Will Not Service:
NO for CANELLA
– No New construction
– No Kitchen / bathroom remodel involving: tile / drywall / painting / etc.
– No Industrial / high rise
– No Septic tank pumping & equipment repair
– No Pipe bursting / pipe lining / trenchless sewer services
– No Heat pump water heater installation and repair
– No Backflow testing
– No Radon mitigation
– No Irrigation systems
– No Underground pool plumbing
– No Appliance repair (dishwasher, clothes washer, etc…)
No for WERLEY
– No Remodeling
– No Industrial / High Rise
– No Digging / Excavation
– No Septic (except will do pump)
– No Buried Line
– No Pools (Above Ground or In Ground)
– No Piping Not in the home
– No Solar Water Heaters
– No Fireplaces
– No Irrigation Systems
WHAT TO SAY:
I am so sorry you are having that problem we would love to be able to help you but unfortunately, we do not provide service for _________________. We can certainly help you with any other HVAC or Plumbing issue you have at your home… Always happy to help!
Tell me a little bit more about the issue:
Above Ground Pool
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Standing water around the pool equipment
Bathroom/Kitchen
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Faucet dripping / doesn’t shut off
– Faucet handle or spout hard to turn
– Faucet has low flow / low pressure
– Hot or cold doesn’t come out properly
– Leaking from under handle /spout
– Faucet makes noise
– Faucet is corroded / deteriorating
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need new faucet (already purchased)
– Need new faucet (they want ours)
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Under kitchen sink
– Disposal won’t turn on
– Disposal is jammed / won’t spin
– Disposal is leaking (replace)
– Loud / old / clogs often (replace)
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Shower / tub
– Wants different faucet brand
– Wants new style / look / finish
– Replacing valve body in the wall
– Need new faucet (already purchased)
– Need new faucet (they want ours)
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Toilet running / not shutting off
– Toilet not flushing (but not clogged)
– Toilet making noises
– Toilet leaking from tank / from base
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Wants new style / look
– Wants better flush
– Need new toilet (already purchased)
– Need new toilet (they want ours)
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Shower / tub
– Faucet dripping / doesn’t shut off
– Faucet handle hard to turn
– Faucet has low flow / low pressure
– Faucet makes noise
– Faucet is corroded / deteriorating
Commercial Plumbing – Light
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Leak at urinal
– Stoppages at toilets or sinks
– Issues at kitchen areas
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Toilet replacement
– Urinal replacement
– Faucet replacement
– Drinking fountain replacement
– Commercial water heater replacement
Drain/Sewer System
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need drain snaked / rooter / auger
– Slow drain
– Gurgling noises
– Odors
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Jetting / jetter machine / high pressure
– Clogged drains / slow drain
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Known leak on drain system
– Need video inspection / scoping /camera
– Need drain / sewer testing / locating
– Frequent backups / clogs / roots
– Water damage
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Sump alarm going off
– Standing water in a crawl space
– Musty smell
– Haven’t heard it run in a while
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Recent foundation work
– Reoccurring stoppages/back ups
– Sewer coming up drains and the floor
– Sewage coming out of exterior cleanouts
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Known sewer break that needs to be isolated/discovered
– Another company diagnosed a break but could not pinpoint where the break is
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Bubbling in the toilets
Alarm system (loud)
Grinder Pump
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– known break in the sewer in the yard
Faucets Exterior
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need faucet replaced
– Outdoor hose faucet
– Hose Bibb / Sillcock
– Frostproof / Frost-free
– Dripping / Leaking
– Leaking from handle
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need faucet repaired
– Outdoor hose faucet
– Hose Bibb / Sillcock
– Frostproof / Frost-free
– Dripping / Leaking
– Leaking from handle
– Handle broken
– Cannot connect hose
Gas System
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Gas smell near the gas appliance
– Gas company confirmed a leak
– Appliance does not seem to be getting gas
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Gas smell in the attic
– Gas company confirmed a gas leak
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Gas smell outside the home
– Gas company confirmed leak
– Someone hit a gas line or gas meter
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– New gas line for appliance
– Cooktop / range / gas dryer
– Outdoor grill / fireplace
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Gas pressure test
– Initial diagnostics for gas issue
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Gas line / connection already present
– Need us to install new gas appliance
– Cooktop / range / gas dryer
– Outdoor grill / fireplace
Noises
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Banging / hammering sound
– Ticking / dripping noise
– Hissing / running water noises
– Rumbling / popping noises
– Whistling / squealing sound
– Vibrating / groaning sound
Smells
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Sour smell near plumbing
– Sewer smell
– Rotten egg smell
– Smell coming from water
Water Heater – Tankless
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need flush / flushed
– Annual maintenance
– Tankless needs regular service
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Error code
– Intermittent hot water from tankless
– Cold water from tankless
– Weird noise / vibrating / loud
– Leaking from tankless
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Need replaced
– Wall mounted
– Outside the home
– In cabinet outside
– In garage
Water Heater – Tank Style
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Tank style / tanked
– In attic / basement / closet / garage
– No hot water
– Hot water runs out too fast
– Leaking near tank
– Weird noise / loud / popping
– Less than 10 years old
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Tank style / tanked
– In attic / basement / closet / garage
– In garage
– No hot water
– Leaking near tank
– More than 10 years old
Water Heater – General
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Pump near water heater
– Hot water takes forever to get to faucet
– Cold water at faucet but heater is working
– Loud /vibrating / hot pump
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Small tank near water heater
– Tank is corroded or leaking
– Over 6 years old
Water System
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Visible water leaking
– Discoloration of sheet rock
– Buckling / damp flooring
– Hissing noise from wall
– High water bill
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Slab foundation
– High water bill
– Warm spots on the floor
– Sound of running / hissing water
– Water meter is moving
– Standing water near foundation
– Water coming up from the floor
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Confirmed water leak under slab
– Strong symptoms or evidence of slab leak
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Standing water in the yard
– High water bill
– Water in driveway or sidewalk
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Softener / conditioner / hard water
– Filtration / reverse osmosis / RO
– Want to install new system
– Need system repaired
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Well system, no water bill
– Well tank, pressure switch, jet pump
– Significantly fluctuating water pressure
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– PRV
– Pressure regulating valve
– Low or high water pressure – all fixtures
– Hammering sound – multiple fixtures
– Squealing sound – multiple fixtures
– Vibrating sound – multiple fixtures
Key Terms or Symptoms:
– Low water pressure – all fixtures
– High water pressure – all fixtures
– Water pressure fluctuations
Glossary of Plumbing Terms
If we are missing a term, please email us!
| Term | Definition |
| ABS | Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, is a black plastic pipe that is commonly used for drainage, sewage, and vents. |
| Aerator | Faucet aerators are screens at the end of a faucet. The devices reduce the amount of water that comes out of a faucet and control the stream. |
| Angle Stop | Common name for small valves that serve a single fixture – and the water changes direction as it flows through these valves. There are usually two valves under a sink – one for hot and one for cold. There is also typically a single cold water valve by the base of toilet. Image |
| Aquifer | An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing material, consisting of permeable or fractured rock, or of unconsolidated materials (gravel, sand, or silt). Image |
| Black Iron | “Black iron” is a term that usually refers to a type of black-coated steel piping used for natural gas or propane plumbing. |
| Cartridge | A faucet cartridge is the part in a faucet or shower assembly that controls the amount and flow of water that comes out of the faucet. In older faucet designs, this piece was typically called a “stem”. In addition to turning the faucet on and off, some stems or cartridges act as a “diverter” which allows you to control whether the water flows to the tub spout, shower head, or any other arrangement. |
| Cast Iron Piping | Cast iron plumbing has been around for decades. It is the old gold standard for drainpipes, and you can find them in many older homes’ systems. Newer homes are typically built with PVC or ABS piping as it’s cheaper, lighter-weight, and less prone to corrosion. |
| Check Valve | Check valves are generally installed in pipelines to prevent backflow. A check valve is basically a one-way valve, in which the flow can run freely one way, but if the flow turns, the valve will close to prevent water flowing in the reverse direction. |
| City Supply | This means that the water supply is not coming from a well or a groundwater aquifer. The water is coming from a municipal or city supply. |
| Cleanout | A drain cleanout is an access point with a cap of some kind that allows plumbers to run diagnostic or drain cleaning equipment down the drain line. The “main cleanout” is typically located wherever the main sewer line exits from the foundation of the home. This could be in the flower bed in the front yard, in the basement where the pipe exits the foundation wall, or other places. |
| Compression Fitting | Compression fittings are designed for different piping materials. This style of fitting connects to the piping by tightening down an outer nut which compresses a seal of some kind against the outside of the pipe. |
| Copper Pipe | Copper piping was installed as water supply piping in most homes built from the 1960s to the early 2010s. It has has decent corrosion resistance and antimicrobial properties. Most newer homes are built with a newer plastic water supply pipe called PEX. |
| Coupling | A pipe coupling (or coupler) is a type of fitting that joins the ends of two pipes in a straight run. Contrast this to a Elbow / 90 / Ell which joins the ends of two pipes that are at right angles to each other. |
| Crawl Space | An area of limited height under a floor, giving access to wiring and plumbing. This is typically found in a home with a pier and beam foundation. |
| CSST | Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST) is a flexible, stainless steel pipe used to supply natural gas or propane throughout structures. CSST is often coated with a yellow or black exterior plastic coating. |
| Dedicated Return Line | This term is used to describe a type of hot water recirculation system that uses a special pipe that runs from a far away fixture in the home all the way back to the hot water heater to create a loop through which hot water can continually be pumped. This is done so that you don’t have to wait a long time for water to get hot at a faucet that is far away from the water heater. |
| Diverter | Diverters are typically used to switch the flow of water between a tub and shower — either the showerhead or the tub faucet gets the water flow. |
| Drop In | Drop-in kitchen sinks (also called self-rimming sinks, overmount sinks, or top-mount sinks) are sink basins that install and sit on top of your kitchen counter. There is a visible rim or lip on the perimeter of the basin that rests just over the cut-out for the sink. |
| Elongated Bowl | Elongated bowl toilets measure roughly 18 inches from the toilet seat mounting holes to the front of the toilet bowl rim. This longer length will require a bit more space than a round bowl model. |
| Expansion Tank | A thermal expansion tank is a small tank often found connected to the water supply pipe of the home’s water heater. The expansion tank is designed to handle the thermal expansion of water as it heats up in the water heater, preventing excessive water pressure. If water pressure gets too high, it can damage valves in plumbing fixtures, joints in supply pipes, and the water heater itself. Heated, expanded water from the water heater flows into the expansion tank, relieving water pressure in the system. |
| Fill Valve (toilet) | The valve is designed to open the supply pipe when water is below a certain level inside the toilet tank. When you flush your toilet, the tank empties, and then the valve mechanism will let water flow into the tank to fill it back up. |
| Fixture Shut Off Valve | Fixture shut off valves are also called stop valves (see angle stop) and they control water flow to individual plumbing fixtures, such as faucets and toilets. |
| Flange (toilet) | A toilet flange (also called a closet flange) is a pipe fitting that secures a toilet unit to the drain pipe in the bathroom floor. |
| Flapper (toilet) | A toilet flapper is the part of your toilet that seals the opening between the tank and the toilet bowl. |
| Float (toilet) | In a toilet, A float detects changes of elevation in the liquid free surface and opens or closes a valve accordingly. |
| Freeze Proof Faucet | A freeze-proof (or frost-proof) faucet is a special outdoor faucet/spigot design that is intended to protect from freezing and bursting during the winter-time. The design shuts off the water back in the wall and slopes downward toward the spout to drain water out of any part that will be exposed to freezing temperatures. |
| Gas Meter | The natural gas meter outside your home measures the amount of natural gas your home consumes. |
| Gas Pressure Regulator | A gas pressure regulator is a control device that maintains a defined pressure of a system by cutting off the flow of a gas or liquid when it reaches a set pressure. |
| Gravity Flush | Gravity-flush toilets are the most common type of toilet and use the weight of water stored in a tank to flush waste. When you pull down on the toilet handle, a gravity-flush toilet will open the flush valve, allowing water to rush down from the tank into the bowl and flush out the waste. |
| Groundwater | Groundwater is the water found underground in the cracks and spaces in soil, sand and rock. It is stored in and moves slowly through geologic formations of soil, sand and rocks called aquifers. |
| GFCI | A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) can help prevent electrocution. If a person’s body starts to receive a shock, the GFCI senses this and cuts off the power before he/she can get injured. GFCIs are generally installed where electrical circuits may accidentally come into contact with water. |
| Heat Exchanger | All tankless water heaters have at least one heat exchanger: it’s the part of the water heater that transfers heat from the burner to the water by running water through metal coils heated by the flame or electrical heating element. |
| Hose Faucet | Hose faucet is a general term for the types of faucets that are installed on the exterior of homes and used with garden hoses. Depending on the age, region, and design, these will sometimes be called frost-proof faucets, spigots, sill-cocks, or hose bibs. (also see “frost-proof”) |
| Impellers | This is a term for the parts of a garbage disposal that are mounted on a spinning plate and use centrifugal force to continuously force food waste particles against a stationary grind ring. |
| Jack-and-Jill | A Jack and Jill Bathroom is a bathroom that has two doors and is usually accessible from two bedrooms. |
| Lavatory | A room or compartment with a toilet and washbasin; a bathroom. Often, this term is used to refer specifically to the sink basin and faucet found in the bathroom. |
| Leach Field | A leach field, also known as a septic tank drain field or a leach drain, is an important system in homes with septic tanks. If you’re a homeowner with a septic system and leach field on your property, it’s important to understand how they function together and how to take care of your leach field so you can prevent or fix problems that could arise. |
| Lift Rod | For a bathroom sink drain with a pop-up stopper, the lift rod is the part that the user grasps and pull up to close off the drain stopper. It is typically located on the back of the faucet – a vertical rod with a little nob on the top. |
| Main Clean Out | The main cleanout is typically located wherever the main sewer line exits from the foundation of the home. This could be in the flower bed in the front yard, in the basement where the pipe exits the foundation wall, or other places. |
| Municipal Water Supply | This is a term used when the homeowner purchases their water from the city and not from a from a well or a groundwater aquifer. (see also “city water”) |
| One-piece (toilet) | A one-piece toilet is where the bowl and tank are combined as one singular unit. |
| Overflow Tube (toilet) | An overflow tube is a vertical tube inside the tank of a toilet. Its purpose is to let water flow down into the bowl instead of overflowing the tank if the fill valve malfunctions. |
| P Trap / P-Trap | It’s shaped like a sideways “P” with the bend facing down and can be found under sinks, tubs and showers. A simple device, the P-trap holds just enough water to create an airtight seal that prevents sewer gas from backing up into your home. |
| PEX piping | PEX piping (or cross-linked polyethylene) is a type of flexible, plastic water supply piping that has replaced copper water piping in most applications over the last 15 years. |
| Pin Hole Leaks | A pinhole leak is a tiny leak that forms on a pipe, allowing water to leak out. A pinhole leak may continuously leak or intermittently dribble, sometimes sealing itself only to begin leaking again later. |
| Pop Up Assembly (sink) | A pop-up drain assembly is commonly used in bathroom sinks. A mechanical plug called a “pop-up stopper” is used to hold water in the sink. |
| Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) | These devices are usually installed on the main water line supplying water to the home. PRV’s exist to lower excessively high water pressure supplied to some homes to a safe pressure that the fixtures and piping are designed for. |
| PVC | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a type of plastic used for piping and fittings. It is mostly used for the drain system of the home to replace the older cast iron drain piping that was used by home’s built prior to the 1980s. Unlike cast iron, PVC pipes won’t rust, corrode, or degrade over time. They are also inexpensive and easy to work with. |
| Recirculation System | A hot water recirculation system is a plumbing system that moves hot water in a loop throughout the home so that fixtures which are farther away from the water heater can get hot quickly. (see also “dedicated return line” and “retrofit crossover”) |
| Retrofit Crossover | These are terms used to describe a type of recirculation system. This system uses a specially-designed tee fitting which allows hot water to cross over into the cold water system. By allowing this, the crossover (or bridge) fitting can complete a loop – allowing a pump to circulate recirculate hot water through a system without the need for a dedicated return line. |
| Rubber Bladder (expansion tank) | The rubber bladder inside of a thermal expansion tank separates a chamber of compressed air with the connection to the water system. When water heats up, it wants to expand. The rubber bladder moves and allows the air space inside the expansion tank to compress and absorb the excess volume of the thermally-expanded water. This prevents a pressure spike. |
| Saddle Tee Fitting | This is the term for a type of fitting that is made to tap into an existing plumbing line and create a “tee” connection without a traditional tee fitting installed int the pipe. The typical saddle fittings found in residential applications are unreliable and frequently result in leaks. |
| Self Rimming | Drop-in kitchen sinks, also called self-rimming sinks, overmount sinks, or top-mount sinks, are sink basins that install and sit on top of your kitchen counter. There is a visible rim or lip on the perimeter of the basin that rests just over the cut-out for the sink |
| Septic Tank | The septic tank is a buried, water-tight container usually made of concrete, fiberglass, or polyethylene. Its job is to hold the wastewater long enough to allow solids to settle down to the bottom forming sludge, while the oil and grease floats to the top as scum. The middle layer of water waste (often called effluent) can then drain into the leach field and be safely absorbed into the ground. |
| Sewer Tap | A sewer tap is the connection between your home’s sewer lateral (wastewater line) and the municipal sewer system. |
| Shut off Value (Fixture) | Fixture shut off valves are also called stop valves and they control water flow to individual plumbing fixtures, such as faucets and toilets. (see “angle stop”) |
| Shut Off Value (Main) | Inside the house, the main water shut-off valve is usually located along the perimeter of the home on the side that faces the street. If you have a basement, find the water distribution system and trace it back to an exterior wall. If the home has a slab foundation, the valve may be located in an interior wall behind a panel, or it may be located outside of the home in a buried box (often called a water box). |
| Spread (faucet) | The term spread refers to the distance between the hot and cold faucet handles of a two-handle faucet. The two most common handle designs are a single-handle and a two-handle faucet. |
| Stem | A faucet stem is the part in a faucet or shower assembly that controls the amount and flow of water that comes out of the faucet. In newer faucet designs, this piece was typically called a “cartridge”. In addition to turning the faucet on and off, some stems or cartridges act as a “diverter” which allows you to control whether the water flows to the tub spout, shower head, or any other arrangement. (see “cartridge”) |
| Stopper (bathroom sink) | Many bathroom sinks have a drain that can be closed to keep water in the basin. These are called stoppers, and they include a fitting that goes inside the drain, a lift rod to raise and lower the stopper valve, and connecting linkage pieces. This entire assembly is typically called a pop-up assembly. |
| Supply | A supply line, or a water supply line, is a metal or plastic pipe that helps transfer water from the main line to essential home fixtures, including showers, sinks, and toilets. |
| Tankless | A tankless water heater does not store hot water and gradually heat it up over time. Instead, it monitors the flow of water through the water heater to determine when hot water is needed and heats the water instantaneously as it passes through the heater. |
| Tee | Pipe tee fitting is a fitting that has a T shape. It has two outlets at an angle of 90° each and one main connection line. |
| Thermal Expansion Tank | When water heats up, it wants to expand. The rubber bladder inside of a thermal expansion tank moves and allows the air space inside the expansion tank to compress and absorb the excess volume of the thermally-expanded water. This prevents a pressure spike. |
| Trim | This refers to the decorative, visible parts of your shower or combo tub/shower faucet set: control and handle, shower head, and tub spout. |
| Two-piece (toilet) | A two-piece toilet consists of the bowl and tank as separate units that are connected. The tank still sits on the back of the toilet as you’d expect, but it’s technically a separate unit from the bowl. |
| Undermount | An undermount sink, also known as a bottom-mount sink, is considered more elegant because it creates a seamless flow from the counter to the sink. Undermount sinks are bonded from underneath to meet the counter at the top. |
| Union | A union is a threaded fitting which allows the pipe work to be separated and reconnected without any horizontal movement in the pipe. |
| Valve Body | In plumbing, the term valve body refers to the housing for a valve cartridge. The valve body contains an inlet and an outlet, with the valve cartridge controlling the flow of water. |
| Vent | Also called a vent stack, a plumbing vent is a vertical pipe attached to your drain line that runs through your roof. The plumbing vent pipe, or plumbing air vent, allows fresh air to enter the pipes, helping the water to flow out of the drain pipes without siphoning out the P-Traps. |
| Water Meter | Water meters measure the volume of water used by residential and commercial building units that are supplied with water by a public water supply system. |
| Weir | The weir is the upper bend of the p-trap in which the water would start to spill into the horizontal trap arm. With every use of the fixture, new wastewater flushes through the p-trap, replacing the old water in the curve with fresh water. |
| Well System | A well is a hole drilled into the ground to access water contained in an aquifer. A pipe and a pump are used to pull water out of the ground, and a screen filters out unwanted particles that could clog the pipe. |
| Widespread | Widespread faucets feature separate hot and cold handles that are independent from the spout and can be mounted on the countertop or on sinks. The spread between the handles is usually 8″ from center to center. (see “spread”) |
