When you need a plumber, the last thing you want is a bunch of plumbing terminology thrown at you without understanding what’s being said. Plumbing problems are stressful enough without hearing plumbing terminology you don’t understand. So we’ve put together some plumbing terminology in a way that we can explain it.
You could hear a plumber talk about blackwater and graywater. They ARE very different. They are both waste water. Blackwater is waste water which comes from the toilet. This makes it both dirty, and could possibly be infectious. While graywater comes from other plumbing fixtures such as a sink or bathtub or even the dishwasher or washing machine. Basically anything other than the toilet.
When they speak of branch drains, think of a tree, and how its branches are connected and flow outwards. This is how a branch drain or line works. They connect showers, sinks, toilets, to the stack connected to the main drain line of the home leading to the sewer.
When plumbers talk about bleeding a pipe, they’re letting excess air out of it by opening a valve at one end.
The shutoff valve is very important. This valve could be under the toilet, or it could be the main valve for the water shutoff of the house. It is often used during plumbing emergencies, or when work is being performed on the house, or on an appliance.
Potable water means that it is water which is safe for humans to drink.
The trap seal is something used by all drain connections. This seal is actually water which sits in the trap, it blocks odors, and gas from entering the home.
Hard water, which many of us are used to in the Bradenton and Sarasota areas of Florida, is used to describe water which is full of minerals that can clog our pipes, corrode them, and our fixtures as well.
Hopefully this helps, and the next time a plumber is in your home, you have a bit of a leg up when they’re talking to you. If you’re in need of a plumber, contact Wyman Plumbing. We are a hometown plumber providing plumbing services to Bradenton and surrounding areas.
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