- B Tank:
- Acetylene tank holding 40 cu. ft. of gas, used for plumbing, once used to fuel boat, thus the name.
- Back Pressure:
- Pressure that resists the flow of fluid in a piping system.
- Back Siphonage:
- The negative pressure that causes back flow.
- Back Vent:
- Plumbing fixture's separate vent in a building drainage system.
- Back Wash:
- The process of cleaning a filter by reversing the flow of water through it. Dirt is sent to waste.
- Backfire:
- Flashback of flame through the burner venturi casing the gas to burn at the orifice.
- Back Flow:
- When water traveling from one system backs into any part of the main distribution system, usually by siphoning.
- Back Flow Preventer:
- A device to prevent back flow, especially into a potable water supply. Required for sprinkler systems, handheld showers, pullout faucet spouts, and kitchen sprayers.
- Backjet:
- Whirlpool jets located on the fixture wall behind a reclining bather.
- Backjet Pulse Canister:
- A serviceable water-controlling device responsible for backjet pulsing action.
- Back-To-Back Cartridge:
- For use when you have two bathroom showers back to back. This cartridge keeps you from having to re-plumb your hot & cold supply lines in one of the showers.
- Backup:
- Overflow of a plumbing fixture due to drain stoppage.
- Backwater Valve:
- Sewer line valve that prevents sewage from flowing back into the house.
- Baffle:
- An object placed in an appliance to change the direction of, or retard the flow of air, air-gas mixtures, or flue gases.
- Balancing Valve:
- A water heater valve that controls water flow and balances heat distribution to different locations.
- Ball Check Valve:
- A valve that uses a ball to seal against a seat to stop flow in one direction.
- Ball Joint:
- Spherical assembly allowing pivot rotations for many bathroom and shower accessories like showerheads.
- Ball Passage:
- This refers to the size of the ball that can pass through the trapway of a toilet. This also relates to trapway size. In general, the trap size will be 1/8" larger
than the maximum size ball that can pass through it.
- Ball Valve:
- A valve that uses a ball to seal against the seat.
- Ballcock:
- The fill valve that controls the flow of water from the water supply line into a gravity-operated toilet tank. It is controller by a float mechanism in the tank
water. When the toilet is flushed, the float drops and opens the ballcock, releasing water into the bowl.
- Balloon Bag:
- Device that attaches to a garden hose & used to loosen blockage in a clogged drain.
- Band Clamp:
- A flexible band made of a variety of materials that has a cinching device used to secure pipes.
- Band Hanger:
- Type of pipe hanger that supports the pipe on a continuous strap of metal whose ends are joined at the top by a supporting rod. This rod bolts through the strap
and is adjustable as to height.
- Barlow's Formula:
- An equation which shows the relationship of internal pressure to allowable stress, nominal thickness and diameter.
- Barrier-Free:
- Relating to handicap access, e.g. a shower enclosure system having minimal or no bottom track and openings that are wheelchair-accessible.
- Base:
- A substance that releases hydroxyl ion when dissolved in water. Bases react with acids to form salt and water.
- Basin:
- Compartment designed to hold water discharge.
- Basin Wrench:
- A wrench with a long handle with jaws mounted on a swivel that allows the jaws to reach and handle nuts to fasten faucets to a previously installed tank.
- Basket Strainer:
- Basket shaped strainer with holes and a slot that fits the kitchen sink drain allowing water to run out while catching food or other solids. Can also be closed to
fill the sink with water.
- Batch Feed:
- Type of garbage disposer in which garbage is fed into unit one load at a time, then activated by placing a stopper into the drain opening.
- BC:
- Brushed Chrome.
- Beam Clamp:
- A device to attach a pipe hanger to an overhead I-beam. These may be malleable, carbon steel, or galvanized, and may be primed or painted.
- Bed Depth:
- The height of the ion exchange or filter media in the vessel after preparation for service.
- Beehive Strainer:
- A strainer inserted into a urinal to prevent foreign matter from falling into the drain.
- Belly:
- Slang term in plumbing used to describe a low area or sag in a horizontal drain pipe causing a compromise of the correct angle of slope.
- Benzene:
- A colorless, aromatic liquid used to create plastics, rubber, resins and synthetic fabrics. A known carcinogen, benzene can lead to cancer and chromosome aberrations.
- Bernoulli's Law:
- The principle that a stream of liquid or gas exerts less sideways pressure while in motion than while at rest. As a result, fluids seem to be drawn into the
steam, but are really pushed in by higher outside pressure.
- BHP:
- Brake Horse Power. The actual amount of horsepower being consumed by a pump as measured on a dynamometer.
- Bicarbonate Alkalinity:
- Alkalinity of water due to the presence of bicarbonate ions.
- Bidet:
- A plumbing fixture similar in appearance to a toilet bowl used for personal hygiene. It is floor mounted, usually next to a toilet, and consists of a washing
basin, faucet and sprayer.
- Biochemical Oxygen Demand:
- Amount of oxygen consumed in the oxidation of organic matter by biological action under standard test conditions; often used as a measure of the strength of
sewage and waste water.
- Biodegradable:
- Subject to degradation to simpler substances by biological action, such as the bacterial breakdown of detergents, sewer wastes and other organic matter.
- Black Oiled:
- Term associated with pipe surface whereby material ordered in this manner is protected with a varnish-type oil on the O.D. for temporary corrosion protection
during transit and in short-term storage.
- Black Pipe:
- Lacquer-finish cast iron pipe.
- Blackwater:
- Wastewater from toilets or latrines and sinks used for food preparation or disposal, or for the disposal of chemicals.
- Bleed:
- To drain a pipe of excess air by opening a valve at the end of the pipe.
- Blind Plug:
- Plug used on no hub pipe.
- Block Sensor Mode:
- For touchless faucets, a system mode that occurs when the faucet continually senses an object, causing the faucet to stop functioning normally. The faucet will
appear to be "OFF", and will self-actuate every two hours to alert you to its condition.
- Blow Torch:
- A torch used to solder pipes, activated by pressurized fuel and air to generate its flame.
- Blowbag:
- A drain-cleaning device consisting of a rubber bladder with a hose fitting on one end and a nozzle on the other. The device attaches to a water hose and is
inserted into a clogged drainpipe. As water is introduced, it expands to grip the pipe, and releases pulsating bursts of water through the nozzle, forcing water through the pipe
to clear the obstruction.
- Blowdown:
- Partial venting or draining, under pressure, of the water side of a boiler to reduce or remove unwanted contaminants. Also the pressure drops after releasing a
pressure-relief valve.
- Blowfish:
- Another name for a Blowbag.
- Blown-Out Water Closet:
- YY.
- Blowout:
- A flushing design using a non-siphoning trapway at the rear of the bowl, and an integral flushing rim, relying entirely on high water volume.
- BN:
- Brushed Nickel.
- Bodyspray:
- Shower component used in conjunction with a showerhead to deliver flow of water. It is commonly used in multiples to create a custom showering space.
- Boiler:
- A sealed tank where water is turned to steam for heating or power.
- Boiler Feed:
- A check valve controlling inlet water flow to a boiler.
- Boiling Point:
- The temperature at which liquid changes to vapor by the addition of heat.
- Bonnet:
- The top portion of a compression valve assembly, it holds the valve in place as it is tightened against the valve seat at the other end of the assembly.
- Bowl:
- Water-containing receptor which receives liquid and solid body waste; two general bowl classifications are round front and elongated.
- Box:
- Internal (female) threaded end of pipe.
- Box Flange:
- Flange containing internal (female) threaded pipe fitting.
- Brackish Water:
- Water containing bacteria between 1,000 and 15,000 ppm of dissolved solids.
- Braided Hose:
- Flexible connecting hose
- Branch:
- Any part of a drain system other than the main, riser, or stack.
- Branch Vent:
- A vent connecting one or more individual vents with a vent stack.
- Brass:
- Slang for faucets and fittings regardless of materials used.
- Brine:
- A strong solution of sodium chloride (salt) used in the regeneration of ion exchange water softeners.
- BTU:
- British Thermal Unit - A unit of heat energy required to raise the temperature of 1lb. of water 1 degree Fahrenheit.
- Bubbler:
- Drinking faucet with flow-regulated push-button self-closing valve. Also known as a "water fountain".
- Buchan Trap:
- An obsolete way of venting a waste water line. Consisted of an in-line trap with a vent opening located on the inlet side of the trap. The vent was then terminated above ground above the normal flood level.
- Building Drain:
- The lowest point in a drainage system where the interior drainage pipes meet and are conveyed it to the sewer.
- Built-ins:
- Shelves or storage units recessed flush with surrounding walls.
- Burner:
- A heat producing device where the flame or heat is produced.
- Burst Pressure:
- The internal pressure that will cause a piece of tubing to fail.
- Bushing:
- A pipe fitting threaded on the inside & out used to join two pipes of different sizes.
- Butterfly Valve:
- A serviceable valve that allows water to flow through it when open, and stops the water flow when closed.
- Buttress:
- The raised portion of a shower curb that is on more than one level.
- BX Cable:
- Metallic sheathed cable containing A/C electrical wiring. Typically used when wiring would otherwise be exposed.
- Bypass:
- Type of shower door that consists of two or more panels running in parallel tracks.
|
