Plumbing Terms You Should Know

Plumbing jargon can be pretty intimidating, especially If you are entirely green to the field. Fortunately, or unfortunately, we cannot all become plumbers. Nevertheless, it would be beneficial to have a few terms up your sleeves to elevate communication and understanding between you and your plumber. These few words may help you communicate your plumbing issues better. Having a few key terms in your back pocket may also let the plumber know you are not completely uninformed in case they were planning to take advantage of your ‘ignorance.’

Here are some terms to improve your plumbing diction:

1. 1. Angle stop– a shutoff valve whose outlet and inlet ports meet at a 90-degree angle while the operating port is at 180◦ with respect to the inlet port. Angle stops halt water flow without affecting water supply in other parts of the home or building during repairs or replacement of faucets, toilets, and other appliances. They are otherwise known as shutoff valves.
   2. Ballcock– As the name suggests, a ballcock controls water flow using a ball and cock. The faucet valve is mainly used to control the flow of gravity-operated toilet tanks through the rise and fall of a floating ball. As water is fed into the tank, the ball rises to shut off the ballcock, while the vice versa happens when It falls.
   3. Flapper valve- Controls water flow from the water tank to the toilet bowl. When we flush the toilet, we simply open the flapper valve to let water into the bowl.
   4. Floor flange– Otherwise known as a closet flange, it is a fitting usually consisting of a flat disc tapped at the center. A floor flange also has a hollow socket and several mounting holes to secure it to the floor or wall. They can be used to connect the toilet to the sewer line.
   5. Grey water– Waste water comes from other plumbing fixtures, such as baths, washing machines, and sinks, aside from the toilet. Grey water is relatively cleaner than toilet water.
   6. Hose bib- an outdoor faucet usually attached to the wall to facilitate access to water in different areas around a compound, including the backyard and garage.
   7. Main line- It is the principal pipe artery, usually installed and serviced by the water company and connected to their meter at the street level to supply water to the neighborhood.
   8. PVC– It stands for Poly Vinyl Chloride, a sturdy plastic used to make plumbing pipes. PVC pipes are used for drainage systems to transport water and waste. They are also used in vent systems.
   9. Supply line- a metal or plastic pipe that supplies water, gas, etc., directly from the principal line into plumbing fixtures.
   10. Trap- A curved section or fitting in drains and sewers which prevents a stench or odor from going back into the household. There are different shapes of bends, including ‘S,’ ‘U,’ and ‘P,’ usually consisting of a partitioned chamber that collects liquid to form a seal, thus preventing the passage of sewer gas.
   11. Vent– an aerated pipe that facilitates air flow into a drainage system.

Now that your plumbing vocabulary has improved, you can freely articulate issues to the pros. You do not have to search far and wide to find plumbing professionals in your neighborhood. Leek Geeks are just a call away! They offer expert plumbing repair services with new monthly discounts on services ranging from garbage disposal installation to water heater installation, and more! You can be sure of the quality and honest workmanship as they take their time to explain the issues, how they will repair it and provide you with an upfront cost so that you won’t have to worry about being taken advantage of. Contact them today to book your appointment!