Glossary of Plumbing Terms - S - Keidel Bath, Kitchen, Plumbing, Cabinetry, Appliances

Welcome to Keidel's Plumbing Glossary. Every industry and trade has its own standards and terminologies. This glossary is our attempt to help the general public understand some of the terms unique to our industry.

Our database contains over 1000 unique terms, compiled from a variety of public and private sources. To use the glossary efficiently you can click on the letter of the desired term that you would like to find. For example: click on "C" to find out about "Closet Augers" or "P" for "Petcock." Definitions listed here are provided without warranty.

Not finding the term you seek? Let us know what we should add to the Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

In Great Britain a stopcock, not to be confused with a gate valve or a DiCiaccio branch, is used to prevent flow of water into a domestic water system.

Saddle Tee	Fitting that taps into the side of a pipe, used to make quick connection to an existing line

Saddle Valve	A valve mounted on a pipe run by a clamping device, or saddle tee to provide a water supply for a low-demand device.

SAE	Society of Automotive Engineers standard: a thread size used on nuts and bolts but not pipe connections.

Safe Drinking Water Act	An amendment to the Public Health Service Act, which was passed in 1976 to protect public health by establishing uniform drinking water standards for the nation. In 1986 SDWA Amendments were passed that mandated the EPA establish standards for 83 drinking water contaminants by 1992 and identify an additional 25 contaminants for regulation every 3 years thereafter.

Safety Shutoff Valve	A device on a gas appliance that shuts off the gas supply to prevent a hazardous situation. A flame safety shutoff operates when the actuating flame becomes extinguished.

Sag Pipe	A section of a sewer line that is placed deeper in the ground than normal in order to pass under utility piping, waterways, rail lines, highways, or other obstacles. The sewer line is raised again after passing under the obstacle.

Sanitary Fitting	Fitting that joins the assorted pipes in a drain, waste, and vent system, designed to allow solid material to pass through without clogging.

Sanitary Sewer	House drain that carries wastewater away from the house to a sewer system or septic tank.

Saponification	The process in which a fatty acid is neutralized with an alkali or base to form a soap.

SAW	Submerged Arc Weld. A method of manufacturing large diameter pipe

SC	Square Cut. Plain end pipe

Scale	A thin coating or layer, usually calcium on the bottom of a tank or interior parts that may prevent heat transfer.

Schedule (SCH)	Numbers assigned to different wall thicknesses of pipe (e.g. sch 40)

Scupper	Drain, normally located on a roof or deck that allows rain water to drain off.

Seal-Off Fitting	Fitting which prevents gas leakage from moving from one section of pipe to another.

Sealed Combustion	Sealing of combustion chamber to prevent spillage of combustion products.

Sealed Combustion Heater	A heater which pulls combustion air from outside the structure and vents combustion by-products to the outside.

Seamless Pipe	Pipe with no weld in the circumference

Seat	A fitting inside a faucet body where the base of the valve stem makes contact to control the water flow.

Secondary Air	The remaining air needed for complete combustion besides primary air. This is the air surrounding the flames outside the burner ports.

Sediment	The substance that settles on the bottom of a water tank. Also known as lime.

Self-rimming Sink	Sink with no metal ring that has a built-in lip of the same material which supports it in the vanity top.

Sequestering Agent	A chemical compound sometimes fed into water to tie up undesirable ions, keep them in solution, and reduce their effects. For example, polyphosphate can sequester hardness and prevent reactions with soap.

Series System	System where a primary heater preheats water to a given desired general purpose temperature and feeds into another heater.

Self-Rimming	A style of bathroom sink with a rolled and finished edge

Serial/Model/Rating Plate	A permanent information plate attached to major home appliances. The plate includes product model and serial numbers, plus information about wattage or BTU requirements.

Service Entrance	Pipe connecting the water company piping to the water meter.

Service Pressure	The range of pressure in the pressure tank during the pumping cycle, usually expressed in pounds per square inch gauge (P.S.I.G.).

Service Sink	Deep fixed basin, supplied with hot and cold water, which is used for rinsing of mops, disposal of cleaning water, or washing clothes and other household items.

Service Tee	Tee fitting with male threads on one run opening and female threads on the other two.

Setting	Pumps: vertical distance in feet from the top of the well to the top of the pump.

Sewer Ejector	See ejector.

Sewer Gas	Gases, esp. methane, which may be combustible and poisonous from the decay of organic materials in the sewer system

Shallow Well	A well with a pumping head of 25 feet or less, permitting use of a suction pump

Shroud	Color-matched component under a wall-mount lavatory that covers the drain outlet for aesthetic purposes

Shower Receptor	A one-piece base (floor) unit used as a shower, for example, to catch water and direct it to a center drain.

Shutoff Valve	Most commonly refers to angle stops installed under sinks and toilets, but also valves installed on branch lines and alongside the meter.

Side Cutter	A heavy duty auger tip for large diameter pipes

Sight Hole	Generally a window on oil-fired products that allows the viewing of burner and flame patterns.

Sillcock	Hose bib

Simplex Basin	An ejector pump container usually 18" x 30" for single family homes.

Single Threshold	Type of shower base used in a three wall installation with the threshold being the side with the door.

Sink	A stationary basin connected with a drain and water supply for washing and drainage.

Siphon	A pipe connecting two canals. A tube or pipe through which water flows over a high point by gravity.

Siphon Break	The point in a toilet flush cycle when air is re-introduced into the trapway, breaking the siphonic action. This is characterized by the deep gurgling sound heard at the end of a flush.

Siphon-Jet Water Closet	A toilet having a siphonic trapway at the rear of the bowl and an integral flushing rim and jet.

Siphon-Vortex Water Closet	A toilet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl integral flushing rim and a water supply system with or without a jet, which does not feed directly into the trap.

Siphon Wash Closet	A toilet having a trapway at the rear of the bowl and integral flushing rim, and minimum dimensions of 5" x 4" water spot and 1 ½" ball pass.

Siphoning	The suction or pulling effect that takes place in the trapway of a toilet as it is filled with outgoing water and waste.

SJ	Slip Joint

Skelp	A piece or strip of steel with a specified thickness, width and edge from which welded seam pipe is made.

Sleeve	Pipe which is passed through a wall for the purpose of inserting another pipe through it.

Slide Bar	Type of shower component designed for the attachment of a handshower. The mounting bracket can be adjusted at different heights to accommodate individual preference.

Sliding Inner Door	A door that slides along the combustion chamber radius for easy access to the burner and pilot.

Sliding panels	the moving panels in a bypass door. (as in shower doors)

Slip Gasket	Elastomer (natural occuring elastic substance) gasket, usable with a hub and spigot pipe because it has a tapered cross section

Slip Joint	A connection made with compression fittings.

SMLS	Seamless pipe, made without welding

SN	Satin nickel finish

Soda Ash	the common name for sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃ a chemical compound used sometimes used in soap and detergents to neutralize acid water.

Soft Flame	A flame partially deprived of primary air such that the combustion zone is extended and the inner cone of the flame is ill-defined.

Soft Water	Water that has a low calcium and magnesium content

Soil Cutter	A device used to cut No Hub pipe, consisting of a handle and a cutting chain, similar to a chain wrench in appearance

Soil Pipe	A sewer pipe for carrying off waste from toilets.

Soil Stack	Largest vertical drain line to which all branch waste lines connect. This line carries waste to the sewer line.

Solder	A metal alloy that is melted to create a fused joint between metal pieces. Also the act of melting solder into the joint.

Solenoid	A coil of wire in the form of a cylinder that, when carrying a current, resembles a bar magnet.

Solute	The substance which is dissolved in and by a solvent. Dissolved solids, such as the minerals found in water, are solutes.

Solvent Weld	Any of the types of PVC pipe and fittings that are fastened together with solvent-based cement

Soot	A black substance, mostly consisting of small particles of carbon, which can result from incomplete combustion and appear as smoke.

Spark Ignition	Intermittent ignition devices that utilizes a spark to light a flame.

Spark Test	A test procedure to evaluate the integrity of the glass lining.

Spec	see Specification

Specific Gravity	The ratio of the weight of a specific volume of a substance compared to the weight of the same volume of pure water at 4^oC.

Specific Heat	Amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a kilogram of a substance one degree Celsius.

Specification	A detailed description

Spigot	The plain end of a cast-iron pipe. The spigot is inserted into the bell end of the next pipe to make a water tight joint.

Spigot Soil Adapter	Hub adapter to connect PVC with soil pipe.

Spline adapter	Device sometimes required to form a mating connection between the splines of a valve stem and the splines inside a faucet handle.

Spore	Specialized reproductive bodies or resting cells that resist adverse conditions which would readily destroy the parent organism.

Spud	A threaded opening on the water heater tank. Also a tool for digging having characteristics of a shade and chisel.

SS	Stainless Steel

SRL	Single Random Length. Standard weight pipe that is 16' - 22' in length or as defined in specifications.

Stack	The vertical main in the drain, waste, and vent system, extending one or more stories.

Stacking	The ability of hot water to form layers of different temperatures in the tank stratification.

Stainless Steel	Steel sinks made of solid stainless material, durable, and immune to rust and corrosion. The gauge measures the thickness of the steel, with a lower number indicating thicker steel. Their underside is often sprayed with a rubberized undercoating to provide a sound-deadening barrier, eliminate condensation, and reduce heat transfer.

Stand Pipe	Open vertical pipe that receives water from a washing machine. Also the vertical pipe run supplying water to a fire sprinkler system; also large vertical pipe into which water is pumped in order to produce a desired pressure; a high vertical pipe or reservoir that is used to secure a uniform pressure in a water-supply system

Standing Pilot	see pilot

Static Discharge Head	The vertical distance from the pump to the highest outlet in the water system Stand By Loss. The amount of heat lost while a unit is in stand by mode.

Static Lift	The vertical distance between source and discharge water levels in a pump installation

Static Pressure	The pressure when no water is flowing.

Static Water Level	The undisturbed level of water in the well before pumping.

STC	Short Thread and Coupling

STD	Standard pipe. Pipe weight designation.

Stem	Part of the faucet that holds the handle on one end and the washer on the other.
Stencil	Painted identification and specification markings on a pipe.

STI	Steel Tube Institute

Stiffener	A galvanized bushing used to strengthen tubing to fit in a leadpak coupling

Stillson Wrench	Pipe wrench

Stop	The shutoff valve under sinks and toilets. Allows water supply to be cut off to one fixture without affecting the water supply to other fixtures.

Stopcock	A valve used to restrict or isolate the flow of a liquid or gas through a pipe. In Great Britain - used to prevent flow of water into a domestic water system.

Stop and Drain Fitting	Plug-type valve used to tap into a water main to control the flow to a branch line, which has a side opening to shut off the water and allow it to drain out so the pipe won't freeze.

Stop Valve	same as stop

Storage Tank	A tank used to hold a specific volume of water

Storm Drain	Drain used to receive and convey rain water, surface water, and ground water away from buildings.

Straight Cross	Fitting that connects four pipes of the same diameter.

Straight Pipe Threads	A special kind of straight thread used only on iron pipe, toilet, and faucet fittings. A cone seal or gasket is usually included because straight threads will not form a complete seal without a gasket of some kind.

Straight Stop	An emergency stop valve that is usually installed before the water supply line to toilets and faucets. Similar to angle stops but the line does not change direction.

Strainer Pot	A housing on the influent side of a pump that serves as a priming chamber and a receptacle for the strainer basket.

Strap Wrench	Tool with metal body and heavy cloth or metal mesh belt used for turning pipe

Street Ell	An 90 degree elbow joint with a hub on one end and male threads on the other. Used to make an angled connection between pipe or tubing and a fitting with a hub.

Strip	A sheet of steel in which the length is many times its width.

Sub	A short coupling with different types and/or sizes of ends.

Stub-Out	Short lengths of pipe installed during rough-in to which fixtures and drains will eventually be installed.

Stud Guard	Short band of metal attached to wall studs to prevent nails from penetrating and damaging pipes

Stuffing box	That portion of the pump that held the packing and now holds the mechanical seal.

Submergence	The distance the ejector, foot valve or submersible pump is installed below the pumping level

Suction head	The head on the suction side of the pump. This is subtracted from the discharge head to determine the head being produced by the pump. It is a sum of the static, pressure and friction heads.

Suction Static Lift	Same as Suction Static head. This term is only used when the pump centerline is above the suction tank fluid surface

Sulfate	A chemical compound that can cause laxative effects and give off a medicinal taste in concentrations around 30 gpg. In high concentration with high calcium hardness, it forms a white insoluble compound that is difficult to remove.

Sulfur	A yellowish solid element. The term also commonly describes to water containing hydrogen sulfide gas. The presence of Sulfur is marked by a smell like rotten eggs.

Sump	A pit or pool for draining, collecting, or storing water. A chamber which provides water to the pump

Supply Kit	Usually a kit of all parts needed to connect a faucet or toilet to the pipes coming out of the wall. Usually includes stop valves, water connectors, and escutcheons.

Supply Stop	The valve controlling water supply to a toilet.

Surface Mount	Typically refers to thermostats mounted on the outside of the tank that senses temperature through the steel tank.

Surface Pump	A mechanism for removing water or wastewater from a sump or wet well.

Suspended Solids	Solid particles in water which are not in solution.

SV	Service Victory. A designation for service weight cast iron drainage pipe.

Sweat Connection	A means of joining copper tubing, using solder as a filler metal.

Sweating	Slang term for soldering. Also formation of condensation on the outside of pipes or toilet tanks.

Sweep	A drain ell fitting with a long radius that allows for smooth passage of waste. Fittings with abrupt changes of direction, such as a vent tee, may only be used for vents.

Swing Joint	A flexible sprinkler connection made by connecting three threaded elbows fittings together

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Not finding the term you seek? Let us know what we should add to the Glossary