Plumbing Glossary — Terms and Definitions
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Bonded Plumbworks maintains this plumbing glossary as a reference for homeowners, property managers, and anyone who wants to understand the terminology used in residential and commercial plumbing. Each term includes a clear definition, an explanation of how it relates to plumbing services, and links to relevant service pages where applicable.
This glossary covers 197 plumbing terms spanning pipe materials, fitting types, fixtures, tools, plumbing codes, water treatment concepts, safety procedures, and diagnostic methods. Whether you are reviewing a plumbing estimate, researching a repair, or preparing for a home inspection, these definitions provide the technical context you need to make informed decisions.
A
B
- Backflow
- Backflow Prevention Device
- Backwashing (Water Treatment)
- Backwater Valve
- Ball Valve
- Basin Wrench
- Bathroom
- Bathtub
- Bidets
- Boiler
- Booster Pump
- Building Code
- Burst / Frozen Pipes
C
- Camera Inspection Process
- Carbon Monoxide Risks
- Cast Iron Pipe
- Caulk
- Check Valve
- Chlorine
- CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining)
- Circulator Pump
- Clamp / Cinch Fittings (PEX)
- Closet Flange
- Clog
- Combined Sewer
- Compression Fittings
- Condensate Pump
- Condensation on Pipes
- Confined Space Entry
- Contamination
- Control Valve
- Copper Pipe
- Corrosion
- CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride)
- Crimp PEX Fittings
- CSST (Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing)
D
- Double-Check Valve
- Drain
- Dry Well
- Drain Cleaner
- Drain-Waste-Vent System
- Drinking Water
- Dual-Flush Toilet
E
F
G
- Galvanic Corrosion
- Galvanized Steel Pipe
- Garbage Disposal Unit
- Gas Burner
- Gas Detector
- Gas Heater
- Gas Leak
- Gate Valve
- Grease Trap
- Grinder Pump
- Groundwater
H
- Hacksaw
- Hard Water
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
- HDPE Pipe
- Heat Exchanger
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Hydrostatic Test
- Heat Pump
- Home Inspection
- Hydro Jetting Process
I
- Indoor Air Quality
- Infiltration (Hydrology)
- Infrared Thermometer
- Insulated Pipe
- International Plumbing Code
- Isolation Valve
K
L
- Lead in Plumbing
- Leak
- Leak Detection Methods
- LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) for Plumbing
- Low-Flow Fixtures
- Low-Flush Toilet
- Low Water Pressure
M
N
O
P
- PEX Crimping
- PEX Expansion (ProPEX)
- PEX Tubing (Cross-Linked Polyethylene)
- Pilot Light
- Pipe (Fluid Conveyance)
- Pipe Flow
- Pipe Insulation
- Pipe Threading
- Plumber’s Snake
- Plumbing Code
- Plumbing Fixture
- Plumbing Inspection
- Plunger
- Polybutylene
- Polypropylene Pipe
- Power Outage
- PPE for Plumbing Work
- Press Fittings (ProPress)
- Pressure Drop
- Pressure Measurement
- Pressure Switch
- Pressure Testing (New/Repaired Piping)
- Propane
- Proper Venting (DWV Safety)
- Public Water System
- Purified Water
- ProPress (Pressing Copper)
- Pump
- Push-Fit / Push-to-Connect Fittings
- PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
R
S
- Safety Valve
- Sanitary Sewer
- Scalding Prevention
- Sediment
- Septic Drain Field
- Septic Tank
- Sewage Treatment
- Sewer Backup
- Sewer Gas
- Sewerage
- Shower
- Sink
- Sink Strainer
- Smoke Testing (Mechanical)
- Solar Water Heating
- Solder / Sweat Fittings (Copper)
- Soldering / Sweating Copper Pipe
- Solvent Cement Fittings (PVC/ABS/CPVC)
- Solvent Cement Gluing (PVC/ABS/CPVC)
- Stainless Steel
- Storage Water Heater
- Storm Drain
- Stormwater
- Submersible Pump
- Sump Pump
T
- Tankless Water Heater Descaling
- Tap Valve
- Tap Water
- Thermal Expansion
- Thermostat
- Toilet
- Trap (Plumbing)
- Trap Primer
- Tree Root Intrusion
- Trench Drain
- Trench Safety
- Trenchless Pipe Bursting Process
- Trenchless Technology
U
V
W
- Wastewater
- Wastewater Treatment
- Water Conservation
- Water Damage
- Water Distribution System
- Water Efficiency
- Water Extraction
- Water Filter
- Water Hammer
- Water Heater Flushing Process
- Water Heating
- Water Meter
- Water Purification
- Water Quality
- Water Softening
- Water Table
- Water Tank
- Water Treatment
- Wrench
Z
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