Section C — Glossary
Every plumbing term your plumber uses, in plain English — 569 definitions with Washington-specific context and code notes.
639 terms on file
By subject
# 2 terms
A 28 terms
- ABS cement
- ABS pipe
- Access panel
- Accumulator (bladder type)
- Acidic-water corrosion
- Activated carbon filter
- Adjustable wrench
- Aerator
- Aerobic treatment unit (ATU)
- Aging pipe contamination
- Air admittance valve (AAV)
- Air chamber
- Air gap (plumbing)
- Air locks
- Air-source heat pump (ASHP)
- Alcove tub / alcove shower
- Anaerobic septic system
- Angle stop
- Annual backflow test
- Annual plumbing maintenance
- Anode rod
- Anti-scald valve
- Apron tub
- Aquifer
- Artesian well
- Aspiration / induced siphonage
- Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)
- Automatic shutoff valve
B 39 terms
- B-vent
- Back pressure
- Back siphonage
- Backer board
- Backflow
- Backflow preventer
- Backflow risk for basement drains
- Backwater valve
- Baking soda and vinegar drain clear
- Ball float
- Ball valve
- Ball valve faucet
- Ballcock valve
- Banging when washing machine shuts off
- Baseboard heating
- Basement / cellar drainage
- Basin wrench
- Basket strainer
- Battery-backup sump pump
- Best leak detector for crawlspace
- Bidet
- Bidet toilet
- Black iron pipe
- Blue-green water stain
- Blue-water corrosion
- Boiler drain
- Bonding clamp
- Bonnet nut
- Borehole
- Bowl horn
- Branch drain line
- Brazed copper joint
- Brine tank
- BTU rating
- Building drain
- Building permit
- Burst pipe causes
- Butterfly valve
- Bypass valve (softener)
C 54 terms
- Calcification of valve
- Cap
- Carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
- Carbon monoxide (CO) hazard
- Cartridge faucet
- Cartridge puller
- Cast iron pipe
- Cast iron soil pipe
- Caulking around toilet base
- Caustic soda drain cleaner
- Ceramic disc faucet
- Cesspool
- Channel-lock pliers
- Check valve
- Cinch clamp
- Clawfoot bathtub
- Cleanout
- Clogged aerator
- Clogged drain causes
- Closed system / thermal expansion
- Closet auger
- Closet bend
- Closet bolts
- Closet flange
- Cold-climate ASHP
- Coliform / fecal coliform
- Collapsed sewer line
- Combined sewer
- Comfort-height toilet
- Common vent
- Compression faucet
- Compression fitting
- Condensate drain (tankless)
- Condensing boiler
- Console sink
- Continuous tank filling
- Continuous waste tee
- Copper leaching
- Corrosion
- Corrosion inhibitor (heating system)
- Corrosive water
- Coupling
- CPVC pipe
- Crimp ring (PEX)
- Crimping pliers
- Cross-connection
- Cross-connection control program
- Cryptosporidium
- CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing)
- Cup plunger
- Curb key
- Curb stop
- Curbless shower
- Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner
D 41 terms
- Dead leg
- Deburring tool
- Deck plate
- Dezincification of brass
- Dielectric union
- Dip tube
- Dishwasher air gap
- Disposal jam (disposal humming)
- Disposer Allen wrench
- Disposer reset button
- Distribution box (D-box)
- Diverter
- Diverter tub spout
- Double check valve assembly (DCVA)
- Downspout extension
- Downspout into yard or sewer
- Drain auger
- Drain bladder
- Drain cock / drain valve
- Drain pan / overflow pan
- Drain pipe
- Drain shoe
- Drain slope
- Drain valve (water heater)
- Drain-and-waste valve
- Drain-waste-overflow kit
- Drainfield
- Drainfield reserve area
- Drilled well
- Drip irrigation
- Driven well
- Drop-ear elbow
- Drop-in sink (self-rimming sink)
- Drum trap
- Dry vent vs. wet vent
- Dry-fired element
- Drywell
- Dual check valve
- Dual-flush toilet
- Dug well
- DWV system
E 11 terms
F 35 terms
- Faucet leak by location
- Faucet seat
- Faucet spread
- Fernco coupling
- Finish / rough-in / underground inspection
- Fire block
- First-hour rating (FHR)
- Flame impingement
- Flame shield
- Flanged toilet plunger
- Flapper
- Flapper not sealing
- Flare fitting
- Flared joint
- Flexible copper tubing
- Flexible gas connector
- Flexible grooved coupling
- Float adjustment screw
- Float switch
- Float valve
- Float-cup fill valve
- Floor drain
- Flow rate (GPM)
- Flush valve
- Flux
- Foam pipe insulation
- Foot valve
- Freeze-repair coupling
- Friction loss
- Frost cap
- Frost closure / vent freeze-up
- Frost depth (service-line burial)
- Frost-proof sillcock
- Frozen pipe burst
- Frozen pipes
G 23 terms
- Galvanic corrosion
- Galvanized iron pipe
- Galvanized supply pipe corrosion
- Garbage disposal (disposer)
- Gas flexible connector (seismic)
- Gas leak hazard
- Gas water heater
- Gas-rated Teflon tape
- Gate valve
- GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
- Giardia
- Globe valve
- GPM (gallons per minute)
- Grandfather clause
- Grease clog
- Grease interceptor
- Greenboard restriction
- Greywater
- Greywater uses
- Ground-source heat pump (GSHP)
- Groundwater
- Gurgling drain
- Gutter cleaning
H 32 terms
- Hacksaw
- Hair clog
- Hammer drill
- Hand shower
- Handle puller
- Hard water
- Hard-water flapper
- HDPE pipe
- Heat pump
- Heat pump water heater
- Heat tape
- Heavy metals in drinking water
- Hidden leak
- High water pressure damage
- High-efficiency toilet
- High-water alarm (septic)
- Hilltop low water pressure
- Hinged shower door
- Hissing toilet
- Hose bib
- Hose bib
- Hose clamp
- Hose-attached freeze rupture
- Hose-bib vacuum breaker (HBVB)
- Hot water dispenser
- House trap
- Hub-and-spigot joint
- Hydro jetting
- Hydro jetting (sewer)
- Hydro-pneumatic tank
- Hydronic heating
- Hydrostatic pressure test
I 12 terms
J 3 terms
K 2 terms
L 19 terms
- Laundry sink
- Lavatory
- Lead leaching
- Lead pipe
- Lead solder (legacy)
- Lead testing of drinking water
- Lead-and-oakum joint
- Lead-free solder
- Leader / rainwater downpipe
- Leak detector solution
- Leaking faucet
- Legionella
- Licensed plumber
- Limescale
- Linear trench drain
- Local rules on greywater reuse
- Low water pressure
- Low-flow showerhead
- LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)
M 15 terms
- Macerator pump
- Main drain line
- Main shut-off valve
- Main supply line
- Mains pressure range
- Manhole
- Maximum pressure PRV trigger (80 psi)
- Mechanic’s lien
- Meter pit
- Mineral-clogged rim holes
- Mineral-spotting aerator
- Minimum distribution pressure (20 psi)
- Mixer faucet
- Mold PPE
- Municipal vs well water supply
N 14 terms
- Nail plate
- Natural gas vs LPG water heater
- NEC bonding metallic water piping
- Needle valve
- Negative grading
- Never use open flame to thaw frozen pipes
- Nipple
- Nitrates in drinking water
- No hot water
- No-hub cast iron
- No-hub coupling
- Noisy pipes in walls
- Non-potable water
- Normal residential water pressure
O 7 terms
P 75 terms
- P-trap
- Packing nut
- Panel radiator
- Partially closed main shutoff
- PE pipe
- Pedestal sink
- Penetrating oil
- Permit needed for basement bathroom in Seattle
- Permit not required (replace-in-kind)
- Permits and inspections
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- PEX
- PEX manifold
- PEX-A
- PEX-B
- pH neutralizer / calcite filter
- Phantom flush
- Pilot light
- Pinched / undersized supply pipe
- Pinhole leak (copper)
- Pipe bender
- Pipe bursting
- Pipe cutter
- Pipe fitting
- Pipe hanger
- Pipe joint compound
- Pipe leak inside wall or floor
- Pipe patch / pipe repair clamp
- Pipe relining (epoxy)
- Pipe scale
- Pipe schedule
- Pipe strap
- Pipe support spacing
- Pipe vs tube
- Pipe wrench
- Pitless adapter
- Pitting corrosion
- Plastic pipe
- Plastic pipe ground bridge
- Plug
- Plumber estimate
- Plumber references and reviews
- Plumber’s grease
- Plumber’s putty
- Plumbing code
- Plumbing contractor
- Plumbing inspection (homeowner)
- Point-of-entry vs. point-of-use
- Polybutylene
- Pop-up drain
- Pop-up sink stopper
- Potable water
- Power flushing
- Powered anode rod
- Pre-purchase plumbing inspection
- Press fitting
- Press-connect fitting
- Pressure absorber / arrestor
- Pressure gauge
- Pressure gauge (heating circuit)
- Pressure reducing valve (PRV)
- Pressure relief valve
- Pressure switch
- Pressure-assist toilet
- Pressure-vacuum breaker (PVB)
- Propane (C3H8)
- Propane torch
- PTFE tape
- Pull-down kitchen faucet
- Pump cut-in / cut-out pressure
- Push-connect fitting
- Push-fit fitting
- PVC pipe
- PVC primer
- PVC Schedule 40 (DWV)
Q 1 terms
R 29 terms
- Radon in water
- Rain shower
- Rainwater harvesting
- Rainwater plumbing
- Recessed laundry box
- Reciprocating saw
- Recovery rate
- Reducer
- Reducing bushing
- Refill valve
- Regeneration cycle
- Repair flange (cast-iron)
- Repipe
- Resistance heating element
- Reverse osmosis
- Reverse-osmosis system
- Right-angle drill
- Rigid copper tubing
- Rim holes
- Riser clamp
- Roof vent
- Rough-in
- Rough-in dimension
- Rough-in inspection stages
- Round vs. elongated toilet bowl
- Routine water pressure check
- RPZ backflow preventer
- Running toilet
- Rusty water at taps
S 94 terms
- S-trap
- Saddle valve
- Saltwater intrusion
- Sand filter / mound system
- Sanitary tee
- Scald exposure curve
- Scald-control faucet
- Scalding
- Schedule 40 vs Schedule 80
- Schrader valve
- Scum and sludge layers
- Sealed (pressurised) heating system
- Seamless aluminum gutter
- Seat wrench
- Seattle tap water
- Second fix
- Sediment / popping noise (water heater)
- Sediment filter
- Sediment in water heater
- Sediment trap (gas line)
- Seismic anchor bolt
- Seismic brace
- Seismic protection (plumbing)
- Seismic strapping (water heater)
- Self-siphonage
- Septic pumping
- Septic pumping cadence
- Septic system
- Septic system inspection
- Septic-incompatible substances
- Service line
- Sewage backup
- Sewage ejector pump
- Sewage smell from drain
- Sewer camera
- Sewer camera inspection
- Sewer gas
- Sewer lateral root intrusion
- Sewer machine
- Shock chlorination
- Shower arm
- Shower base
- Shower curb
- Shower enclosure kit
- Shower head
- Shower head soak
- Shower pan leak test
- Shut-off valve
- Side sewer
- Silent toilet leak
- Single-handle vs. two-handle vs. widespread faucet
- Sink cutout
- Siphoning action
- Sliding shower door
- Slip lining
- Slip nut
- Slow-filling toilet
- Smart thermostat
- Smoke test
- Snap cutter
- Soft acidic water
- Softener salt
- Soil pipe
- Solar water heater
- Solder wire
- Solenoid valve
- Solvent cement welding
- Spokane tap water
- Sprinkler controller
- SPU side sewer permit
- Spud nut
- Spud wrench
- Stack
- Stack vent
- Stagnation
- Standpipe (laundry)
- Static water pressure
- Static water pressure test
- Steam shower
- Steel pipe
- Stop-and-waste valve
- Storm drain
- Stormwater drainage
- Strap wrench
- Stub-out
- Stuck toilet seat bolts
- Sump pit
- Sump pump
- Sump pump check valve
- Sump pump sizing
- Surface water source
- Sweat fitting
- Sweating a joint
- Swing check valve
T 47 terms
- T&P relief valve
- T&P test lever
- Tacoma tap water
- Tailpiece
- Tank bolts
- Tank gasket
- Tank water condensation
- Tank-set temperature (120–130°F)
- Tanking
- Tankless water heater
- Tee
- Tempered glass
- Tempered water
- Thermocouple
- Thermostat (water heater)
- Thermostatic mixing valve
- Thermostatic mixing valve at water heater outlet
- Thermostatic radiator valve (TRV)
- Thinset mortar
- Three-way diverter valve
- Tiny-home plumbing
- Toilet
- Toilet dye test
- Toilet rocks on the floor
- Toilet rough-in
- Toilet shim
- Torque wrench
- Touchless faucet
- Towel warmer
- TPR discharge tube
- Trap
- Trap arm
- Trap arm length limits
- Trap evaporation
- Trap seal
- Trenchless sewer replacement
- Tripwaste mechanism
- Tub material (acrylic, fiberglass, steel, cast iron)
- Tub spout
- Tub-and-tile caulk
- Tub-shower combo
- Tuberculation
- Tuberculation
- Tubing cutter
- Type K copper
- Type L copper
- Type M copper
U 9 terms
V 5 terms
W 41 terms
- WAC 246-274 (greywater)
- WAC 246-290
- Wall-hung lavatory
- Warm but no hot
- Washington L&I plumbing license
- Washington plumbing apprenticeship
- Water backs up in tub when toilet flushes
- Water hammer
- Water hammer arrestor
- Water heater insulation blanket
- Water heater leak
- Water heater permit
- Water heater replacement
- Water heater warranty
- Water meter
- Water meter leak test
- Water softener
- Water supply system
- Water table
- Waterlogged tank
- WaterSense label
- Wax ring
- Wax-free seal
- Well cap
- Well casing
- Well pump
- Well water
- Well water testing (annual)
- Wet room
- Wet vent
- Wet wall
- Wet wipes flushed down toilet
- Whirlpool tub
- Whistling pipes
- Whole-house shutoff
- Whole-house water filter
- Winterization blow-out
- Workmanship warranty
- Worn faucet O-ring
- WSEC / IECC
- Wye fitting