Confused about what your plumber is saying? Here are some general terms that may help you understand...
What is...
ABS:
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. Black plastic used in the manufacture of DWV (drain, waste, and vent) pipe.
ADA:
Americans with Disabilities Act. A government criteria mandating how buildings must be constructed in order to serve the needs of disabled people. Most often you use ADA compliant fixtures for commercial applications or in that of homes with disabled individuals. More and more often, however, you are seeing homeowners install ADA toilets which are commonly referred to as Comfort Height, or Right Height toilets
ACRYLIC:
A glassy thermoplastic used for cast and molded forms such as the surface of bathtubs, air jet tubs and whirlpools.
AERATOR:
A device at the end of a faucet spout which mixes air into flowing water. These sometimes become clogged which will cause the water to spray in partial patterns rather than a constant stream. A homeowner can often unscrew it from the faucet, clean the screen and screw it back on fixing the problem without calling a plumber.
ANGLE STOP:
A shutoff valve between the water pipes and a faucet. Its inlet connects to the water supply pipe in a wall and its outlet 'angles' up 90 degrees toward the faucet. You would use these when your copper pipe or PEX comes out of the wall. They are necessary to deliver water to deck mount faucets, as well as toilets
BALLCOCK:
The fill valve device in a toilet tank. A "Cock" is activated by a float "Ball" to refill tank water after a toilet is flushed.
BASIN:
A circular vessel with slopping or curving sides for holding water for washing. IE - A Sink Basin
BIDET:
A plumbing fixture similar to a toilet bowl used for washing genitals and posterior areas of the body. It is floor mounted, ususally next to a toilet, and incorporates a washing basin, faucet and sprayer. You can also get Bidet Toilet Seats which can be retrofit to your existing toilet as long as you have an electrical supply close by. The newer bidet seats have the option of warm water washing, warm air drying and deoderizing.
CAST IRON:
Metal which is formed by casting on molds to make some plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs, lavatories and sinks. The iron form is then coated with enamel. Also DWV and sewer pipe are made of cast iron. Typically, in a bath tub. the cast iron will draw the heat from the waterinto the iron. In this case, your water temperature drops much faster than if you were using a acrylic tub which does not draw the heat from it.
CENTERSET:
A style of bathroom lavatory faucet having combined spout and handles. Handles are 4" from center of handle-to-handle. Also some single handle faucets are installed on 4" center-to-center faucet holes.
COCK:
A faucet or valve for regulating the flow of water.
COCKHOLE COVER: (Faucet Hole Cover, Faucet Hole Plug)
A round cover-plate or disk installed on a sink to cover an unused faucet hole.
CONSOLE LAV:
A table-like fixture with an integral lavatory. The back is fixed to a wall and the front is supported by consoles (brackets) or legs.
DWV:
Drain, Waste and Vent. The pipes in a plumbing system that remove waste water.
DIVERTER:
Valves which direct water to various outlets. They are used in showers, tub & shower combinations, bidets, Roman tub fillers and kitchen faucet sprayers.
ELONGATED:
The optional shape of the front of some toilet bowls. About 2" longer than the standard "round front" bowl. Elongated toilets offer more comfort, particularly for males.
ENAMEL:
An opaque vitreous composition applied by fusion to the surface of metal fixtures such as cast iron tubs, lavs and sinks .
ESCUTCHEON: (Backplate, Rosette)
A flange or shield beneath a faucet handle, an angle supply, a shower trim handle. This part covers the hole in the wall where the rough and trim parts meet
FIBERGLASS:
Glass in a fiberous form used in making products such as boats and bathtubs. Acrylic is more often used today because of the durability.
FIRECLAY:
A variation of vitreous china which has been compressed and has greater amounts of quartz and feldspar in the clay material beneath the vitreous surface. Fireclay is heavier, denser, thicker than regular clay. These properties insure smooth, flat surfaces on large fixtures which is not achievable with standard vitreous china.
FITTING:
A broad based term usually referring to faucets, shower valves, tub fillers, angle supplies and other faucet type fixtures. Also refers to various piping parts such as tees and elbows.
FIXTURE:
A broad based term usually referring to sinks, tubs, toilets, basins, etc.
GPM:
Gallons Per Minute. The rate of water flow by which faucets and showerheads are measured and regulated. In the united states, shower heads are currently regulated to 2.5 GPM. So even if you are using a 3/4" valve that will put out 8 GPM if you are using 1 regulated shower head you are only using 2.5 GPM
HANDSHOWER:
A showerhead designed with a handle that is connected to a water supply via a flexible hose. You are able to remove the handshower from it's cradle and use it freely in the shower. Hand showers are also an excellent tool for cleaning a large shower or Tub.
IPS:
Iron Pipe Size. Standard pipe threads. See also "FIP", "MIP".
JACUZZI:
The brand name of the original whirlpool tub. Often misused to mean any "whirlpool tub". See also, "Whirlpool Tub".
LAVATORY, LAV:
A Sink. A fixed bowl or basin with running water and drainage for washing.
MINI-WIDESPREAD:
A special style of bathroom lavatory faucet having separate spout and handles. But designed small enough that it will fit 4" center-to-center faucet holes.
OPEN FRONT:
A style of toilet seat rim where there is an open space about three inches wide at the front. Considered more sanitary in commercial applications where constant usage exceeds janitorial sanitation.
P. O. PLUG:
Plug Outlet. A style of drain outlet for lavatories and tubs. The drain outlet is closed by a rubber stopper, or "plug".
PVC: (Material)
Polyvinyl Chloride. A white plastic used in the manufacture of water supply pipe.
PVD: (A Process)
Physical Vapor Deposition. A modern plating process used in faucet manufacturing. Vaporized zirconium reacts with nitrogen and another special gas to form a durable plated surface. Most PVD finishes are lifetime finishes because of the durability that PVD provides.
POP-UP ASSEMBLY:
The drain mechanism of a faucet installed on a lavatory. The drain stopper "pops" up and down to open or close the drain.
PORCELAIN:
A white ceramic ware that consists of kalin, quartz and feldspar. It is fired at high temperature on steel to make the surface of some bathtubs, kitchen sinks and bathroom lavatories.
PORCELAIN ENAMEL:
Vitreous enamel.
PRESSURE BALANCE VALVE:
A pressure-balanced shower valve is designed to compensate for changes in water pressure. Though it looks like any other shower or tub valve from the outside, it has a special diaphragm or piston mechanism inside that moves with a change in water pressure to immediately balance the pressure of the hot- and cold-water inputs. These valves keep water temperature constant, within plus or minus 2 to 3 degrees Fahrenheit, but do so by reducing water flow through either the hot or cold supply. Most reduce water flow to a trickle if the cold water supply fails. To maintain the water temperature within 1 degree, and maintain constant pressure of the water see "Thermostatic Shower Valves"
ROUND FRONT:
The standard shape of the front of a toilet bowl. About 2" shorter than the optional "elongated" bowl.
SELF RIMMING:
A style of bathroom lavatory or kitchen sink with a rolled and finished edge, or rim. The fixture installs on top of a counter without the need for a metal sink rim. Ofter referred to as a countertop or drop in sink
SINK:
A stationary basin connected with a drain and water supply for washing and drainage.
THERMOSTATIC VALVE:
A shower mixing valve with automatic temperature control. When temperature fluctuations occur at the water inlets, a thermal actuator adjusts the hot and cold ratio to maintain the original temperature setting. Where flow and volume control are important, a better option over a pressure balanced shower choice is a thermostatic valve. Most of these have 3/4-inch inlets that can blast a flood of water through multiple showerheads and will maintain the water temperature within 1 degrees of the set temperature regardless of any fluxuations.
Choose a thermostatic over pressure-balanced valve if you want maximum flow and volume control,a thermostatic valve will allow you to maintain a set temperature when you turn the valve off and on if you like to soap-up, then rinse. (BE GREEN - SAVE WATER) To maintain a constant temperature without having to fiddle with the hot and cold water inlets, thermostatic shower valves are the only option. The temperature can be pre-set and the valve will ensure that the temperature is maintained to within + or – a degree. What’s more for a family bathroom a thermostatic shower is the only sensible option. You can rest assured that a child or elderly adult cannot scald itself when the water is being pre-mixed to a prescribed temperature.
TRIP LEVER:
The flush handle and actuating arm on a toilet tank. Also the lever that opens and closes the drain on a bathtub waste & overflow.
VACUUM BREAKER:
An anti-siphon device which prevents the backflow of non potable water into the water supply system. For example, if a hand shower were left extended into a bathtub of dirty water, and a siphon effect were to occur, a vacuum breaker would prevent the tub water from traveling back into the water supply system.
VANITY:
A bathroom storage cabinet beneath the counter.
VESSEL:
A style of basin that installs partially into the counter rather than fully into the counter. The portion of the fixture rising above the counter has a finished exterior. Vessel sinks most often look like bowls sitting on the counter top
VITREOUS:
A surface material on some plumbing fixtures derived from or consisting of glass. It is low in porosity and is translucent.
VITREOUS CHINA:
A clay material with a vitreous surface used to manufacture some plumbing fixtures such as toilets and lavs.
WASTE & OVERFLOW:
The drain assembly for a bathtub. The outlet at the top removes the "overflow" water during tub filling and the drain at the bottom removes "waste" water when the tub is drained.
WATER CLOSET:
Toilet.
WATER HAMMER:
A destructive, high-pressure surge in a water supply piping system accompanying the quick closure of valves or faucets on the system. The surge causes a shock wave which vibrates the pipes causing them to bang, knock or "hammer" against the wall or floor. Water hammer is a specific plumbing noise, not a generic name for pipe clatter. It occurs when you shut off the water suddenly and the fast-moving water rushing through the pipe is brought to a quick halt, creating a sort of shock wave and a hammering noise. Plumbing Systems that areproperly installed have air chambers, or cushions, that compress when the shock wave hits, thus softening the blow and preventing this hammering reaction. The chambers can fail, though, because water under pressure gradually absorbs the air. If you never had hammering and then it suddenly starts, most likely your plumbing system's air chambers have become waterlogged. You can cure water hammer by turning off the water behind the waterlogged chamber, opening the offending faucet and permitting the faucet to drain thoroughly. Once all the water drains from the chamber, air will fill it again and restore the cushion. If the air chamber is located below the outlet, you may have to drain the main supply lines to allow the chamber to fill with air again.
Additionally, t he air chamber will not drain properly if it's clogged with scale or residue from chemicals or minerals in the water. The chamber always should be larger than the supply pipe to preclude such clogging. Since the chamber is simply a capped length of pipe, however, all you have to do to clear it is remove the cap and clean out the residue.
What do you do if there are no air chambers built into your plumbing system? You must do something, because water hammer pressures may eventually cause damage: failure of fittings or burst pipes, for example. Because water hammer is most often caused by water pressure that's too high, the first step is to reduce the water pressure if possible. Sometimes this isn't feasible because a reduction in pressure may result in only a dribble of water at an upper-floor faucet if one on the first floor is turned on. Where the idea is a workable one, you can reduce pressure by installing a pressure-reducing valve in the supply line that comes into the house. The same purpose is served by installing a globe valve at the head of the affected pipeline. But this too may result in pressure too low for proper operation when other faucets are open.
If pressure reduction is not feasible or is ineffective, install the necessary air chambers to prevent water hammer. If you have no room to make the installation without tearing into a wall, go to a plumbing supply dealer and find out about the substitute devices designed for such problem areas. Many of these devices have a valve that makes it easy for air to re-enter the system. If you are not comfortable and confident working on your system, we recommend calling a licensed plumber.
WIDESPREAD:
A style of bathroom lavatory faucet having separate spout and handles. Usually 8" from center of handle-to-handle. Some widespread faucets can be set with handles up to 10" or 12" apart.
WHIRLPOOL TUB:
A bathtub with a whirlpool system added. The whirlpool system recirculates the tub water and mixes in air to create hydro therapy via jet inlets. Jetted hot tubs are an example of a whirlpool. You can get a deep, kneading massage from the water being forced out of the jets and pushing against your body. Aome people like this type of massage, other may prefer an air jet tub, where tiny bubble of air hit your skin and bring your blood to the surface creating better circulation throughout your body.
Why purchase from BathLightingandHardware.com versus my local retailer?
Our parent company, HERALD WHOLESALE, has been in business for over 50 years and our internet business, Bath, Lighting & Hardware has been around for over 12 years. Our sales staff will provide you with years of experience in the plumbing, hardware, and lighting business. They are very knowledgeable and will make sure you have all the necessary and correct parts needed for your project. Whether it is a faucet for your sink, custom shower, or hardware for your front door, our staff will give you the confidence needed to know you are getting what you want.
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