Building Utilities (Plumbing) Flashcards
The system of pipes, valves, fixtures, and other apparatus of a water supply or sewage system.
Plumbing
The supply of purified water to a community, usually including such facilities as reservoirs and pipelines for storing and distributing this water.
Water supply
A reservoir or tank for storing or holding water, such as rainwater collected from a roof, for use when required.
Cistern
A hole drilled or bored into the earth to obtain water, petroleum, or natural gas.
Well
A natural or artificial place where water is collected and stored for use, esp. water for supplying a community, irrigating land, or furnishing power.
Reservoir
A geological formation containing or conducting groundwater, esp. one capable of providing water in usable quantities to springs or wells.
Aquifer
A main pipe or conduit through which a public or community water system conveys water to all service connections.
Water main
Any valve for shutting off the flow of water or gas from a supply pipe.
Shutoff valve
A device foe measuring and recording the quantity of water that passes through a pipe.
Water meter
A vertical enclosure with a removable cover providing access to a curb cock.
Curb box
Any member of piping system other than a main, riser, or stack.
Branch
A vertical pipe, conduit, or duct in a utility system.
Riser
A principal pipe, conduit, or duct in a utility system.
Main
An expansion joint of pipe and pipe fittings permitting thermal expansion to occur in a long run of hot-water piping.
Expansion bend
A threaded exterior faucet for attaching a garden hose, often attached to the side of a house at about the height of a sill.
Hose bibb
A device for controlling the flow of a liquid from a pipe by opening or closing an orifice.
Faucet
The fluid pressure in a supply pipe at a faucet or other outlet while the faucet or outlet is wide open water is flowing, expressed in psi.
Flow pressure
A faucet having a single outlet for water from separately controlled hot-water and cold-water taps.
Mixing faucet
Any of various receptacles for receiving water from a water system and discharging the liquid waste into a drainage system.
Plumbing fixture
A device for regulating the supply of water in a flush tank by means of hallow floating ball, which by its rise or fall shuts or opens a supply valve.
Ball cock
A water supply and distribution system in which the water source is set at a height sufficient to maintain adequate supply pressure throughout the water distribution system.
Gravity water system
The pressure at the lower of two given points in a liquid expressed in terms of the vertical distance between the points.
Pressure head
A loss of head or fluid pressure between two points of a pipe or across a valve, due to hydraulic friction.
Pressure drop
A unit for measuring the probable demand for water by a plumbing fixture, or the probable discharge of liquid waste from the fixture, equivalent to 71/2 gallons or one cubic foot per minute.
Fixture Unit
An apparatus that removes calcium and magnesium salts from hard water by ion exchange in order to give the water more efficient sudsing ability with soap
Water softener
Water containing dissolved salts of calcium or magnesium and forming soap lather with difficulty.
Hard water
An electric or gas appliance for heating water to a temperature between 120 and 140 Fahrenheit (50 and 60 Celcius) and storing it for use.
Water Heater
Any of various receptacles for receiving water from a water system and discharging the liquid waste into a drainage system.
Plumbing fixture
Plumbing fixture, such as sinks and toilet bowls, made of vitreous china, porcelain enamel, or enameled metal.
Sanitary ware
A fixture consisting of a ceramic bowl with a detachable, hinged seat and lid and a device for flushing with water, used for defecation and urination.
Water closet
A valve that supplies a fixed quantity of water to fixtures for flushing purposes when actuated by direct water pressure.
Flushometer valve
A measure of the performance of a flush toilet in removing human waste with a single flush. The US Environment agency mandates a minimum MaP score of 350.
Maximum performance score
The concussion and banging noise that results when a volume of water moving in a pipe suddenly stops or loses momentum.
Water hammer
A compartment in a water system containing the air that elastically compresses and expands to equalize the pressure and flow of water in the system.
air chamber
An outlet, pipe, or receptacle for excess liquid.
overflow
A flow of a liquid opposite to the usual or desired direction.
backflow
A backflow of used or contaminated water from a plumbing fixture into a pipe supplying potable water due to negative pressure in the pipe.
back-siphonage
a valve for preventing flowing liquid, such as sewage, from reversing its direction.
backwater valve
The rate of discharge from a plumbing fixture, equal to the total number of gallons discharged per minute divided by 7.5 and expressed in fixture units.
flow rate
A toilet bowl in which the flushing water enters through the rim and siphonic action initiated by a water jet draws the contents of the bowl through the trapway.
siphon-jet
A toilet bowl having a smaller water surface and trapway.
reverse-trap
A toilet bowl having the flushing water directed through the rim to create a vortex that scours the bowl.
siphon-vortex
A toilet bowl having a simple washout action and emptying through a small, irregular passage.
wash-down
A basinlike fixture designed to be straddled for bathing the genitals and posterior parts of the body.
bidet
a flushable fixture used by men for urinating.
urinal
A panel forming an enclosure around a water closet for privacy in a public lavatory.
toilet partition
An oblong tub to bathe in, esp. one that is a permanent fixture in a bathroom.
bathtub
A bath in which water is sprayed on the body from an overhead nozzle or showerhead.
shower
a bar attached to a wall near a bathtub or shower to provide a hand grip for a person who is bathing.
grab bar
The shallow base pan of a stall shower.
receptor
A bowl or basin with running water for washing the face and hands.
Lavatory
A basin, as in a kitchen or laundry, connected with a water supply and drainage system for washing.
sink
An electrical device in the drain of a sink, for grinding food wastes to be washed down the drain.
Disposal
A deep sink for washing clothes.
Laundry tray
A U- or S-shaped section of drainpipe in which liquid remains and forms a seal for preventing the passage of sewer gas.
trap
A cylindrical trap closed on the bottom and having a cover plate for access, usually installed on the drain line from a bathtub.
drum trap
A deep sink used in janitorial work.
slop sink
Any device for controlling or stopping the flow of a liquid or gas by a movable part that opens, partially obstructs, or shuts a passage, pipe, inlet, or outlet.
valve
The part of a valve casing through which the stem passes and that forms a guide and seal for the stem.
bonnet
The part or surface of a valve on which the stem is closed to stop flow completely.
seat
A valve with a globular body, closed by a disk seating on an opening in an internal wall.
Globe valve
A shutoff valve closed by lowering a wedge-shaped gate across the passage.
Gate valve
A globe valve having an outlet at a right angle to the inlet.
angle valve
A washerless valve opened by aligning holes in a disk, cylinder, or ball.
alignment valve
A valve for controlling the relative amount of hot and cold water admitted from separate hot-water and cold-water lines.
mixing valve
A valve permitting a liquid or gas to flow in one direction only.
check valve
A rubber or metal ring inserted between two mating surfaces to make the joint watertight.
gasket
A hollow cylinder of metal or plastic used for the conveyance of water, steam, gas or other fluid material.
pipe
A standard part, such as an elbow, union, or tee, for connecting two or more pipes.
pipe fitting
A pipe fitting having an angled, 90 degrees bend.
elbow
An elbow having a lugs for attachment to a wall or joist.
drop elbow
A pipe fitting having a large radius of curvature.
sweep fitting
A 180-degree bend in pipe.
return bend
A T-shaped pipe fitting for making a three-way hoint.
tee
A tee having lugs for attachment to wall or joist.
drop tee
A tee having a slight curve in the 90-degree transition to channel the flow from a branch pipe in the direction of the main.
sanitary tee
A Y-shaped pipe fitting for joining a branch pipe with a main. usually at a 45-degree angle.
wye
a pipe fitting for making a four-way connection.
cross
a cross having a slight curve in each of the 90-degree transitions to channel the flow from branch pipes in the direction of the main.
sanitary cross
A U-shaped pipe for bypassing another pipe.
crossover
A short length of pipe with threads on each end, used for joining couplings or other pipe fittings.
Nipple
A short length of pipe having each end threaded on the inside, used for joining two pipes of the same diameter.
coupling
An external threaded fitting for closing the end of a pipe.
Plug
An internally threaded fitting for enclosing the end of a pipe.
Cap
A coupling decreasing in diameter at one end.
reducer
A coupling increasing in diameter at one end.
increaser
A coupling device for connecting two pipes, neither of which can be turned.
union
A system of pipes, traps, and other apparatus for conveying sewage, wastewater, or rainwater to a public sewer or a private treatment facility.
drainage system
Any pipe channel by which a liquid is drawn off.
drain
A system of pipes supplying a flow of air to or from a drainage system or providing circulation of air within the system to protect trap seals from siphonage and backpressure.
Vent system
A drain extending from the trap of a plumbing fixture to a junction with a waste stack.
Fixture drain
