PLUMBING PARTS Plumbing ensures that a royal flush always beats a full house.

PVC Pipe Mostly used to carry waste water. Comes in different wall thicknesses called schedules. Schedule 40 is the preferred wall size. PVC cannot carry hot water. It can be cut with common tools and saws. Pipe and pipe joints are adhered together with PVC primer and cement.

CPVC Pipe CPVC can be for feed lines. It is off white and has its own schedule size. CPVC can carry hot water. It can be cut with common tools and saws. Pipe and pipe joints are adhered together with CPVC primer and cement

Copper Pipe Most common type of pipe used for feed line. ½” pipe is the most common, but copper pipe comes in many sizes. Pipe and joints are connected by soldering. Must be cut with special tubing or pipe cutters.

Iron Pipe Often called wrought iron or black iron pipe. Also comes galvanized for outdoor purposes. Comes in many sizes. Can be used for feed, waste, and gas lines. Must be cut with iron pipe tools. Iron pipe fits together with special tapered thread. Each pipe must be threaded at both ends to make a connection. Iron pipe is the most rigid and strong plumbing pipe. This makes it ideal for gas line.

Rigid Compression Feedline One of the multiple types of feedlines we use to connect faucets to angle stop valves. Can be cut to length to fit tight cabinets or pedestals.

Flexible Hose Compression line used to connect angle stops to faucets. Comes in various lengths and styles. Can not be cut and must be sized to angle stop and faucet.

P-Trap or Gooseneck Can be PVC or steel. Water is held in the low spot or trap. This water prevents sewer gases from entering your house. Threaded fittings for the trap should be handed tightened only.

Elbow 45 and 90 degree Elbows are available for all types of pipe. Allows pipe to change direction.

Tee Tees are available for all types of pipe. The PVC Tee seen in the picture is a waste Tee. It has a direction that allows waste water to flow downhill.

Cap or Service Cap Caps are available for all types of pipe. Various sizes and types, some caps are threaded. A service cap allows you to remove an angle stop or cut a pipe then seal it with a cap. With the pipe sealed you can run water to the rest of your home and not have water shooting out of the cut pipe. These are often used during renovations.

Male Thread Adapter Thread adapters allow you to put threads on standard pipe. Available for copper, CPVC and PVC.

Pipe Coupler Available for all types of pipe. Allows you to join two pipes. Commonly used in repairs and renovations.

Reducer Reducers are available for all types of pipe. Allows pipe to transition from large to smaller pipe and vice versa.

Compression Fitting Compression fittings are commonly used to connect devices to the plumbing system. Work by squashing a rubber or brass ferrule. The ferrule expands and forms a water tight seal. Only require a wrench for installation.

Angle Stop Angle stops connect faucets and other devices. Allows you to shut off water supply to a toliet or faucet at the wall. Necessary when servicing plumbing fixtures.

Angle stop open for service Angle stops can come apart for service of parts. Also if an angle stop has plastic parts, those parts should be removed if you are applying heat to a nearby pipe.

Drain or Toilet Flange Connects toilet to plumbing system and the floor. Notice the key ways for the t-nuts that secure the toilet to the floor.

Wax Ring Seals the toilet to the flange and thus plumbing system. Also called a johnny ring, doughnut, or cowboy hat.

Y-valve Allows for a branch out of the plumbing system. This Y is for a drain and the branch would be to a sink drain.

Sink Basin Comes in many different styles and materials. The holes at the rim are overflow channels. Water will flow into the holes and down the drain.

Drain Assembly The drain tube connects to the sink basin with compression gaskets. This drain includes a mechanical pop-up stopper valve.

Faucet Plumbing fixture that allows control of water at the sink. Many different styles and configurations. Very common way to improve a home. Retail installation price $129.00

Hose Bibb Valve that allows access and control of water. Commonly used outside.

Compression Coupling/Dog Bone This joins to pipes together by compressing rubber rings inside a threaded plastic sleeve. Available for all sizes and types of pipe. Excellent emergency fix. No adhesive or solder needed. Can be effectively tightened by hand.

Ball Valve Allows control of air or water to a section of the plumbing system. We use these in our room to control the compressed air. The valve is a steel ball with a hole in it. This lets you open and close the valve quickly.

Union Joins pipes or devices to the plumbing system using a threaded sleeve and a nut. Allows you to attach devices with threads to plumbing without having to turn the device to meet the threads. A water heater may have threaded connections, but you can not rotate the water heater to join it to a threaded pipe.

Plumbers Putty Putty that is used to seal drain and pipe fittings. Very similar to silly putty.

Solder Tin and lead compound used to join copper pipe. 1/8” solder should be used for plumbing.

Flux Grease like substance that allows solder to flow into copper pipe joints. Absolutely necessary for soldering copper pipes.

Torch Propane or MAP gas torch used to heat copper pipes for soldering. When using the torch dial the torch down to a pointed blue flame. This provides the most concentrated heat and allows you to heat the pipe faster. Soldering is also called sweating pipe. If you heat a pipe that is wet or moist it will steam and sweat.

Teflon Tape Used to seal threads of plumbing fixtures.

PVC Primer and Cement All PVC connections must be primed prior to being cemented. The primer cleans and softens the pipe for the cement. The cement bonds the pipe almost instantly. Ventilation is necessary when using primer and cement.

Iron Pipe Cutter Similar to a C-clamp it uses rollers and a cutting wheel to separate iron pipe. With every 2 to 3 rotations on the cutting wheel you tighten the jaws of the cutter. A vise is needed to hold the pipe when you cut it. This is a specialized tool generally not needed for home plumbing.

Iron Pipe Die Cuts threads on the end of iron pipe. It is a big and heavy tool but the teeth in the die are very delicate. This is a specialized tool generally not needed for home plumbing.

Tubing/Pipe Cutter Similar to a C-clamp it uses rollers and a cutting wheel to separate PVC, CPVC, and copper pipe. With every 2 to 3 rotations on the cutting wheel you tighten the jaws of the cutter. Do not over tighten the cutting wheel prior to rotating, you will dent the pipe.

Iron Pipe Wrench Has teeth designed to grip and turn iron pipe. Necessary to create enough torque to turn and seal iron pipe.

Mini or “M” Cutter Cuts PVC, CPVC, and copper pipe. Used in small areas that a regular cutter can not access.

Adjustable Wrench Wrench that has jaws that can be set to a variety of sizes. Almost all plumbing fixtures in your house (faucets, toilets, sinks etc.) can be removed or installed with just an adjustable wrench. If you can only carry one wrench in your tool box it should be an adjustable wrench.

Slotted groove joint pliers Pliers that use adjustable jaws to grip many different sized objects. It is the only pliers needed for plumbing work.