Drainage terms
A soil stack is the large vertical pipe that carries toilet waste, while a gully takes rainwater. A gully is a trap in the ground that takes water from a downpipe or sink. An inspection chamber is an access point that lets you look at and clear a drain.
A trap is a bend that holds a little water to stop smells, because the water blocks the air. The invert is the bottom of the inside of a pipe. CIPP means cured-in-place pipe, a way to line a damaged drain.
A surface water drain takes rainwater. A foul drain takes waste water from toilets and sinks. A combined drain carries both.
Central heating and plumbing terms
A TRV is a thermostatic radiator valve, which controls how hot a radiator gets, since it senses the room. A combi boiler heats water as you use it and has no tank. A system boiler heats a stored cylinder.
Bleeding means letting trapped air out of a radiator, because air stops it heating fully. A powerflush cleans the whole heating system. A magnetic filter catches rust and dirt in the pipes.
The stopcock is the valve that shuts off water to your home. Pressure is a measure of how hard water pushes in the pipes, often given in bar.
General terms
A call-out is a visit by a tradesperson. A quote is a price for a job, while an estimate is a rough guide. Ask for a written quote.
Gas Safe is the register of engineers allowed to work on gas appliances in Great Britain. An isolation valve lets you turn off one fitting without shutting off the whole house.
If a plumber uses a term you do not know, ask them to explain it. A good plumber will be happy to help. Clear words stop mistakes, because everyone knows what the job involves.
Keep this glossary handy when you read a quote. If a term is missing, ask the plumber to write it in plain words. Good quotes use clear language, so you can compare them fairly.
Related guides and local help
If you want to know more, read 6 Ways to Protect Your Pipes from Freezing This Winter. You can also read Plumbing a Kitchen Extension: What You Need to Know First and Scale Inhibitors for UK Homes: Do They Actually Work?, because they cover closely related problems.
These guides help too: 5 Plumbing Checks to Do Before You Leave on Holiday Trips, Smart Home Plumbing Technology: What Is Worth Buying Now, 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When a Pipe Bursts at Home, Understanding Your Water Bill: Metered vs Rateable Value and Noisy Pipes: Water Hammer, Banging and What Causes It. Each one explains a related topic in plain English.
Need help near you? Read our plumbing help page first, or see Plumbing Repairs in Carnoustie and Plumbing Repairs in Carrickfergus. You can also see Leak Detection in Eston, since every service page has a free quote form. We pass each request to a local drainage engineer.
