Plumbing Terms - Glossary of Plumbers Terminology

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Increaser

An increaser is a plumbing drainage fitting that enlarges the diameter of a straight-line run by virtue of its larger size on one end and smaller on the other. If it is used for the reverse, to make the diameter of a straight-line run smaller, it is called a reducer.

Influent

With Influent is meant the water entering the pump, the filter or other equipment of space. Water going into the pump is called in influent, while water leaving the pump is called the effluent.

Insulated Toilet Tank

An insulated toilet tank is used to prevent sweating of the toilet. Many toilet tanks can be order with this feature which helps prevent the tank from “sweating”. Pressure assisted toilet tanks are usually suggested and don't require any special insulation.

Integral Stop

An integral stop is a stop that allow the owner to shut off the water supply at the faucet for maintenance without shutting off the main water supply to the entire facility or home.

Interceptor

An interceptor is a device designed and installed in order to separate and retain deleterious, hazardous or undesirable matter from normal wastes while permitting normal sewage or liquid wastes to discharge into the drainage system by gravity. This definition applies to any intercepting device to be installed on the sanitary sewer or the storm sewer systems.

Ionizer

An ionizer is a water-sanitation device that uses electricity to generate metal ions, which are dispersed in the water. It works by passing a low-voltage DC current through a set of metallic (usually copper and silver) electrodes placed in line with the circulation equipment. The copper is an algaecide, while the silver is a bactericide. Does not remove swimmer waste.

J Bend

In plumbing with a j-bend also called a return bend is meant a trap section with a 180-degree bend, or a multi-piece P-trap..

Jacket

In the plumbing industry a jacket usually refers to the heating jacket that surrounds the stuffing box on some pumps or the outer casing (shell) of a water heater.

Jacuzzi

Jacuzzi is a company that produces whirlpool bathtubs and spas. Its first product was a bath with massaging jets. The trademarked Jacuzzi name is commonly used to refer to any bath with water jets, and can thus be considered a genericized trademark.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is used for cutting tight curves as well as long, straight runs. Designed for use with wood, plywood, plastics, metal & some laminates.

Johnni-bolts

Johnni-bolts are closet bolts, used to mount toilet bowls to the closet flange. These bolts are installed into slots in a closet flange, then a wax gasket is added and toilet bowl is set in place and johnni bolts are tightened down. They get cut and capped to finalize project.

Joint Runner

A joint runner is a colar like device made out of an incombustible material (such as asbestos), that keeps the molten lead poured in the bell of a joint in place while sealing a joints in cast iron pipe.

kPa - Kilopascal

kPa stands for Kilopascal. A metric unit for pressure. 100 kPa = one atmosphere. The pascal (Pa) or kilopascal (kPa) as a unit of pressure measurement is widely used throughout the world and largely replaces the pounds per square inch (psi) unit, except in some countries still using the Imperial measurement system.

KW - Kilowatt

KW stands for Kilowatt. A measure of the rate of supply of energy or power, equal to 1000 watts or 3412 BTU per hour. The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units (SI), named after the Scottish engineer James Watt (1736–1819). The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energyconversion.

Lavatory

A lavatory is a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face, while sometimes used by the general public to mean a bathroom or washroom.

Leach Field

A leach field is an area of porous soil area, through which septic tank leach lines run. Leach fields are used to remove contaminants and impurities from the liquid that emerges from the septic tank.

Locknut

A locknut is a nut that is fitted into a piece of pipe and screwed onto another pipe to join the two pieces. Locknuts, also  known as a lock nut, locking nut, prevailing torque nut, stiff nut or elastic stop nut, is a nut that resists loosening under vibrations and torque. The first type of locknut used was a fiber instead of nylon and was invented in 1931.

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