Plumbing Glossary
The Plumbing Glossary is a valuable resource designed to help homeowners, business owners, and DIY enthusiasts better understand common plumbing terms and components. Whether you’re troubleshooting a leak, upgrading your plumbing system, or working with a professional plumber, this glossary provides clear, easy-to-understand definitions of essential plumbing concepts. From pipes and fittings to water heaters, drainage systems, and safety devices, this guide empowers users with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their plumbing maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
Search on this page for commonly used Plumbing terminology to help you better understand your Dor-Mar service technician or replacement estimate.
Click an item in the list to jump to that item below.
ABS Pipe | Aerator | Angle Stop | Anode Rod | Backflow | Backwater Valve | Ball Valve | Basin Wrench | Bleed Valve | Branch Drain | Check Valve | Cleanout | Closet Bend | Compression Fitting | Dip Tube | Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) | Effluent | Elbow | Faucet Cartridge | Flapper | Flow Restrictor | French Drain | GPM (Gallons Per Minute) | Greywater | Hose Bib | Main Shutoff Valve | Manifold | Nipple | PEX Piping | P-Trap | Pressure Regulator | Relief Valve | Riser | Sanitary Tee | Septic Tank | Sewage Ejector Pump | Sillcock | Snaking a Drain | Sump Pump | Sweating Pipes | T&P Valve (Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve) | Trap Primer | Vent Stack | Water Hammer | Water Main | Wax Ring | Y-Fitting |
| TERM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| ABS Pipe |
A black plastic pipe commonly used for drain, waste, and vent lines. |
| Aerator |
A device attached to a faucet to reduce water flow while maintaining pressure. |
| Angle Stop |
A shutoff valve used to control water flow to individual fixtures. |
| Anode Rod |
A sacrificial rod inside a water heater that prevents corrosion. |
| Backflow |
The undesirable reversal of water flow, potentially contaminating clean water. |
| Backwater Valve |
A valve that prevents sewage from flowing back into a building. |
| Ball Valve |
A shutoff valve that uses a rotating ball to control water flow. |
| Basin Wrench |
A specialized wrench used to tighten or loosen nuts in tight spaces. |
| Bleed Valve |
A valve used to release air or excess pressure from a plumbing system. |
| Branch Drain |
A drainpipe that connects multiple fixtures to a main drain line. |
| Check Valve |
A one-way valve that prevents backflow in a plumbing system. |
| Cleanout |
An access point in a drain or sewer line for clearing blockages. |
| Closet Bend |
A curved fitting that connects a toilet to the waste line. |
| Compression Fitting |
A fitting that seals pipe connections using a compression ring. |
| Dip Tube |
A tube inside a water heater that directs cold water to the bottom of the tank. |
| Drain-Waste-Vent (DWV) |
A system of pipes that remove waste and vent sewer gases. |
| Effluent |
Partially treated wastewater flowing from a septic system. |
| Elbow |
A plumbing fitting that changes the direction of a pipe. |
| Faucet Cartridge |
A replaceable component that controls water flow inside a faucet. |
| Flapper |
A rubber component in a toilet tank that seals the flush valve. |
| Flow Restrictor |
A device that limits water flow to conserve water. |
| French Drain |
A trench filled with gravel or a perforated pipe to redirect water. |
| GPM (Gallons Per Minute) |
A measurement of water flow rate from a fixture or appliance. |
| Greywater |
Gently used wastewater from sinks, showers, and laundry, excluding toilets. |
| Hose Bib |
An outdoor faucet connection for garden hoses. |
| Main Shutoff Valve |
The primary valve that controls water supply to an entire building. |
| Manifold |
A central hub distributing water to multiple fixtures. |
| Nipple |
A short piece of pipe with threads on both ends for connections. |
| PEX Piping |
A flexible plastic pipe commonly used for water supply lines. |
| P-Trap |
A curved pipe under sinks and drains that prevents sewer gas from entering a home. |
| Pressure Regulator |
A device that reduces and controls incoming water pressure. |
| Relief Valve |
A safety valve that releases excess pressure from a water heater or boiler. |
| Riser |
A vertical pipe carrying water to fixtures or appliances. |
| Sanitary Tee |
A T-shaped fitting used in drain systems for proper waste flow. |
| Septic Tank |
An underground tank for wastewater treatment in homes without sewer connections. |
| Sewage Ejector Pump |
A pump that moves wastewater from a lower elevation to a higher sewer line. |
| Sillcock |
An outdoor faucet with an anti-freeze function. |
| Snaking a Drain |
Using a plumbing auger to clear clogs in pipes. |
| Sump Pump |
A pump installed in a basement to prevent flooding by removing excess water. |
| Sweating Pipes |
Soldering copper pipes together using heat and solder. |
| T&P Valve (Temperature & Pressure Relief Valve) |
A safety valve on a water heater that prevents excessive pressure or temperature buildup. |
| Trap Primer |
A device that maintains water in a trap to prevent sewer gases from escaping. |
| Vent Stack |
A vertical pipe that releases sewer gases and allows proper drainage flow. |
| Water Hammer |
A banging noise caused by a sudden stop in water flow, creating shock waves. |
| Water Main |
The primary pipe that supplies water from the municipal system to a building. |
| Wax Ring |
A sealing ring used between a toilet and the floor flange to prevent leaks. |
| Y-Fitting |
A plumbing fitting that allows two pipes to merge at an angle. |
