Glossary of Plumbing Terms - A - Keidel Bath, Kitchen, Plumbing, Cabinetry, Appliances

Welcome to Keidel's Plumbing Glossary. Every industry and trade has its own standards and terminologies. This glossary is our attempt to help the general public understand some of the terms unique to our industry.

Our database contains over 1000 unique terms, compiled from a variety of public and private sources. To use the glossary efficiently you can click on the letter of the desired term that you would like to find. For example: click on "C" to find out about "Closet Augers" or "P" for "Petcock." Definitions listed here are provided without warranty.

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A53A, A53B, A53F, A106	ASTM grades of carbon steel pipe

"A" Valve	A manual gas shut-off valve

ABS	Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene. Rigid black plastic pipe used for Drain, Waste, and Vent (DWV) lines

Absolute pressure	Atmospheric pressure added to gauge pressure.

Absorption Field	A leeching or seeping field engineered to receive septic tank effluent.

AC	Alternating current. Electrical supply in which polarity of wire. Reverses rapidly (e.g. 60 cps)

Acid	A substance that increases the concentration of hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. Most acids dissolve common metals and will react with a base to form a salt.

Acidity	The level of concentration of acid in water. Acid will neutralize an alkali or base. It is usually expressed in terms of its calcium carbonate equivalent

Acceptance Factor	Bladder tank drawdown expressed in percentage.

Access Panel	Covered opening in a wall or ceiling near a fixture that allows access for servicing a plumbing or electric system.

Acrylic	Thermoplastic used on surface of bathtubs and whirlpools. Usually comes in sheets and backed by fiberglass to form shower walls

ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act - government guidelines related to public plumbing, kitchen and bath intended to make restrooms, and other public sanitary facilities more easily accessible to those who have some disability.

Adaptor	A fitting that joins two different types of pipes together, such as ABS to cast-iron, or threaded to non-threaded

Adjusting link	An adjustable strap or bar forming a connection between the lift rod of a faucet and the ball lever assembly of the drain.

Adsorbent	A material, usually solid, capable of holding gases, liquids and/or suspended matter at its surface and in exposed pores. Activated carbon is a common adsorbent used in water treatment.

Adsorption	The process in which matter adheres to the surface of an adsorbent

Aeration	The mixing or turbulent exposure of water to air and oxgen to dissipate volatile contaminants and other pollutants into the air

Aerator	A device screwed into the end of a faucet spout that mixes air into flowing water, and controls flow to reduce splashing. It sometimes contains a baffle to reduce flow to 2.5 gpm.

Aerobic	An action or process conducted in the presence of air, such as aerobic digestion of organic matter by bacteria

AGA	American Gas Association

AIA	American Institute of Architects

Air Admittance Valve	A device that replaces a traditional vent to allow air to enter the waste pipe and equalize pressure, preserving the seal of water in the fixture trap.

Airbreak	A physical seperation which may be a low inlet into the indirect waste receptor from the fixture, appliance, or device indirectly connected.

Air Chamber	Vertical, air-filled pipe or spring coil, set above the water line to absorb pressure when water is turned off at the faucet. Pressure absorbing devices to eliminate water hammer.

Air Check	A device that allows water, but not air, to pass through it. An air check is a typical component of a treatment system using a regenerant eductor.

Air Elimination Vent	A device which automatically eliminates trapped air in the "closed-loop" hydronic system

Air Gap	Air-filled space allowing contaminated water to discharge freely, preventing the contaminated water from ever siphoning back into the potable water supply ... such as a device mounted at the back of a kitchen sink, connecting to the drain line between a dishwasher and disposer to allow the dishwasher to discharge freely into the disposer while preventing contaminated water from siphoning back into the dishwasher. Can be any unobstructed vertical opening between the lowest opening of a waste line and the flood level of the device into which it empties to relieve pressure and prevent backflow contamination

Air-Gas-Ratio	The ratio of combustion air supply flow rate to the fuel gas supply flow rate.

Air Lock	Blockage in the flow of liquid, esp. on the suction side of a pump caused by an air bubble in the line.

Air Volume Control	Maintains the air charge in a standard water storage tank. Pre-charged tanks do not require an air volume control.

AISI	American Iron and Steel Institute.

Alarm Check Valve	A check valve located in the riser of a wet pipe fire sprinkler system that sounds an alarm when water begins to pass through it.

Alkali	Water-soluble mineral compound, usually a moderate strength base (as opposed to caustic hydroxide), such as a bicarbonate and carbonate compound when it is present in the water.

Alkalinity	The measurement of constituents in a water supply which determine alkaline conditions. The alkalinity of water is a measure of its capacity to neutralize acids.

Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate	Sulfonate A chemical compound formerly used as detergent. Sometimes called "hard" detergent, because of its resistance to biological degradation, largely replaced with linear alkyl sulfonate (LAS), which is more readily biodegradable.

Aluminum Rail Fittings	Rail fittings made of aluminum. Used to hold pipes used for hand rails.

Ambient heat/pressure	The heat or pressure in the area where the equipment is located.

Ambient Temperature	The average temperature of the atmosphere in the vicinity of an appliance.

Americast	A patented process that uses a porcelain surface, an enameling grade steel material and a structural composite backing bonded together to create a sink that is similar to cast iron in durability but weighs considerably less.

Ampere	A unit of measure of current flow.

Anaerobic	Able to live and grow without air or free oxygen, such as some types of bacteria that break down waste in a septic system

Angle Discharge Tube	Discharge tube that changes direction of the flow 90 degrees.

Angle Seat Wrench	Valve seat wrench with a handle that includes a 90 degree bend.

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. These are usually used to shut off water to a fixture in case of an emergency repair rather than daily usage.

Angular Discharge Tube	A discharge tube that changes the direction of water flow to approximately 90 degrees.

Anion	A negatively charged ion in solution, such as bicarbonate, chloride, or sulfate. An anion [such as chloride (Cl-)] may result from the dissociation of a salt, acid, or alkali.

Annealing	A softening treatment consisting of heating carbon or alloy steel to an appropriate temperature, holding at the temperature for a proper period of time and slowly cooling to room temperature.

Anode Rod	A sacrificial rod installed in a water heater, composed of one or more metals that protects the tank from corrosion, helping to extend the life of the tank.

ANSI	American National Standards Institute

Anti-clog suction	Whirlpool water recirculating system mechanism which prevents clogging without restricting water flow.

Anti-Scald Valve	See pressure-balanced valve.

Anti-Siphon	Preventive device for the backflow of liquid into a system. Used on sprinkler systems to prevent water from trickling back into the supply that is feeding it.

A P I	American Petroleum Institute

A P I Specifications	American Petroleum Institute Specifications

Apron	The apron, or skirting, a decorating portion of a bathtub that covers the rough-in area from the floor to the top rim of the tub. It is often sold separately from the tub.

Aquastat	A thermostat that is submerged in water and is used to control the operation of a specific device.

Aqueous	Containing water. Formed by the action of water.

Aquifer	A layer or zone below the surface of the earth which is capable of yielding a significant volume of water. The upper level of the aquifer is called the water table.

Arrestor Plate	A perforated plate of steel that controls the burning of vapors and prevents flames from backflashing into the room.

Arrow Head	A heavy duty auger cable tip.

Arsenic	A natural element of the earth's crust, which enters water supplies either through natural deposition or agricultural and industrial pollution. It is said to be carcinogenic and to be harmful to the skin. and circulatory system.

ASA	American Supply Association

ASME	American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Aspiration	The result of mixing air with discharging water for the purpose of enhancing the hydro-massage effect of the whirlpool.

ASRAE	American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, Air Conditioning Engineers.

ASSE	American Society of Sanitation Engineers

ASTM	American Society of Testing Materials

Atmospheric Combustion	Burning which takes place when gaseous, liquid, or solid fuels react at an elevated temperature with oxygen, thus releasing heat.

Auto Pilot	A gas pilot device which automatically shuts off the gas supply to the appliance burner if the pilot flame is extinguished.

Avonite	A solid surface material resembling granite, used for countertops, can be worked and polished using woodworking tools.

AWWA	American Water Works Assn

AWG	American wire gauge. Identifies gauges of electric wire from 46 to 4.0

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