Do you use terms like “thingamajig,” “whatchamacallit” or “round thingy” to describe your home’s plumbing?
If so, you need some proper plumbing terms. That way you can explain things to the plumber or at your local hardware store and actually get help.
Here are formal definitions for nine common plumbing terms:
Aerator: “Used in a faucet spout to mix air and flowing water, helps reduce splashing,” aceplumbing.com says
Backflow: “The flow of water or other liquids, mixtures, or substances into the distributing pipes of a potable water supply from any source or sources other than the intended source,” nachi.org says. This usually isn’t good.
Ball Joint: “Spherical assembly allowing pivot rotations for many bathroom and shower accessories like showerheads,” plumbingmart.com explains.
Coupling: “A type of fitting with two female ends that receive the smaller ends of piping or tubing, making a connection. A mechanical device or part for joining parts together to make a joint. A type of fitting used to join plumbing pipes,” plumbingkey.com says.
P-Trap: A water seal in the drain used to prevent sewer gas from entering a building, per plumbingkey.com.
PVC: “Standing for polyvinyl chloride and one of the more common plumbing terms, referring to white piping used in many home plumbing capacities,” enlightenme.com states.
Snaking: “Method used to clear blocked plumbing devices using metal wires or coils,” aceplumbing.com says.
Solder: “Metallic substance that fuses one surface to another,” enlightenme.com explains.
Valve: “A device that regulates the flow of water. Also the rough-in part of a faucet that is concealed in a wall or under the counter,” plumbingmart.com says.
This list is by no means complete. If you have questions, contact Eyman Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning. Chances are we’ve heard it before and can help. Call us at 402-731-2727.
