Common plumber terms when fixing a leak

Have a leak? You’ll be able to confidently talk pipes with your plumber by learning a few simple key words.

Backflow prevention device

A device that prevents potentially contaminated water from flowing backwards into a drinking water supply.

Clamp

A device, usually a band or brace, that’s used to securely hold objects together. In plumbing, clamps are often used to tighten the force around a pipe (which helps minimise leakage) or mount pipes to a wall. Common plumbing clamps include adjustable hose clamps, C-clamps, pipe repair clamps and pipe sleeve clamps.

Coupling

A short pipe used to connect two longer sections of pipe, often permanently. Common couplings include slip couplings and reducing couplings.

Elbow

A curved pipe fitting that allows the plumber to change the direction of pipework. Elbows come in a variety of angles, including 45- and 90-degree options.

Faucet

Commonly known as a tap. When plumbers refer to your faucet, they’re referencing your tap as well as the underlying mechanism that controls the flow and temperature of water.

Fitting

Also known as an adapter, fitting is an umbrella term for the shorter sections of pipe used to connect straight sections of pipe. Examples include elbow fittings and couplings.

Fixture

A part that helps deliver or drain water, which is connected to a pipe system. Examples include faucets, sinks, toilets and drains.

Flange

A ring-shaped fitting used to connect sections of pipe, with a gasket in the middle to create a strong seal. Flanges are usually welded, screwed or bolted together.

Gasket

A flexible seal which is used to plug the gap between two or more surfaces, with the aim of making a joint watertight. Gaskets are often made of rubber and come in a variety of shapes including rectangles, flat rings, and oblongs.

Hose bib

Also known as a hose spigot or hose tap, the hose bib is in fact your humble outdoor tap. Outdoor taps tend to have a thread on them so you can connect your garden hose.

Metres head (mH)

A measurement used to describe water pressure. It refers to the height (head) which water rises vertically in a pipe.

Mixing valve

A valve that controls the temperature of your water. The mixing valve forms part of your faucet. Faucets often come with two taps (one for hot another for cold) or a single handle to modify temperature.

Pinhole leak

A leak so small only a few small drops of water are released. Pinhole leaks are unique to copper pipes and occur when the copper corrodes from the inside, gradually forming a hole on the outside of the pipe.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

A type of plastic polymer used to produce a variety of common building materials, including pipes.

Pounds per square inch (PSI)

A unit of measurement used to describe pressure.

Spigot

Another term for a tap.

Stop tap

This is the valve on the water meter that stops the flow of water to your property. You can use the stop tap to shut off your water if you have a leak. If you can’t shut off your water, follow these 2 steps to find out what’s going on.

Tee

A type of fitting that is T-shaped.

Toilet cistern

The section of a toilet that holds water for flushing.

Tube stop

Also known as end caps or stop ends, these caps are secured to the end of a pipe to create a dead end for the water flowing through.

Valve

A device that controls the flow and pressure of water through a pipe. Taps are a common household valve.

Water meter

The device that measures how much water you use in your house and garden. It’s usually located towards the front of your property.