Techniques for Plumbing
Dry Fit: Connecting pipe without adhesive for the purpose of checking measurements
Roughing In: Positioning and installing supply and drain-waste-vent pipe in walls and floors, while the walls and floors are unfinished; roughing in doesn't include connecting fixtures
Solvent Welding: Joining two things together by using a solvent, which softens the materials, then evaporates after adhering them
Snaking: Clearing blocked drains by pushing and twisting a drain-and-trap auger
Sweating: Connecting copper pipe and fittings with soldered joints
Tapping In: Connecting new pipe to an existing plumbing line to serve a new fixture
Threaded Connections: Connecting pipe together by screwing them in using the spiral ridges on the ends of the pipe
Valve Dressing: Grinding a worn valve seat with a special tool to stop drips in compression faucets
Pipe Fittings
Adapter: a fitting that joins pipe made of different materials or sizes
Bushing: a fitting that joins pipe made of different sizes, threaded inside and out
Cap: a fitting that covers and seals the end of a pipe
Coupling: a fitting that makes a connection between two straight runs of pipe
Ell: an elbow joint with hubs on both ends used to make an angled connection between two straight runs of pipe
Hub: the wide end of a fitting that allows insertion of a pipe for making a joint
P-Trap: a curved section of pipe that prevents sewer odors from escaping into the house; required on all fixtures with a drain
Street Ell: an elbow joint with a hub on one end used to make an angled connection between pipe and a fitting with a hub
Tee: a T-shaped fitting that joins three lengths of pipe — two lengths in line with each other and the third length perpendicular to the first two
Toilet Flange: an anchoring ring that secures the toilet to the floor while also connecting the toilet to the sewer pipe
Union: a three-piece fitting that joins two sections of pipe while allowing them to be disconnected without having to cut the pipe
Wye: a Y-shaped fitting that joins three lengths of pipe in branch fashion
Supply-System Components
Air Chamber: an extra length of pipe installed vertically on a supply line near a fixture to prevent water hammer
Branch Line: a supply line that branches off the main water trunk with either tees or manifolds to extend water to fixtures.
Compression Fitting: a connector — composed of a threaded body, a compression nut and a compression ring — used on copper and plastic pipe, forming a watertight seal when the body and nut are tightened, squeezing the ring around the pipe
Riser: a supply pipe that runs vertically from floor to floor
Service Pipe: the pipe that delivers cold water to the house from a water main or well
Shut-Off Valve: a valve that cuts off water to one or more fixtures, allowing repairs without shutting off the supply system for the entire house
Waste-System Components
Air Admittance Valve: a one-way, mechanical valve installed at the site of a plumbing fixture, allowing proper venting to occur when negative pressure develops in the pipe due to waterflow.
Air Gap: a Y-shaped fitting that connects to the kitchen sink drain to prevent wastewater from backflowing into your dishwasher, eliminating the risk of dirty water contaminating your clean dishes
Cleanout: an opening, closed by a removable plug, that provides access to a drain or sewage pipe for clearing blockages
Drain Trap: a U-shaped passage at a fixture or in a drain line that stays filled with water to keep sewer gases from escaping from the drain into living spaces
Main Drain: the slanting pipe in the basement or crawlspace that carries waste to a sewer or septic tank; also called a building drain
Septic Tank: a buried tank where waste from the drain system is decomposed and purified
Soil Stack: a large, vertical pipe that carries waste from fixture drains to the main drain
Toilet Wax Ring and Floor Seal: a round ring made of wax or heavy-duty rubber (wax-free) to prevent odors and create a water-tight seal between the floor and the toilet
Vent Stack: a large, vertical pipe that projects above the roof, connected to the soil stack, and vents sewer gases from the soil stack, preventing the gases from entering the living space
Plumbing Problems
Galvanic Corrosion: Corrosion caused by natural chemical interaction between different metals
Siphoning: Suction from dropping water pressure that draws water or waste through the lines
Water Hammer: The banging of pipes against hard surfaces when water flow is suddenly cut off at a fixture
Plumbing Safety
Cross Connection: Occurs when there's a chance that drinking water and nonpotable wastewater could mix; most often happens when the pressure in the system changes or is turned off and nonpotable water is drawn into the supply system
Hydrostatic Testing: A test using noncompressible liquid under pressure at a level equal to or greater than the maximum pressure that will be utilized when in use, such as in steam boilers; used to find leaks
Legionella: A bacteria that tends to grow in hot water heaters in which the water isn't hot enough to kill them; leads to Legionnaire's disease, which has caused many deaths; best means of preventing this bacteria from growing in a hot water system is to set the temperature above 122°F
Scalding: This is a major concern with water heaters because the temperature of the water can get high enough that it scalds the skin upon first coming out of the tap; the elderly and children are the most susceptible to this danger; temping valves are used to keep this from happening
Temperature and Pressure Relief Valve: This valve releases water if the temperature or pressure inside the water heater tank becomes too high, preventing the water heater from becoming dangerous and exploding
Additional Plumbing Resources
Find out more on plumbing projects and Lowe’s installation services.