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Definition of Term: dual lever
ABS - Acrylonitrile
Butadiene Styrene: A type of
rigid, heat-resistant plastic, most
often used for drain lines.
Accent kit (Moen Only) - The
rings that typically go around the
bottom of the faucet spout and handles;
often in a contrasting color to the rest
of the faucet (i.e. chrome with brass
accents). Also includes the pop-up drain
rod for lavatory assemblies.
Aerator - A device at the end
of a faucet spout that mixes air into
the flowing water.
Air Gap - A device mounted at
the back of a kitchen sink that connects
the drain line between a dishwasher and
disposer. Allows the dishwasher to
discharge freely onto the disposer while
preventing contaminated water from
siphoning back into the dishwasher.
Angle Stop - A shutoff valve
between water pipes and faucet, toilet,
or bidet. Connects to water supply at a
90° angle.
Apron - The decorative front
of a bathtub. Often sold separately from
the tub. Also called the 'skirt'.
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Backflow Preventer - A device
that prevents water from traveling from
one system back into any part of the
main distribution system. Usually
required for handshowers, pullout faucet
spouts, and kitchen sprayers.
Backsplash - A raised portion
of a wall-mount sink or lavatory located
at the rear of the fixture to protect
the wall.
Basket Strainer - A
basket-like sink strainer with holes
that allow water to drain while catching
solids. Also can be closed to plug the
drain.
Batch Feed - A type of garbage
disposer in which waste is fed into the
unit one load at a time and activated by
placing a stopper into the drain
opening.
Bidet - A plumbing fixture
used for personal hygiene. Usually
floor-mounted next to a toilet, it
features a basin, faucet, and sprayer.
Bushing - A pipe fitting
threaded on the inside and out used to
join two pipes of different sizes.
Bypass Door - Shower door that
consists of two or more panels that run
in parallel tracks.
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CTS - Copper Tube
Size: Refers to the outside
diameter of the pipe.
Carrier - Structural device
used to support a wall mounted fixture
such as a sink, tub, or lavatory.
Centers - Designation for the
distance between the centers of the
handles on a faucet or tub filler.
Center-to-Center - Designation
for the distance between the centers of
the handles on a faucet or tub filler,
or the centers of the outer holes on a
fixture.
Centerset faucet - A type of
bathroom faucet with spout and handles
attached by a base; centers of handles
are four inches apart.
Check Stop - A shut-off valve
used with tub and shower faucets that is
activated by turning a slotted stem with
a screwdriver. Also called a
'screwdriver stop' or a 'service stop'.
Check Valve - A type of
backflow preventer that is installed in
a pipe so that water flows in only one
direction.
Ceramic Disk Valve - A
superior type of valve that features two
disks that rotate within a sealed
cartridge. Each disk has a hole that
must be aligned with the other to allow
water to pass through.
Cock - A faucet or valve that
regulates the flow of water.
Console - A table-like fixture
with an integral lavatory basin. Usually
wall mounted in the back, and supported
with brackets or legs in the front.
Continuous Feed - A type of
garbage disposer in which waste is fed
into the unit while it is running.
Operated by a wall switch.
Coupling - A straight,
sleeve-like fitting with female
(internal thread) connections at both
ends.
Core kit (Moen Only) - The
main faucet body trim. Typically sold
without the handles, accent kit, or
rough in valve.
Cycling valve - A pressure
balanced rough-in valve that only
controls the temperature. When you turn
the valve on it cycles through the cold
water, into warm and then hot water. You
cannot control the volume of water with
this valve.
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Diverter Valve - Allows the
user to toggle between two water
outlets, i.e. a fixed showerhead and
handshower.
Double Threshold - A shower
base designed for corner applications,
in which one threshold is used as an
entrance and the other has a glass wall.
Drop-In Tub - A tub designed
to be built into a raised platform, or
dais. Does not include an apron.
DWV - Drainage, Waste,
and Vent: The pipes in a plumbing
system that remove waste water.
Drop Ell - A wall-mounted
outlet with a threaded end to which you
would attach or screw the hose for a
hand shower. Also referred to as a Wall
Union.
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Elbow - Angled fitting with
female connections on both ends. Also
known as an 'ell'.
Elongated Front Toilet - A
toilet with a longer bowl, usually about
two inches longer than a standard
round-front toilet.
Escutcheon - A decorative
flange or shield beneath a faucet handle
or spout, designed to cover the faucet
stem and the hole in the counter or
wall.
Exact Temp (Moen Only) - A
thermostatic valve that is also pressure
balanced. You can dial the temperature
degree that you want the water at and it
will stay there. It compensates for any
drop in the hot or cold-water pressure
so as to not scald or freeze the user.
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FIP - Female Iron
Pipe: Pipe fittings with standard
internal threads.
Fireclay - A type of vitreous
china that includes higher quantities of
quartz and feldspar. Better suited for
large, smooth surfaces than standard
china.
Fitting - A broad term usually
used to refer to faucets, shower valves,
and tub fillers, as well as various
plumbing parts such as tees and elbows.
Fixture - A general term for
sinks, tubs, toilets, and bidets. Does
not include faucets and other fittings.
Flow Rate - The rate at which
water flows from a faucet or showerhead.
Front Connection Spout - Spout
designed to accomodate a valve or pipe
that extends outward from the wall. The
connection between spout and pipe occurs
inside the body of the spout. See Rear
Connection Spout.
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Gelcoat - A colored polyester
resin used on the surface of some
fiberglass bathtubs and shower
surrounds.
GPM - Gallons Per
Minute: The rate of water flow by
which faucets and showerheads are
measured and regulated.
GPF - Gallons Per
Flush: Water usage measure by
which toilets are regulated. Current law
requires a maximum GPF of no more than
1.6; older models used 3.5 GPF.
Garbage Disposal Flange - Also
known as a sink disposer flange. This
item is needed for installation of
garbage disposals that do not come with
flanges. Though most disposals come with
flanges, they are typically shiny
chrome. These flanges are manufactured
in several finishes. If you wish to have
the disposal flange match the sinks
finish or the faucet finish please
inquire with salesperson about your
color choices.
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Handshower - A showerhead that
is attached to a flexible hose for added
range of motion and reach.
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ID - Inside Diameter:
Standard measure for all pipes.
IPS - Iron Pipe
Size: Standard pipe size. Female
IPS are threaded internally; Male IPS
are threaded externally.
Inlet shanks (Chicago Faucets
Only) - The threaded nipple that
goes through the counter and mounts the
faucet to the deck. Sold individually, 2
needed.
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Lavatory - Sink used in the
bathroom or washroom.
Ledgeback - Style of sink
which includes a deck at the rear for
mounting the faucet and other
accessories.
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Male IPS (MIP) - Male
Iron Pipe: Pipe fittings
with standard external threads on pipe
and fittings.
Metering Faucet - Faucet which
delivers a predetermined volume of water
and then automatically shuts off.
Minispread Faucet - A style of
lavatory faucet with separated spout and
handles, but scaled small enough to fit
faucet holes on four inch centers.
Mini Widespread faucet -
faucet that is designed to be installed
in a counter or sink with three holes
centered at 4 inches apart. The
measurement from the center of one outer
hole to the center of the other outer
hole is 4 inches. Designed to look like
an 8" widespread faucet only it's for
4".
Mixing Valve - Mixes hot and
cold water to achieve a specified
delivery temperature.
Monobloc Faucet - A
single-handle, single hole faucet.
Moentrol (Moen Only) - A
pressure-balanced rough in valve that
allows the user to control the volume of
water by a push/pull motion, and the
temperature by turning left and right.
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Nipple - A short length of
pipe installed between couplings or
other fittings.
NPT - National Pipe
Tapered thread standard. Standard
pipe size.
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OD - Outside Diameter:
The diameter of a pipe measured from the
outside edge.
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PSI - Pounds per Square
Inch: A unit of measure used to
determine pressure within a contained
area.
Pedestal Lavatory - A lavatory
in which the basin is supported
predominantly by a pedestal leg.
Pop Up Drain - Drain assembly
for lavatory sinks, where the opening
and closing of the drain is controlled
by a pop-up rod typically located on the
back of the lavatory faucet spout. Also
called a drain assembly.
Pressure Balance Valve - A
shower mixing valve that automatically
maintains balance between incoming hot
and cold water supplies to maintain a
constant temperature despite a drop in
water pressure from either side so as to
not scald or freeze the user. Also known
as an anti-scald valve or scald-guard.
Pull-Out Spray - A
single-control kitchen faucet that has a
retractable hose and sprayhead to be
used for food preparation and cleaning.
PVD - Physical Vapor
Deposition: A long-lasting,
durable coating of titanium or zirconium
usually used on Brass Faucets. Helps
prevent scratches.
Port - An inlet or outlet on a
rough-in valve for supply lines.
Posi Temp (Moen Only) - A
cycling valve that only allows the user
to control the temperature. When the
valve is turned on it cycles through
cold water, getting warmer and then into
the hot. You cannot control the volume
of water with this valve.
Pressure Balance valve - A
rough-in valve for showers that
compensates for drop in pressure on
either the hot or cold side. It keeps
the water within a specific degree so as
to not scald or freeze the user. Also
referred to as "Anti-Scald" valve.
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Rear Connection Spout - A
spout designed to accomodate a valve or
pipe that is flush with the wall.
Connection between pipe and spout occurs
at the back of the spout. See Front
Connection Spout.
Recessed Tub - A tub that has
a decorative finish on one side only,
and is surrounded by three walls. Also
called an apron-front tub.
Right Height Toilet - For
American Standard Toilets. Designates
toilets with a higher than standard
seat. ADA compliant.
Riser - A vertical metal or
plastic tube or assembly that connects a
faucet to the water supply stop valve.
Usually copper.
Rough-In - The rough ends of
drain and supply lines that mark the
proposed location of fixtures.
Rough-In Valve - The
functional drain, vent, and supply lines
that comprise the functioning part of a
faucet or fixture. Usually concealed
inside a wall or under a counter with
the trim (spouts, handles, etc.) on the
outside.
Round-Front Toilet - A toilet
with a shorter bowl, excellent for
smaller rooms. Bowl is usually two
inches shorter than an elongated-front
toilet.
Roman Tub w/Personal Hand Shower -
A deck-mounted tub faucet with a
matching deck-mounted handheld shower.
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Self-Rimming Sink (Drop-in Sink)
- A style of bathroom or kitchen sink
with a rolled or otherwise finished
edge. Installs on top of countertop
without the need for a metal sink rim.
Semi Encastre Sink - A
self-rimming lavatory in which the back
of the lavatory is installed into the
countertop while the front (or apron) of
the sink projects from the countertop.
Designed to maximize space efficiency.
Shroud - A color-matched
component under a wall-mount lavatory
that covers the drain outlet for
aesthetic purposes.
Skirt - The decorative front
of a bathtub. Often sold separately from
the tub. Also called the 'apron'.
Stop - The shut-off valve
under a sink or toilet that allows the
water to be cut off to the fixture
without affecting the water supply to
the rest of the building.
Service/Screwdriver Stops -
Slots that allow the water to be turned
off and serviced at the valve by a
screwdriver, rather than turning off the
water source.
Sink Strainer Assembly - Also
known as a sink basket or basket
strainer, this item is needed for those
kitchen sinks that do not come with
them. It serves as a method of closing
off the sink drain hole so that water is
kept inside for washing dishes or
cleaning; the basket is removable so
that food particles or things that you
do not wish to rinse down the drain may
be discarded after using the sink.
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T & P Valve - Temperature
and Pressure-Release Valve: A
device used to expel excess pressure or
heat from inside a tank.
Tee - T-shaped fitting with
three openings that allow another pipe
to be joined at a 90 degree angle. Used
to create branch lines.
Tempered Glass - Glass that
has been annealed or strengthened by a
process of gradually heating and
cooling. Once glass has been tempered,
it cannot be cut, and - if broken -
breaks into small rounded pieces.
Trap - Curved section of drain
line that prevents sewer odors from
escaping. All fixtures with drains must
have a trap installed (toilets use 'S'
traps; all other fixtures use 'P'
traps).
Trim - A term used to
designate the outside decorative
covering of a faucet rough-in valve.
Usually includes items such as a
showerhead, handles, tub spout, etc.
Thermostatic valve - A rough
in valve that allows the user to dial
the specific temperature degree that
they want the water at, i.e. 100
degrees. Usually requires a separate
volume control valve.
Transfer valve - Allows the
user to toggle between multiple outlets
in a shower, such as hand held shower or
body sprays. Some models have the
capacity to use a shared function, such
as a showerhead and body sprays at the
same time.
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Undermount Sink (Undercounter
Sink) - A type of sink that is
installed under a cutout in a
countertop.
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Vacuum Breaker - An
anti-siphon device used to prevent the
backflow of waste water into the water
supply.
Valve - A device that
regulates the flow of water. Also the
rough-in part of a faucet that is
concealed in a wall or undercounter.
Vanity - A cabinet or stand
that supports a basin. Often includes a
storage cabinet.
Vitreous China - Ceramic
materials fired at a high temperature to
form a nonporous body. Surfaces are
coated with a ceramic glaze that is
fused to the body.
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Wall Union - Also referred to
as a Drop Ell. A wall-mounted outlet
with a threaded end to which you would
attach or screw the hose for a hand
shower.
Washdown Toilet - Toilet with
a siphon trapway at the front of the
bowl, and an integral flushing rim.
Waste and Overflow assembly -
The drain kit for a tub. Often available
in different styles such as "trip
lever", "toe touch" and "cable".
Whirlpool Tub - A bath tub
with water jets that recirculate and mix
air into the water to create a spa
experience.
Widespread Faucet - A style of
faucet with separate spout and handles
usually designed to fit holes on eight
inch centers. Can sometimes be set as
far as 12" apart.
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