DIY Plumbing Tools and Materials Guide

ABS Pipe:

(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) an early rigid plastic pipe used for drainage. Because joints tend to loosen over time, it is no longer allowed by plumbing codes, instead use PVC. This pipe is black and joined with liquid cement. Diameters range from 1½ to 4in. and pipe lengths come in 10ft. and 20ft.

Adapter:

allows for the union of different sizes or dissimilar plumbing pipes.

Ballcock:

another name for the flush valve inside a toilet tank. A series of part that move together to cause the valve at the bottom of the tank to open and close.

Bend:

also called an elbow. A quarter and half turn bend would be the same as a 45° and 90° elbow.

Cap:

a plumbing fitting that affixes to the end of a pipe to seal it.

Cast Iron Pipe:

used as drain pipes in older houses. It can also be found in older sewer systems. This pipe is joined using oakum and molten lead. Sizes are from 2 to 4in. When repairing cast iron pipe that is leaking replace it with PVC.

Cleanout:

a plugged opening at the base of a drainage system. The plug can be removed to clear clogs.

Code:

the Uniform Plumbing Code: a guide to proper plumbing techniques, it is generally used across the United States but local codes may differ.

Compression Fitting:

a threaded coupler for copper and plastic pipe or tubing. A bushing placed around the pipe is pressed tightly into the fitting as two nuts are threaded together.

Coupler:

a small part used to connect pipe to pipe or pipe to valve.

CPVC Pipe:

(Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride) this rigid pipe is used for supply lines. Because it is heat tolerant it can be used for hot water in areas where the plumbing code allows. It can be grey or off-white and is joined using liquid cement. Diameters range from ½ to ¾in. and lengths of 10ft.

DWV:

Drain-waste and vent. This is the system of pipes that allows waste water to drain into a sewer and sewer gases to escape into the air.

Diverter:

a valve that changes the course of water flow. A tub faucet has a diverter to send water to a shower head.

Elbow:

a fitting used to make a turn in rigid pipe; also called an ell.

Escutcheon:

a decorative plate that covers the opening where a pipe or faucet passes thru a wall or counter.

Female Fitting:

a plumbing fitting either threaded or smooth to be joined with a smaller male fitting.

Fittings:

couplers and other parts that join pipes together.

Fixture:

tubs, sinks, toilets, etc.

Flange:

a flat fitting with holes allowing for bolting a fixture to plumbing or wall. A flange is used to bolt a toilet to the waste pipe.

Flare Fitting:

a threaded coupler that requires flaring the end of copper tubing or pipe to accept the fitting.

Flexible Connector:

a pliable hose used to connect a sink or other outlet to a shutoff valve.

Flexible Copper Tubing:

this pipe is used mainly for supply lines to sink faucets or appliances such as an icemaker or dishwasher. Because it is flexible, this tubing can be run thru turns without the need for elbows, etc. Sizes are available from ¼ to ½in. and coils in 25ft. to 100ft. lengths.

Flux:

a paste applied to copper pipe to block impurities and aid in solder flow and bonding.

Galvanized Steel Pipe:

this pipe was used for supply lines and hot water heating systems in older houses. Today it is used mainly for repairs of these existing pipes. Black steel pipe is used for gas lines and should not be confused with galvanized which is silver in color. When galvanized pipe is found in old houses it is usually rusted and may develop leaks. The expected life of this pipe is about 50 years. Pipes are joined thru the use of treaded fittings. Sizes range from ½ to 2½in. and lengths to 22ft.

Hose Bibb:

a valve with threads to accept a garden hose.

Nipple:

a short piece of pipe with threads on both ends usually used as a coupler for galvanized or black steel pipe.

Nominal Size:

the stated size of plumbing parts that is not the actual size.

O-Ring:

a small rounded rubber gasket used to seal threaded couplings.

PB Pipe:

(Polybutylene) this is a flexible plastic tubing used for supply lines both hot and cold where allowed by code. Join the tubing using clamps or compression fittings. It is grey or off–white and available in diameters of ¼ to ¾in and coils 25ft. to 100ft. long.

PE Pipe:

(Polyethylene) this is a flexible plastic tubing used mostly for irrigation where allowed by the plumbing code. The tubing is joined using clamps or compression fittings. It is black and available in varying pressure tolerances. Diameters range from ½ to 2in. and coils are available from 25ft. to 400ft.

Pipe Dope:

a viscous compound applied to metal pipe threads to aid in a watertight connection.

Plumbers Putty:

a clay– like material used mostly on sink drains to aid in a watertight seal.

PVC Cement:

join all types of plastic pipe with a liquid adhesive cement. Some plastic pipe requires a specific cement.

PVC Pipe:

(Polyvinyl Chloride) this pipe is most commonly found in drainage systems but is also used for cold supply lines and irrigation. Plumbing codes prohibit its use for hot water because heat can weaken the joints. This rigid pipe is white and is joined using liquid cement. PVC for supply lines comes in diameters of ½ to 2in. and lengths of 10ft. PVC for drains comes in diameters of 1½ to 4in. and lengths of 10ft. and 20ft.

PVC Primer:

A primer must be applied to plastic pipe before the cement. Primer eliminates any contaminants that would interfere with the bond.

Reducer:

a pipe coupler used to join two differing sizes of pipe.

Rigid Copper Pipe:

available in three thicknesses: type "M" is the thinnest and used most often in residential plumbing. Type "L" is a medium thickness and type "K" is the thickest copper pipe available. Both types "L" and "M" are used in mainly in commercial construction and for drainage such as with sink drains. Supply pipe diameters range from ½ to 1in. Drain pipes are 2 to 3½in. Pipe lengths are available in 10ft. and 20ft.

Rough–in:

drain and supply pipe run to a location for future expansion of the plumbing fixtures such as adding a bathroom.

Saddle Tee:

add on valve installed by piercing an existing pipe and clamping the valve in place. This is commonly used to run a supply line to a refrigerator icemaker.

Sleeve Coupler:

used to join two pipes for making repairs.

Solder:

Use lead free solder to join household copper pipe to eliminate the lead in drinking water. Use propane or mapp gas to heat the copper and solder to join them.

Solvent Welding:

the use of a combination of liquid primer and cement to join plastic pipe.

Street Coupler:

an elbow or other coupler with a male connector on one end and a female connector on the other. This allows for joining one coupler to another.

Sweating:

the soldering process of joining copper pipe.

Tailpipe:

a short piece of drain pipe used to join a sink drain to the waste pipe.

Tee:

shaped like a "T" this fitting is used to split the course of a supply or drain pipe.

Teflon Tape:

a very thin plastic tape used to aid the seal on threaded copper and plastic pipe coupler.

Threaded Coupler:

sometimes used to join two pipes or to install fixtures with threaded connectors such as faucets.

Trap:

a "J" or "S" shaped drain pipe directly connected to a sink or other fixture. Water remains in the pipe at all times to block sewer gases from escaping into living spaces.

Union:

a threaded fitting that allows for the disconnecting of pipe without cutting.

Vent:

a system of pipes interconnected with drain pipes and running vertically to the roof of a house. An opening at the top of the pipe allows sewer gas to escape into the air.

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