Common Plumbing Terms You Should Know, Part 1

When you call your Orlando plumber when you have a plumbing question or a concern, you may not understand what they are saying. Professional plumbers are used to speaking “plumbing,” so you’ll have to excuse the times when we forget you may not know what we are saying.

Choice Plumbing Orlando is your top plumber in Orlando. Offering both residential and commercial plumbing services, we can fix any plumbing problem you may have, from leaky faucets and clogged toilets to backflow problems and overflowing grease traps. We have the experience, knowledge, and know-how to fix your plumbing for good. Below, we’ll go over a few of the most common plumbing terms, so you’ll know what we’re talking about next time you call us. Contact us for all your plumbing service needs!

COMMON PLUMBING TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Apprentice Plumber

An apprentice plumber is one who is still learning the plumbing trade and is not yet certified. There are various requirements in order to be a certified plumber, which vary from state to state. Here in Florida, to be a plumber you must have at least four years of experience to obtain your Journeyman Plumbing license and be at least 18 years old. You must pass an exam and have completed an apprentice program. Master plumbers have even more experience, with at least seven years of experience, two of which has to be as a Journeyman plumber. As you can see, when you partner with your certified Orlando plumber, you are getting the best of the best. All of the plumbers at Choice Plumbing Orlando are certified with various degrees and levels of experience.

CPVC Piping

Like most abbreviations, CPVC is easier to say the letters then the name. CPVC stands for chlorinated poly-vinyl chloride pipe. There are various different types of pipes that your plumber in Orlando will use. This one is a type of plastic piping that is gaining in popularity because it is more resistant to heat and pressure than traditional PVC (polyvinyl chloride) piping. It all boils down to the different molecular structure that makes this piping a cut above the rest.

Flapper

You may be thinking of the fashion-forward women of the Roaring 20s when you hear the word flapper with short skirts, bobbed hair, and feather boas, which is not what flapper is referring to in plumbing. A flapper in plumbing is a hinge that shuts off the flow of water in a shut off valve. You see flappers at the bottom of your toilet water tank that is a simple piece of plastic that is raised and lowered, controlled the flush cycle of a toilet.

GPM

GPM simply stands for gallons per minute. You’ll most likely hear your Orlando plumber say this plumbing term frequently when referring to how many gallons a plumbing fixture is using.

Low-flow

You’ve probably heard low-flow quite frequently since it has to do with water conservation in your home. Low-flow refers to outlet and/or fixtures that allow a smaller amount of water to flow than normal. Examples include low-flow shower heads, faucets, and toilets.

WHEN TO CALL YOUR PLUMBER IN ORLANDO FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT PLUMBING

Choice Plumbing in Orlando frequently is asked when to call us for plumbing issues, problems, and questions. Our answer is simple: any time! If you think you may have a plumbing problem, call us sooner rather than later. Depending on the type of plumbing problem, these can quickly compound into a full-blown plumbing emergency, which could result in heavy damage to your home — something we definitely do not want. Oftentimes, we may be able to help you right over the phone if it’s something simple without having to make a service call.

Your Orlando Plumber, Choice Plumbing, is available 24/7 for emergency plumbing issues and questions, even on the holidays. Call us today for your next plumbing inspection!

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