Glossary of Plumbing Terms and Definitions A-D

Plumbers throw around a lot of jargon and slang when talking about their work. Here's a glossary of the most common terms to help you communicate clearly with your plumber.

• ABS: Black plastic pipe used for drains and vents. Stands for acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene.
• Aerator: Component with screen-like insert screwed onto a faucet outlet. It mixes air with the flowing water to reduce splashing.
• Auger or Closet Auger: Bendable rod with curved end used to remove clogs from a toilet's trap.
• Ball joint: Spherical assembly in shower heads that allows the head to pivot and rotate.
• Ballcock: Valve in the tank of a gravity-operated toilet that controls refilling of the tank. It is connected to a float via a metal arm. After flushing, the toilet refills until the float rises high enough to shut off the valve.
• Blackwater: Waste water from a toilet.
• Brass: Slang for faucets and fittings in a bathroom. Does not necessarily indicate that the pieces are constructed of brass.
• Bushing: Fitting threaded inside and outside that joins pipes of different sizes.
• CPVC: Black plastic pipe that can handle high temperatures. Mostly used in water supply systems. Stands for chlorinated polyvinyl chloride.
• Closet Bend: Curved waste pipe fitting under a toilet that connects the closet flange to the drain.
• Closet Flange or Floor Flange: A ring that anchors the toilet to the floor and connects it to the closet bend.
• Compression Fitting: A fitting that connects two sections of pipe, usually copper or PVC, without soldering.
• Diverter: Faucet valve that redirects water from tub spout to shower head.
• Dope: Lubricant used on pipe threads.
• Drain-waste-vent (DWV) system: Pipe system that drains wastewater from the bathroom and vents the drain system.
• Dam: Barrier in the trapway of a toilet. Controls water level in the toilet bowl.