20 PLUMBING TERMS EVERY OCEANSIDE HOMEOWNER SHOULD KNOW

There are several basic plumbing terms every homeowner should be familiar with. Knowing these terms can come in handy when you experience a plumbing issue. It will help you better describe the problem to the plumber, and understand what the plumber is talking about when they describe the problem and offer solutions.

At 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration, we want to make our customers feel more comfortable when speaking to one of our plumbers about their problems and concerns. To that end, we’ve put together this glossary of basic plumbing terms:

• Anode rod – An anode rod is a metal rod located inside the water heater that helps protect the water tank from corrosion.
• Backwater valve – A backwater valve prevents waste water from reentering a home’s water supply.
• Plumbing drain – A plumbing drain is the opening in a sink, shower, or toilet that transports waste and wastewater through the drain pipes and into your home’s sewer line. Plumbing drains often have protective traps to catch hair, food waste, and other materials that can cause the drain to become clogged.
• Shut-off valve – A shut-off valve is used to stop the flow of water to a fixture or appliance when there’s a leak or other problem.
• Fitting – A fitting is used to connect two pipes. Over time they can become loose or damaged, causing water leaks.
• Water main – Your home’s main water line transports potable water from the municipal water supply into your home.
• Sewer line – The sewer line is a drain that transports waste and wastewater to the municipal sewer lines for treatment.
• Flow rate – Flow rate describes how much water flows through a plumbing system. Flow rate is measured in either gallons per minute (GPM) or per hour (GPH).
• Flapper valve: The flow valve is the part on the bottom of the toilet tank (usually a thick rubber stopper) that opens to allow water flow into the bowl.
• Ballcock – A ballcock controls the water flow in a gravity-operated toilet tank.
• PEX – Also known as cross-linked polyethylene, PEX is a material used for manufacturing water pipes. It is used as an alternative to metal pipes.
• Fixture – In plumbing, a fixture is a device, such as a sink, shower, or toilet, that provides a supply of water and/or its disposal.
• Inside diameter (ID) – Pipes are sized according to their inside diameter.
• O-ring – O-rings are round rubber washers used to create a watertight seal, primarily in valve stems and other components.
• Hydro jetting – A method that uses high-pressure jets of water to clear a clogged drain or sewer line.
• Corrosion – Corrosion is a natural process that can damage and degrade metal pipes, resulting in leaks, water quality issues, and other problems.
• Heating element – A heating element is a metallic rod that heats the water inside a water heater.
• Drain valve – a drain valve allows you to drain the water from your water heater’s storage tank.
• Toilet handle – Located on the outside of the toilet tank, the toilet handle is the mechanism used to flush a toilet. A flush rod on the handle is connected to a chain which lifts the flush valve.
• Toilet fill valve – The toilet fill valve refills the tank after you flush.

YOUR FIRST CHOICE FOR AFFORDABLE PLUMBING REPAIRS IN OCEANSIDE

When homeowners in Oceanside need reliable, affordable plumbing repairs, they turn to 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration for solutions. Our team of Oceanside plumbers can tackle just about any plumbing issue you may experience. We take the time to carefully explain what the problem is and what needs to be done to fix it. Most plumbing problems can be resolved in a single visit.

Call 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration at 866-437-0205 or contact us through our website to schedule a visit from a licensed Oceanside plumbing professional.