Glossary Category: Sewer

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene. Black piping materail used in many plumbing applications. Considered stronger than PVC, resists abrasion and functional in low temperatures. ABS is affected by exposure to sunlight.

This refers to the pitch or angle of a pipe underground. Back fall means the pitch is tilted back towards house instead of forward to main sewer line.

Refers to overflow of sewage waste in floor drain or clean out.

Line that branches off the homeowners sewer line. This could be a line associated with sink, toilet or shower drain.

Refers to materail such as string, hair or lint soaking up water and draining unused trap over time breaking the water seal and allowing sewer gases to enter household.

Common material for metal sewer lines.

Able to burn or corrode organic tissue by chemical action.

Refers to deterioration and corrosion on the bottom of a cast iron pipe. Typically sewage and waste water collect in bottom of the pipe potentially causing back ups.

Cured in Place Piping. Process of trenchless sewer line repair.

Crack that has formed around the inside of the pipe. Typically occurs in terra cotta sewer lines.

PVC tube located in yard or driveway that allows access to sewer line to clean and camera. Also any pipe that has a cap or opening to sewer acces is …

Special auger designed to fit through interal toilet trap and remove clog.

Highest point of outlet bend of a p-trap which maintains the water seal and prevent sewer gas backflow into the room

Large canister trap looking that does not self clean like a p or s trap. Typically not allowed by code. Water stays in bottom of trap to prevent sewer gas …

Flexible coupling that are tightened around pipes to connect pipes together.

Commonly found in lowest level of home. Floor drains are openings to the sanitary sewer line of home.

Also ventilation and proper flow to sewer line system typically found in homeowners yard (also known as clean out).

Standard residential toilet that relies on gravity to carry water and waste into sewer line.

Any waste water that does not contain fecel matter. This would be waste water for sinks, baths, washing machines and kitchen appliances.