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plumbing glossary

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D - F

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G - N

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O - R

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O

o ring: round rubber washer used to create a watertight seal, chiefly around valve stems

 

oakum: stranded hemp used in making hub joints (bell & spigot) of cast iron pipe watertight.

 

overflow tube: vertical tube inside a toilet tank (usually part of the flush valve), which directs water into the bowl in case the ball cock malfunctions. If the ball cock does not shut off properly, water will drain through the overflow tube into the bowl which indicates to the user that there is a problem by a "constant running" condition

 

 

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P

p trap: fixture trap in the shape of the letter "P"

 

PB (polybutylene): flexible plastic tubing for hot or cold water

 

PE (polyethylene): flexible plastic tubing for cold water

 

PVC (polyvinyl chloride): rigid plastic pipe for cold water

 

packing: fibrous or rubberlike material that prevents leakage around valve or faucet stems

 

packing nut: nut that holds the stem of faucet in position & contains or confines the packing material

 

phillips head: type of screwdriver w/ 2 partial slots crossed at right angles (x-shape head) image

 

pipe: (different types of)

ABS - acrylonitrile buradine styrene
Cast Iron
Copper
Galvanized (steel)
PVC - polyvinyl chloride

 

pipe cutter: plumbing tool designed to make perfectly square cuts in pipe

 

pipe joint compound: material used as lubrication or sealer on threads of pipes & fittings

 

pipe wrench: adjustable tooth-jawed wrench designed to grip pipe image

 

pitch: downward slope of a drain pipe in the direction of liquid flow

 

pliers: there is a wide variety of pliers, each used for a specific task

adjustable pliers: has a sliding joint, permitting the span of the jaws to be adjusted to hold various sizes of nuts & bolts image

electrician's pliers: used for electrical wiring, these have insulated grips & several features: wire cutter (to cutting copper), wire stripper, crimper, & shear for small bolts

locking pliers: has a threaded adjustment knob or worm gear, opposite the jaws, making it possible to clamp down tightly onto objects

needle-nose pliers: has jaws tapering to a point, used for handling small or delicate objects and getting into hard-to-reach areas

side-cut pliers: or wire cutters, these have incisor-like jaws, used for nipping wire, small nails & bolts

 

plumb: precisely vertical

 

plumbing code: legal requirement for plumbing installations

 

plumbing tree: pre-fabricated set of drain, waste, vent & supply lines

 

plunger
clears clogged drains and toilet traps through air & water pressure image

 

power snake: electrically powered plumber's snake tool used for clearing blockages in a main drain or sewer

 

pressure regulator: device installed on a water supply line to reduce water pressure

 

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Q - R

reamer (tapered reamer): tool for smoothing & removing burrs from the ends of freshly cut pipe

 

reducer: fitting enabling pipes of different diameter to fit together

 

reducing tee: fitting for connecting three pipes, either one or all of which are of different sizes

 

refill tube: on most toilets, a refill tube directs water from the ball cock into the overflow tube to refill the bowl after the siphon break

 

relief valve: valve used on water heaters to prevent excessive heat or pressure in the tank

 

revent: pipe installed specifically to vent a fixture trap. Connects w/ the vent system above the fixture served

 

rim holes: series of small holes, in the underside of a toilet rim, around the circumference of the bowl. Incoming water flows down into the bowl through these holes, creating a rinse effect, or "rim wash" over the entire inner surface of the bowl

 

riser: vertical run of pipe

 

rough-in dimensions: distance from a finished wall or floor to the center of the waste or supply opening or mounting holes on a plumbing fixture

 

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