As promised, here is part 2 of plumbing terminology you may or may not know. We are going to keep in the alphabet theme like the last blog. As intelligent Hamilton homeowners, you will now know what your plumber is speaking of when he/she comes to your home!
The Lavatory
Here, we’re going to start with the letter L. If you are ever lucky enough to have our good plumber Jonathan at your house, he may lovingly refer to your washroom as the lavatory. The Lavatory is an English term for the washroom, or sometimes just the bathroom sink. Another L is the Low flow Toilet, which is a low water consumption toilet – not often recommended as they tend to block easily.
Main Line
M is for the ever important main line; the main line is the main sewage line running from your house to the city sewer in Hamilton. The other most common M word that usually causes customers to scratch their head is called the mixing valve; this valve, essentially, mixes hot and cold water together at a specific temperature – these are often used on hot water tanks so as not to burn yourself when you turn the hot water on.
The letter N is for Nipple
Nipple is a short piece of pipe that’s threaded on both ends. This is usually used to couple, or join together two other pipes.
O-Ring
For O, we give you the inexpensive and very necessary O-ring, which is a rubber ring that creates a seal. Sometimes some of the simplest jobs just require a new O ring.
P is for P-Trap
Put simply, the P-trap is a length of pipe, bent in such a way that sewage leaves your home, but the trap prevents sewer smell from coming into your house. Every dwelling that has basic plumbing in it in Hamilton will have many P Traps. P can also be for a Pressure Balancing valve, most likely in the shower; this valve maintains a balance between hot and cold water so the temperature remains the same.
Shutoff Valves
For S, we will give you the shut-off valve. Shutoff valves are installed under sinks, besides toilets and also on lines that leave the main Hamilton water supply (like to outdoor taps). This gives you the option of being able to shut off the water without having to shut off the main water supply.
S Again?
How about a snake? A snake is a metal cable which is used to clear out drains and blocks in your pipe. Another important one to know for S is for the Stack. For all intents and purposes, the stack is the vertical main drain and waste system in your house. You can generally see it in the basement but you will also see it in different levels of the house if the walls were open. S is also for Sump Pump. A sump pump essentially makes sure that no ground water enters into your home by pumping it out of your basement.
V is for Vent
A vent is a pipe that allows air into the drain system and to prevent water from going into the wrong places.
That is it, folks! We certainly hope this helps!
