Plumbing and Pipe Fittings Glossary

Posted by John Woodard on August 27, 2019

plumbing fittings

Pipe fittings come in many types and sizes, which can make shopping for plumbing projects confusing. Knowing plumbing terms, like NPT, PEX, OD, or ID, can help you determine which size or type of fitting you need. Here are plumbing and pipe fitting terms we've defined to help you become a plumbing expert. 

A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U W

    A

    Access Panel

    A small door installed on a wall to provide access to a plumbing valve or connection.

    Adapter

    A fitting to connect different types or sizes of fittings, piping or tubing that cannot be connected directly to a pipe or tubing.

    Browse adapters.

    Air Gap

    Vertical air space that separates the potable water outlet of a plumbing fixture from a drain connection to prevent cross contamination.  For example, a dedicated drinking water faucet with an integrated air-gap is commonly used with reverse osmosis systems.  An air gap device, such as the Inline Gap-A-Flo AG150, is used to connect the drain line from a water conditioner to the plumbing waste line.

    Browse air gap devices.

    Browse air gap faucets.

    Learn why an air gap leaks and how to fix it.

    Angle Stop

    A small 90-degree valve that transitions from household plumbing to supply lines to faucets or to toilet fixtures; can be quickly turned off in case of leaks.

    Browse angle stops.

    B

    Ball Valve

    Valve that uses a lever to quarter-turn a pivoting ball inside to control fluid flow.  The valve is OPEN when the lever is in-line (parallel) with the valve, thus allowing fluid to pass through the ball’s hole.  The valve is CLOSED when the lever is turned 90-degrees (perpendicular) to the supply line valve.

    Browse ball valves.

    Barbed Fitting 

    A type of tubing connection that pushes into the inside of a tube, typically used with softer wall tubing. Barbs hold the tubing from coming off. Some installations require adding an outer clamp to keep the tubing from coming off under pressure.

    Browse barbed fittings.

    barbed fitting

    Branch

    Any part of a plumbing distribution system that is not the main, riser or stack.

    BSPP

    British Standard Parallel Pip (straight)

    A specific standardized thread type used throughout Europe, Asia (not so much in China and Japan), Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Straight thread version requires an O-ring or gasket to make the seal. Thread sealant not required.

    BSPT

    British Standard Pipe Thread (tapered)

    A thread type used primarily in China and Japan. Tapered with a 60-degree pitch thread (NPT has a 55 degree thread pitch) require tape or a sealing compound to ensure a good seal.

    Bulkhead Fitting

    A fitting that connects plumbing or tubing through the wall of a tank or vessel.

    Browse bulkhead fittings.

    Bushing

    A plumbing fitting used to reduce or enlarge to join different pipe sizes.

    Browse bushings.

    C

    Caliper

    A measuring device used to determine inner and outer dimensions.

    caliper

    Cap

    A fitting used on the end of a pipe or tube to seal.

    Browse caps.

    Check Valve

    A fitting that only allows water or air flow in one direction.

    Browse check valves.

    Close

    A term used for a connecting a nipple fitting with no unthreaded area.

    Collet

    The inner ring that acts as the grabber when tubing is inserted. When used in regard to a quick-connect or push-to-connect fitting.

    Browse collet covers and clips.

    Compression Fitting

    A type of threaded fitting used to connect copper, stainless steel, or plastic tubing by compressing a sleeve (ferrule) between a nut and the fitting body.  Plastic tube also requires a tube insert (tube support) to prevent the pliable/flexible tube from collapsing when the compression nut and ferrule is tightened.

    compression fitting

    Browse compression fittings.

    Learn how to use a compression fitting.

    Copper

    A common material used in plumbing pipe and fittings that comes in various wall thickness for various water, oil, and gas applications including potable water, waste pipe, and vent pipe. Most common is type L (underground and heavy duty), M (available in both rigid and flexible forms used for inside wall home installations) , and K (rigid form used for residential water-supply lines).

    Coupler

    A fitting that joins pipe or tubing together by gluing (PVC, CPVC), welding (steel), brazing or soldering (copper, brass etc.), or fusing (polypropylene, PVDF).

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    CPVC

    Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride

    A household pipe material, an alternative to copper or PEX.

    Cross

    A plumbing fitting that joins four tubes like an intersection.

    CTS

    Copper Tube Size

    A plumbing size classification based on the nominal pipe size or inner diameter.

    D

    Deburr

    The process of cleaning and smoothing the end of the pipe after cutting prior to installing a fitting.

    Degradation

    In plumbing terms, can refer to the loss of material integrity such as corrosion.

    E

    Elbow

    A plumbing fitting that turns 90 degrees.

    Browse elbows.

    End-Stop

    A fitting used at the end of a pipe to seal, also referred to as a cap.

    Browse end-stops.

    F

    Female Thread

    Threads on the inside diameter of a fitting or pipe.

    Ferrule

    The centerpiece of a compression fitting, also referred to as a sleeve.

    FIP

    Female Iron Pipe

    A standardized thread type; female threads are on the inside diameter of the pipe.

    Fitting

    Any plumbing part used to join or cap pipe or tubing.

    Browse all fittings.

    Fixture

    A plumbing term that refers to faucets, shower heads, toilets, and laundry outlets. Estimating peak flow rates for a household is accomplished by adding up all fixtures.

    Browse faucets and fixtures.

    Flange

    A pipe connection fitting that bolts to another flange; typically used with large diameter pipe 3” and above.

    Browse flanges.

    Flare Fittings

    A type of compression fitting used with metal tubing, usually soft steel, ductile (soft) copper and aluminum, though other materials are also used. Tube flaring is considered to be a type of forging operation and is usually a cold-working procedure. Thread Sealant is not typically used with flare fittings.

    Float Valve

    An automatic valve activated by a floating ball on the end of a rod.  A toilet mechanism is an example.

    Browse float valves.

    FPT

    Female Pipe Tapered

    Standardized pipe thread type.

    G

    Gasket

    A sealing material used with certain fittings and plumbing fixtures.  A garden hose connection uses a gasket.

    Browse gaskets.

    GHT

    Garden Hose Thread

    Standard Thread type used for garden hose.

    H

    HDPE

    High Density Polyethylene

    Tubing made from polyethylene that is stiffer and less flexible than the more commonly used LLDPE.

    HEX

    Hose Barb

    Type of tubing connection that pushes into the inside of a tube to hold the tubing in place, typically used with softer wall tubing.  Some installations require an additional outer clamp to keep the tubing from coming off under pressure.

    Browse hose barbs.

    Learn how to use a hose barb fitting.

    I

    ID

    Inner Diameter

    Dimensional measurement used commonly with pipes.  The inner diameter is also called the nominal pipe dimension to describe flow rate dimension.  Copper Tube Size (CTS) is based on the inner diameter of a pipe.

    In-Line

    A term used to describe a filter or filter housing placed in household plumbing.

    IPT

    Iron Pipe Thread

    Standardized pipe thread type.  Most commonly named by gender of the threads, MIP (male iron pipe) or FPT (female iron pipe).

    K

    Kynar

    Brand name for plastic material, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). See PVDF.

    L

    LLDPE

    Linear Low Density Polyethylene

    Most commonly used tubing material for connecting water filtration devices. It is a bit softer and more flexible than HDPE (high density polyethylene).

    Locking Clip

    A tool used with most quick-connect or push-to-connect fittings to hold tubing in place.

    Browse locking clips.

    Luer

    Luer fittings are a standardized system of small-scale fluid fittings commonly used on medical and laboratory instruments; named after an early 20th-century instrument maker.

    Browse luers.

    M

    Male Thread

    Threaded fitting with threads on the outside.  Common types include male NPT, male compression, male BSPP, male BSPT, male iron pipe (MIP), and male flare.

    MFL

    Male Flared Fitting

    MIP

    Male Iron Pipe

    male thread

    N

    Needle Valve

    A type of valve with a needle-shaped plunger that allows precise regulation of fluid flow.

    Browse needle valves.

    Nipple

    A straight pipe coupler with male threads on each end.

    Browse nipples.

    Nominal Pipe Size

    Measurement of pipe based on the inner diameter (not actual diameter). Fitting measurement is based on nominal pipe size, so they are actually larger in diameter than their labeled size. 

    NPT

    National Pipe Tapered

    National pipe thread is tapered with a 55-degree pitch and is the most common standardized thread type used in the U.S. The tapered design mashes together when male and female parts are tightened.  Thread sealant is required. When using Teflon Tape, typically only 2 turns is needed.  Pipe Dope (pipe-joint compound) may also be used on metal fittings and some plastic fittings.

    NPT thread

    NPS

    National Pipe Straight

    Standardized thread type. Straight threads are designed to bottom out on a gasket or O-ring to make the seal.

    O

    OD

    Outer Diameter

    Outer diameter of tubing. Pipe is measured by the inner diameter, which is nominally sized (i.e. CTS).

    O-ring

    Rubber type of gasket.

    Browse O-rings.

    o-rings

    P

    Panel Mount

    The term used when a product is designed to install on board or panel, such as a pressure gauge.

    PE

    Polyethylene

    A thermoplastic polymer used extensively as a tubing material for water distribution.

    PEX

    Refers to polyethylene tubing that has been cross-linked for additional structural strength to create pipe used mostly in household plumbing as an alternative to copper, PVC, and CPVC.

    Pipe Cutter

    A tool used to cut pipe.

    Browse pipe cutters.

    Pipe Dope

    The term used for plumbing sealant to create a watertight seal on fitting threads.

    Pipe Fitting

    A widely used term that includes any fitting used to connect tubing or pipe.

    Browse pipe fittings.

    Pipe Thread

    Each standardized thread type is designed for a specific application. Knowing the thread type of a pipe or fitting is important because fittings only mate with parts of the same thread type.

    Learn how to determine pipe thread type and pipe size.

    pipe thread

    Pipe Size

    Determined by the pipe’s inner diameter (ID) to account for flow rate capacity.

    Plug

    A fitting used to close an open female fitting.

    Browse plugs.

    Pressure Regulator

    A plumbing device used to reduce pressure, often from the city supply before it enters the house.

    Browse pressure regulators.

    Push-to-Connect Fitting

    A category of fittings that connect tubing or pipe by pushing the fitting onto the tube.

    Learn how to use a SharkBite push-connect fitting.

    push-to-connect fittings

    PVC

    Material commonly used to make plastic pipes.

    PVDF

    Material used for fittings when chemical compatibility is needed.  PVDF has a higher chemical tolerance than polypropylene and acetal plastic, more commonly used in tube fittings.

    Q

    Quick-Connect Fitting

    A category of fittings that allows for easy installation onto a pipe or tube (aka push-to-connect or push-in fitting).

    Browse quick-connect fittings.

    Learn how to use a quick-connect fitting.

    quick-connect fittings

    Quick-Disconnect Fitting

    A category of tube fittings designed for frequent connections and disconnections with an optional built-in valve to stop the flow of fluid upon disconnecting (aka quick-couplings or interchange quick-coupling).

    Browse quick-disconnect fittings.

    Learn how to use a quick-disconnect fitting.

    R

    Reducer

    A plumbing fitting that connects tubing of different sizes.

    Browse reducers.

    Run

    The straight part of a plumbing tee. The 90-degree outlet is called the branch.

    S

    Sleeve

    The ferrule in a compression fitting.

    Slip/ Socket

    The term used to describe glue and solvent pipe connections, such as PVC or CPVC.

    Solder

    When copper pipes are joined together by melting a soft metal alloy into the fittings.

    Solenoid/ Shut-Off Valve

    An electronically activated, automatic valve that controls water flow by opening or closing.

    Browse shut-off valves.

    Straight Thread

    Non-tapered threads that retain the same diameter.

    Street Elbow

    An elbow fitting with male threads on one end and female on the other.

    T

    Tapered Thread

    Threads that become narrow as they extend.

    tapered thread

    Tee

    Common plumbing fitting that joins three tubes or pipes together. The straight part is called the run, and the 90-degree outlet is called the branch.

    Browse tees.

    Teflon Tape

    PTFE tape (aka plumber's tape) is a type of pipe sealant wrapped in a clockwise direction on NPT and BSPT pipe threads. Compression fittings do not require a sealant.  BSPP threaded fittings use a bonded seal ring gasket to make the positive seal. Low-density white Teflon tape is used on water lines. Yellow Teflon tape is used for gas lines.

    Browse Teflon tape.

    Thread Dimension

    Measurements of thread per inch of a particular thread type. 

    Thread Size

    Typically based on the nominal pipe size (which is approximate inner diameter) so they are always larger in diameter than their labelled size. 

    Learn more about pipe dimensions and thread sizes

    Torque

    Measured by foot pounds (a unit of energy equal to the amount required to raise one pound a distance of one foot), torque is the amount of force used to tighten a bolt or threaded part. 

    Torque Wrench

    A wrench with a gauge to determine amount of torque used to tighten a bolt or threaded part. 

    Tubing

    A term used for smaller diameter plastic pipe. 

    Learn more about water pipes and plastic tubing

    U

    U-Bend

    A fitting that connects tubing in the shape of a U. 

    Browse U-Bend fittings.

    UNF

    Unified Fine Thread

    A standardized thread type. 

    Union

    A fitting that connects two pipes of tubes. 

    Browse union fittings

    UNS

    Unified National Special 

    A standardized thread type. 

    W

    Wye

    A plumbing fitting commonly used as an access point for drainage, featuring a 45° branch line to maintain a smooth flow. 

    Browse wye fittings

     

     

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