cost of ‘finishing’ the hole) but are
considered more contemporary and classy than the self-rimming sinks.
 Solid surface sinks– modern methods allow sinks to be made in the same material as the
countertop and glued underneath, providing a seamless connect between top and sink; some
of these come in stainless steel and these are welded in place.
 Butler sink– these are generally seen in bathrooms and consist of a rectangular sink with a
rounded rim that is set into a wooden cabinet or wooden surface. They are smaller than kitchen
sinks.
 Stand-alone sink – these sinks are finished on all sides and usually the sink is mounted on a
‘leg’ or piece of furniture. These are the most adaptable sinks and allow for a huge variety of
design. Often they do not provide any under-the-sink storage. From my experience these are
often harder to maintain (especially removing clogs) as the plumbing is often housed in a very
small ‘leg’ and you essentially have to take the whole sink apart to get to the plumbing.

3. Toilet
A toilet is probably the most important plumbing fixture of them all unless you love nature and enjoy
spending your time in the woods! The modern toilet has a flush system that moves waste to a septic
tank or a community sewerage system.
The bog (a term often used in England to describe the toilet) is one of the more complex plumbing
fixtures with a complex system to refill a tank used to flush the toilet, complex plumbing to ensure
proper flow of waste and the most confusing element of all – the humble toilet lid – men all around
the world still have not worked out how to use this properly!
There are many forms of toilet, the most common are:
 Flush toilet – this is simply a ‘squat’ toilet that allows you to sit while you ‘go’ and then flushes
the waste. Modern toilets have flush systems designed to reduce water waste. These are the
most common toilets in modern society although they have humble beginning going back to
'holes in stone' in ancient Greece.
 Urinals – these are designed to allow a man to stand and ‘pee’ – they are not normally
installed in homes, but are more common at public conveniences. The design of these can vary
from single urinal per man, to one long urinal for multiple men. As many men can testify, these
are very useful and can be strangely fun - I have even seen some with targets painted on them!
 Dry toilets – these are often used as portable toilets at rock concerts, constructions sites etc.
They are used where there is no access to water – the idea is simple – all waste goes into a
large ‘pit’ via a ‘hole’. The pit holds chemicals to increase decomposition and allow for long use
of the toilet.
 High Tech toilets – the modern newfangled toilets are auto-flushing, often auto-cleaning and
sometimes even provide a water jet that will ‘clean’ your bits (similar to a bidet). Some toilets
even check blood pressure, body temperature and blood sugar levels. I have even heard there
are some interactive toilets that allow you to play games as you go - apparently aim is an
important factor here!
Shower
The standard shower has remained mostly unchanged since the late 19thcentury. A shower is a
simple plumbing fixture that uses a nozzle to stream hot (or cold) water over a standing person. The
‘shape’ of the nozzle can be changed to produce different effects and different pressures, but
essentially the concept is unchanged.
Showers can be part of the bath or can be a stand-alone stall. The standard types of shower are:
 Water shower – the standard shower common to most households showers the person
using one (or more nozzles). It uses the house’s water pressure to propel the water.

4.  Electric shower – similar to the water shower, this uses an ‘on-demand’ heating system to
provide an instant hot shower. Some of the more expensive electric showers also can
increase the pressure of the water stream.
 Air shower – not common in households, this shower uses a pressurized air stream to blow
of excess dust from people – this is used in ‘clean room’ environments mostly.
 Steam shower – an expensive version of the water shower that streams humidifies steam
around a person’s body.
 Bucket shower – an outside shower that simply allows cold water to stream out of a small
hole from a bucket.
 Beach shower – usually a simple faucet that allows cold water to be streamed over a
person to assist in washing sand away.
Tap
The tap is a plumbing fixture that has many uses within and outside the household. Essentially a
valve, it is used to control the flow of water (and other substances such as beer, gas etc).
Faucets vary from country to country – for example, the US generally has two taps connected to one
‘outlet’ so that the flow and temperature of water can be controlled; in many older house there will be
separate taps for hot and cold water. Taps are very common fixtures used in the household, and not
just for plumbing – the most common taps are:
 Water taps – these allow a user to pour hot and cold water into the sink or bath. They come in
a variety of shapes and sizes, and some are even electrically controlled. From my experience it
is worth spending a little extra to get quality taps and faucets as they are the most used
plumbing fixture in the house and tend to have the highest failure rate.
 Valves – often there will be a tap that allows someone to shut of the entire water flow – this is
an important part of home plumbing. Often there will be stop-taps close to toilets etc so that you
can quickly cut of the flow of water to avoid spills.
 Water spigot – these are generally external taps that allow you to attach a hose pipe to them –
the piping is usually inside so that the adverse weather doesn’t freeze the water in the pipes
causing cracks and leaks. It is important that you drain house pipes and turn the water off to an
outdoor spigot during the winter - I've found that even though most of the piping is inside, the
piping that is in the wall will freeze and you'll end up replacing the spigot.
 Other taps – you will find taps on beer barrels and gas fixtures. These taps are essentially the
same as water taps, and control the flow of the liquid or gas using the same principle

5. Other Less common plumbing fixtures
While most of you will have heard of most of the fixtures I’ve highlighted already, there are some
fixtures that are not very common in modern society and often are only find in Hollywood or Hotels.
Here are some of the uncommon plumbing fixtures:
 Bidets – this is a fixture that is prevalent in many European hotels. It is used to assist in
hygiene after going to the bathroom. For those who are interested or want to know more,
Drinking Fountains – these are prevalent at malls and areas where there are likely to be large
crowds. The provide cool drinking water. Pressing a small button pumps a small spout of water
into the air to allow you to bend down and drink.
 Other valves – while a tap is considered a valve, there are many other valves used in pipe
fitting. Generally when a valve is open, water will flow from high to low pressure.