Plumbing Flashcards
Aerator
Small mesh screens placed on the end of faucets and used to regulate the flow of water into multiple small streams so that the volume of water that flows from the faucet would be significantly reduced
Branch Line
Branch Lines are offshoots of vertical stacks, like branches of a tree. These branch lines connect toilets, showers, sinks, washing machines, dish washers, etc. to the corresponding vertical stack, which carries waste to the building’s drain underground or in the basement
Chain
Connected to your toilet’s handle and allows it to open and close the flapper
Clean-out
Pipe fittings that can be accessed to clear clogs and debris. The sewer clean out is a pipe with a cap that provides access to the sewer line so that blockages can be removed. The lateral sewer line is the sewer line that connects your home to the public sewer system. The sewer clean out is usually located somewhere along the lateral sewer line.
Clean-out
Pipe fittings that can be accessed to clear clogs and debris. The sewer clean out is a pipe with a cap that provides access to the sewer line so that blockages can be removed. The lateral sewer line is the sewer line that connects your home to the public sewer system. The sewer clean out is usually located somewhere along the lateral sewer line.
Compression Coupling
Connects two pipes to a fixture or valve
Drain Pipe
A long tube made of metal or plastic that transports sewage and dirty water from the building and regulates air pressure in the pipes to avoid clogging
Ejector Pump
An ejector pump, which is also known as a pump up ejector system, moves wastewater from a sump basin located below ground up to the sewer or septic tank for disposal. In simple terms, it’s an upflush system, safely moving the water up from the lower level and draining into the main line.
Escutcheon
A flat piece of metal used to protect and hide away the hole for the pipe or valve
Expansion Tank
A water heater expansion tank is another small tank that is attached to the water supply pipe of the water heater. The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater, preventing excessive water pressure.
Faucet Lever
Lever used to control the water’s flow from the spout
Flapper
A seal that keeps water in your toilet’s tank until you’re ready to flush
Float
A valve that rises with the in-tank water level and turns off the fill vale once it has reached the fill line (Toilet)
Floor Flange
Secures your toilet and wax seal to the sewer opening
Friction Gasket
A protective barrier creating high amount of friction between two moving surfaces
Garbage Disposal
A device installed under the sink between the drain and the trap and used to grind up and wash away food scraps and other kitchen refuse
Infiltration
This refers to groundwater that enters sewer pipes through cracks, pipe joints and other system leaks. Sewers in coastal areas are typically buried deep, they are often located below the water table
Inflow
Rainwater that enters the sewer system from sources such as yard and patio drains, roof gutter downspouts, uncapped clean-outs, pond or pool overflow drains, footing drains, cross connections with storm drains, etc. Inflow is greatest during heavy rainfall and infiltration, can cause excessive flows and sewage spills
Jetting
Hydro jetting is a method used by professional plumbing contractors to clean clogged or slow sewage lines. A blast of water at high pressure is sent into the lines that will usually remove blockages and build up. Hydro jetting systems normally use about 35,000 psi, which works very effectively.
Lift Station
Wastewater lift stations (or sewage pump stations) are designed for pumping wastewater or sewage from a lower to higher elevation when a gravity system is not possible or is too costly. Lift stations are used to reduce the costs of sewer system construction. When gravity sewers are installed in trenches deeper than three meters, the cost of installing a sewer line increases significantly. Wastewater lift stations are a practical and economical choice.
Locknut
Placement of a locked or turned off position on an energy-isolating device
Main Line
Simply put, your mainline is your sewer line. It’s the line that goes from your house to the city connection or your septic tank. Before leaving your home, all of your drains dump into your mainline. When your mainline backs up, it is important to know where your cleanout is located.
Manholes
Sewer manholes are underground structures used to provide access to underground sewer lines. Manholes are usually found on the street, parking area or sidewalk. Access is required to periodically inspect and clean the lines. Sewer manholes typically have heavy round covers with the words “sanitary sewer” on the cover.
Pathogens
Harmful germs in raw sewage that cause diseases such as cholera, dysentery, hepatitis and gastroenteritis.
Plumbing
What ServiceTitan was originally built for! The plumbing industry covers everything from fixing clogged drains, toilets, and more, to larger jobs such as replacing sewer lines and water heaters. Plumbing jobs vary between demand (emergency) and service (repairs) calls.
Typically, this industry pays a mixture of commission and hourly to the technicians, depending on the company. (see Flat Rate / Time and Materials)
Memberships/Service Agreements (see definition) are common in this industry, mostly providing a discount on future services.
Largest Jobs: Main Line
Large customer examples: Mr. Rooter, Dutton, George Brazil
Common Associations: Nexstar, Service Roundtable, SGI (Success Group International)
PRV
Pressure reducing valve - Pressure reducing valves are devices that work directly to slow down the pressure of water flowing into your home. They are installed on the main water line next to the shut-off valve. Water from the water main goes into the valve on one side. As the water moves through the valve, it must pass through a spring and diaphragm which cause resistance and lowers the pressure to the desired level as the water leaves the valve through the other side.
The genius of pressure reducing valves is that they’re set to regulate your water flow to a specific pressure. That means if there’s a sudden spike in your area’s municipal water pressure, the spring and diaphragm in the valve will tighten and you’ll still have a consistent amount of pressure in your home.
PVC
Type of pipe used commonly in plumbing. This is the hard white plastic pipe you see at hardware stores.
Refill Tube
Brings fresh water into the tank after a flush
Sanitary Sewer Overflow
Sewage spills are technically called “sanitary” sewer overflows since it involves the overflow of sewage from the sanitary sewer system. The word “sanitary” is used only because the overflow is from the sanitary sewer system, and not because the raw sewage is sanitary (Sewage overflows often occur from sewer manholes in the streets. Sewage can also backup into homes through toilets, showers and floor drains. Sewage spills are caused by sewage filling the sewer pipes behind the clog to the point where it spills out an opening in the system (generally the lowest manhole, shower drain or other plumbing fixture)
Sanitary Sewer System/Wastewater Collection System
The pipes through which sewage is carried from homes and businesses to a treatment plant. The sanitary sewer system includes the main sewer lines in the streets and the branch lines to individual sewer customers called “sewer laterals”. They are designed to flow by gravity through sloped pipes until it reaches either the treatment plant or sewage pumping station.
Sewage/Wastewater
This is the “used” water that contains human wastes from toilets and water from other sources such as sinks, showers, washing machines, etc.
Sewer Clean-out
A pipe rising from the sewer lateral to the ground’s surface with a removable cap or plug. It is used to access the sewer lateral to free blockages. A sewer clean-out is usually located just inside the property line but there may be additional sewer clean-outs at various other locations on your property
Sewer Lateral
The sewer pipe that connects a building’s plumbing system to the main sewer line in the street. Maintenance of sewer lateral pipes located within private property is generally the responsibility of the property owner. They are also referred to as “service laterals”, “house laterals” or “laterals”
Shut-Off Valve
Allows you to control the flow of water to your toilet
Sink
A plumbing fixture used for dishwashing, washing hands, and other purposes
Spray Hose
Connects the water supply to the faucet
Strainer Body
Used to filter out debris in the water system
Strainer Flange
The sink drain flange is a flat metal disk which fits into the drain hole at the bottom of the sink. It usually has patterned grid over the hole, like a strainer
Supply Line (Cold and Hot Water)
The system that allows the cold and hot water to be supplied from the main water source to where it is intended to be used
T&P
T & P valve relieves excess temperature and pressure in a water heater if either reaches a critical point.
Tank O-Ring Seal
Creates a watertight seal between your toilet tank and the bowl
Trap
A P-shaped device that traps debris and prevents bad smelling sewer gases from leaking into their home.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Facilities where organic matter, bacteria, viruses and solids are removed from sewage through physical, biological and chemical processes. The treated wastewater, known as effluent, may be disposed of by discharging it to water bodies , injecting it into the ground, or reusing it for irrigation or other beneficial non-potable (non-drinking) uses
Wax Seal
Creates an airtight barrier between your toilet and the sewer line
