ADA: Abbreviation for Americans with Disabilities Act standards. These standards ensure bathroom and kitchen facilities are accessible to people with disabilities.
Access Panel: A removable door or panel installed in a wall, ceiling, or floor that allows easy access to hidden plumbing components.
Aerator: Mixes air with water to create a softer, aerated stream for a faucet.
Air Gap: A space that physically prevents contaminated drain water from siphoning back into the clean water supply.
Angle Stop: A shut-off valve
Anode Rod: Sacrificial metal rod installed inside the tank of an electric water heater. It protects the steel tank from corrosion through a process called electrolysis.
B
Back Flush: The process of reversing the water flow through a pipe, filter, or other component. The main purpose is to clean the water by removing debris.
Ballcock: Used to control the water level in a toilet tank, like a fill valve.
Basin: A bowl-shaped fixture in your kitchen or bathroom, usually in the form or a sink. Alternatively, a floor drain designed to collect and drain wastewater.
Basket Strainer: A detachable device that can be placed in the drain opening of a sink to capture debris and prevent it from going down a drain.
BC: Abbreviation for brushed chrome finish.
Bidet: A plumbing fixture that sprays water for personal cleaning after using the toilet. Some may also have a drying feature.
Bidet Seat: A self-contained bidet that replaces your toilet seat, adding a spray function for post-toilet hygiene.
Bird Screen (water heater accessory): Mesh screen installed on the vent pipe termination to prevent birds and other animals from getting into the pipe.
BN: Abbreviation for brushed nickel finish.
BTU (British Thermal Unit): Used to measure heat, specifically the amount needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit.
Buchan Trap: Also known as a house trap, it is used to prevent sewer gases and odors from entering a building. While they might still be encountered in older buildings, they are not typically used in new construction.
C
Cast Iron: Material used for drain, waste, and vent (DWV) systems. It can also be used in a variety of pumps.
CeFiONtect: A super-smooth glaze applied to Toto ceramic toilets. It creates a non-stick surface that repels waste and makes cleaning easier.
Centerset: Faucet where two handles are spaced apart by a standard distance, typically 4 inches, around a central spout.
Cleanout (C/O): A location where the interior of a pipe can be accessed to clear out clogs. Cleanouts are generally located on the side of the house.
Closet Flange: A toilet flange, a pipe fitting that allows for securing the toilet and making a drainage connection to the drain system in the house.
Combination Boilers: Also known as a combi boiler, a combination boiler is a single heating unit that functions as both a boiler and a tankless water heater.
Condensing Boiler: An efficient heater that delivers more heat out per fuel by capturing heat from exhaust.
Copper: In plumbing, copper refers to a type of tubing or pipe used for hot and cold water lines due to its durability, resistance to corrosion, and ability to kill bacteria.
Coupling: A connector for pipes.
CP: Abbreviation for polished chrome finish
CPVC: Abbreviation for Chlorinated PolyVinyl Chloride
CW: Abbreviation for cold water.
CWP: Abbreviation for cold water pressure.
CWT: Abbreviation for cold water tube.
CxC: Abbreviation for copper x copper.
Cycle Time: The time it takes for a toilet to complete a flush cycle.
D
Diverter: A valve that controls the direction of water flow.
Drain: A pipe or system of pipes that carries unwanted water or waste liquids away.
Dual Flush: A toilet that has two flush options, the first that uses less water for liquid waste and the second that uses more water for solid waste.
DWV: Abbreviation for drainage, waste, and vent.
Dynamic Pressure: Refers to the pressure exerted by moving water within the pipes.
E
Effluent: Liquid waste that has already been processed.
Elongated: Oval shape of a toilet bowl that is wider at the front than at the back. Elongated bowls offer more comfort and extra legroom compared to round toilet bowls.
Enamel: Hard, glossy coating applied to metal fixtures, most commonly cast iron sinks and bathtubs
Escutcheon: Decorative cover plate that hides the hole around a pipe where it enters or exits a wall, floor, or ceiling.
Expansion Tank (for water heater): A pressure relief device for closed system water heaters. It absorbs extra pressure caused by hot, expanding water to protect the system from damage.
F
FHT: Abbreviation for "female hose thread."
FIB: Abbreviation for "female iron pipe."
FNPT: Abbreviation for "female national pipe thread taper."
FSWT: Abbreviation for "female sweat connection."
FVIR: Abbreviation for "flammable vapor ignition resistant."
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
PB: Abbreviation for polished brass finish.
Q
R
Reducer: Fitting that connects pipes of different sizes together.
Round Front: Standard shape of the front of a toilet bowl.
Run: Complete or secondary section(s) of pipe that extend from supply to fixture or drain.
S
SN: Abbreviation for satin nickel finish.
T
Tempered: Heat treatment technique to strengthen and harden glass for more safety. Also applies to water that has been mixed in order to avoid a temperature extreme.
Through-the-floor: Installation where the bath drain tee outlet points down rather than horizontal.
Thumb Nut: Nut designed to be tightened without tools to prevent over-tightening, and for easier installation
Tile-In: Installation where the sink is fit flush with the countertop
U
V
Vitreous China: Type of non-porous porcelain used to make toilets and some bathroom sinks
W
Water Closet (closet, commode, toilet): An old-fashioned term for a toilet.
