# Plumbing Glossary — Hugo Plumbing Plain-language definitions of the plumbing terms Houston homeowners run into on estimates, inspection reports and insurance paperwork. Each entry explains what the term means, why it matters in Houston's slab-on-grade, clay-soil housing stock, and where to read more. 80 terms in 8 groups. Each term is also addressable at https://hugoplumbingtx.com/glossary#. ## Drains & Sewer Lines ### Sewer lateral *(also: sewer line, main drain, house sewer)* The single underground drain pipe that carries all wastewater from a building to the public sewer main (or a septic tank). Every sink, toilet, tub and floor drain in the house eventually joins it. **In Houston:** In the City of Houston and most area utility districts the homeowner owns and maintains the lateral all the way to its connection at the main, including the stretch under the yard and sidewalk. Read more: [Who is responsible for sewer line repair?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/who-is-responsible-for-sewer-line-repair-houston) · [Sewer line repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/sewer-line-repair) ### Cleanout *(also: sewer cleanout, two-way cleanout)* A capped access point on a drain or sewer line, usually a 3- or 4-inch pipe with a screw cap at ground level, that lets a plumber run a cable, jetter or camera into the line without pulling a toilet or going through a roof vent. A two-way cleanout has a Y that allows access toward the house and toward the street. **In Houston:** Many Houston homes built before the 1970s have no exterior cleanout; installing one is a common first step before sewer work. Read more: [How to find your sewer cleanout](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-to-find-your-sewer-cleanout-houston) ### P-trap *(also: trap, trap seal)* The U-shaped bend under every sink, tub and floor drain that holds a few inches of water. That water plug blocks sewer gas from coming up through the drain. If the water evaporates or gets siphoned out, the room smells like sewer. Read more: [Why does my house smell like sewer?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/why-does-my-house-smell-like-sewer) ### Vent stack *(also: plumbing vent, stack vent, DWV vent)* The vertical pipe that runs through the roof and lets air into the drain system so water can flow freely and trap seals are not siphoned. A blocked vent causes gurgling, slow drains and sewer odors even when the pipes are clear. Read more: [Toilet gurgles when the shower or washer drains](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/toilet-gurgles-when-shower-or-washer-drains-houston) ### DWV (drain-waste-vent) system The whole network of unpressurized pipes that carries wastewater out of a building (drain and waste) and the vents that let air in. Distinct from the pressurized water supply system. ### Belly (sag) *(also: low spot, sag in sewer line)* A section of sewer pipe that has settled lower than the pipe on either side, so water and solids pool there instead of flowing. Bellies cause repeat clogs and show up on a camera as standing water. **In Houston:** Houston's expansive clay soil shrinks in drought and swells in rain, which is why bellies are common here. A belly cannot be fixed by lining; that section has to be dug and re-graded. Read more: [Spot repair vs. full replacement](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/sewer-line-spot-repair-vs-full-replacement-houston) ### Offset joint A place where two sections of sewer pipe no longer line up, usually because the ground moved. The lip catches paper and solids and lets roots in. Minor offsets can be lined over; severe ones need a spot repair. ### Root intrusion Tree roots growing into a sewer pipe through a crack or joint in search of water. Roots start as fine hairs and grow into a mat that catches everything, then crack the pipe further as they thicken. **In Houston:** Live oaks and pecans are the usual culprits in Houston yards, especially with clay or cast iron lines. Read more: [Tree roots in Houston sewer lines](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/tree-roots-sewer-lines-houston) ### Channeling *(also: bottom rot)* Corrosion that eats away the bottom of a horizontal cast iron drain pipe, so the pipe becomes a channel open to the soil below. The top still looks like pipe on camera, but water and waste leak into the ground under the slab. Read more: [Cast iron pipes in older Houston homes](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/cast-iron-pipes-older-houston-homes) ### Scale (in drains) *(also: tuberculation)* Rough mineral and rust buildup on the inside of old cast iron drain pipes that narrows the opening and snags paper and grease. Hydro jetting removes scale; a cable only punches a hole through it. ### Orangeburg pipe Sewer pipe made of compressed wood fiber and tar, installed roughly 1945 to 1972. It softens, deforms and collapses with age and is replaced on discovery rather than repaired. ### Backwater valve *(also: backflow preventer (sewer), check valve on sewer)* A one-way flap installed in the sewer lateral that lets wastewater leave the house but closes if the public sewer surcharges and tries to push sewage back in. **In Houston:** Worth considering for Houston homes that have had sewage back up during heavy rain or a hurricane. Read more: [Hurricane season plumbing prep](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hurricane-season-plumbing-prep-houston) ### Sewer camera inspection *(also: sewer scope, video inspection)* Running a waterproof camera on a push cable through a drain or sewer line to see its condition from the inside. A sonde (transmitter) in the camera head lets a locator above ground mark the exact spot and depth of any problem. Read more: [Sewer camera inspection service](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/sewer-camera-inspection) · [Camera inspection before buying a house](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/sewer-camera-inspection-before-buying-a-house-houston) ### Hydro jetting *(also: jetting, water jetting)* Cleaning a drain or sewer line with a high-pressure water hose (typically 1,500 to 4,000 psi) fitted with a nozzle that cuts through grease, scale and roots and flushes the debris downstream. It cleans the full diameter of the pipe, unlike a cable that bores a hole. Read more: [Hydro jetting vs. snaking](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hydro-jetting-vs-snaking-houston) · [Hydro jetting cost in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hydro-jetting-cost-houston) ### Snaking (cabling) *(also: drain auger, cable machine, rooter)* Clearing a clog by feeding a flexible steel cable with a cutting head into the drain and spinning it to break up or retrieve the blockage. Fast and effective for soft clogs; it does not remove grease film or scale from the pipe wall. Read more: [Drain cleaning](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/drain-cleaning) ### Closet auger *(also: toilet auger)* A short, guarded hand auger shaped to go through a toilet's trap without scratching the bowl. The right tool for a clog in the toilet itself, as opposed to a clog farther down the drain. Read more: [Why does my toilet keep clogging?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/toilet-keeps-clogging-houston) ### Grease trap (grease interceptor) A tank on a commercial kitchen's drain line that slows wastewater so fats, oils and grease float to the top and are held back from the sewer. Pumped on a schedule set by the city and the trap's size. Read more: [Commercial plumbing](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/commercial-plumbing) ## Sewer & Pipe Repair Methods ### Trenchless sewer repair Any method that repairs or replaces a sewer line without digging a trench along its full length. The two main methods are pipe lining (CIPP) and pipe bursting; both need only one or two small access pits. Read more: [Trenchless sewer repair service](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/trenchless-sewer-repair) · [Trenchless vs. traditional sewer repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/trenchless-vs-traditional-sewer-repair-houston) ### Pipe lining (CIPP) *(also: cured-in-place pipe, sewer lining, epoxy lining)* A trenchless method where a resin-saturated felt or fiberglass tube is pulled or inverted into the old pipe, inflated, and cured into a hard, seamless new pipe inside the old one. Needs a host pipe that still holds its round shape. Read more: [Pipe bursting vs. pipe lining](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/pipe-bursting-vs-pipe-lining-houston) ### Pipe bursting A trenchless method where a cone-shaped head is pulled through the old pipe, shattering it outward while dragging a new HDPE pipe into its place. Can install a pipe one size larger than the original. Read more: [Pipe bursting vs. pipe lining](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/pipe-bursting-vs-pipe-lining-houston) ### Spot repair (point repair) *(also: sectional repair)* Fixing one short section of a sewer line, either by excavating just that spot and replacing the pipe or by placing a short liner over the defect from inside. The alternative to replacing the whole run. Read more: [Spot repair vs. full replacement](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/sewer-line-spot-repair-vs-full-replacement-houston) ### Tunneling (under-slab) Hand-digging a tunnel beneath a slab foundation from an access pit outside the house to reach and replace pipes under the slab, so floors inside are never cut. Slow and labor-intensive but leaves the living space intact. **In Houston:** The standard way to replace failed cast iron drains under a Houston slab home without tearing up tile and cabinets. Read more: [Tunneling vs. rerouting vs. through-slab repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/slab-leak-repair-tunnel-vs-reroute-vs-through-slab-houston) ### Reroute *(also: pipe reroute, overhead reroute)* Abandoning a leaking pipe under the slab and running a new line through the attic or walls to serve the same fixtures. Avoids breaking concrete; common for a hot-water slab leak when the rest of the under-slab copper is also aging. Read more: [Slab leak detection and repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/slab-leak-detection-and-repair) ### Repipe *(also: whole-house repipe, re-piping)* Replacing all of a home's water supply pipes (and sometimes the drains) with new material, usually PEX or copper, rather than fixing leaks one at a time. Read more: [Repiping service](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/repiping) · [PEX vs. copper for a Houston repipe](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/pex-vs-copper-repipe-houston) ### PEX *(also: cross-linked polyethylene)* Flexible plastic water supply tubing joined with crimp, clamp or expansion fittings. Resists corrosion and scale, tolerates freezing better than rigid pipe, and bends around corners with fewer joints. The most common repipe material today. Read more: [How long does PEX last?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-long-does-pex-last) ### Cast iron pipe Heavy black iron drain pipe used in homes built before roughly 1975. It lasts 50 to 75 years, then rusts from the inside out, scales, channels along the bottom and cracks at the joints. **In Houston:** Most pre-1975 Houston homes still have original cast iron drains under the slab, which is why sewer camera inspections and under-slab replacements are so common here. Read more: [How long do cast iron sewer pipes last?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-long-do-cast-iron-sewer-pipes-last-houston) ### HDPE pipe *(also: high-density polyethylene)* Tough black plastic pipe fused into one continuous, jointless length above ground and pulled into place during pipe bursting. Rated for 50-plus years and immune to root intrusion because it has no joints. ## Leaks, Slabs & Foundations ### Slab leak A leak in a water supply or drain pipe that runs beneath a concrete slab foundation. Signs include a warm spot on the floor, a water meter that spins with everything off, a jump in the water bill, damp flooring, or the sound of running water. **In Houston:** Houston is slab-on-grade country, and the clay soil's shrink-swell cycle stresses the copper and cast iron buried under the concrete. Read more: [Slab leaks: warning signs, causes and what to do](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/slab-leaks-in-houston-warning-signs-causes-and-what-to-do) · [Slab leak or regular pipe leak?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/slab-leak-vs-pipe-leak-how-to-tell-houston) ### Leak detection (electronic) Finding a hidden leak without demolition using acoustic listening equipment, pressure testing of the hot and cold lines separately, thermal imaging, tracer gas, or a camera, so the repair opening is small and in the right place. Read more: [Leak detection service](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/leak-detection) ### Hydrostatic test *(also: hydrostatic pressure test, drain line test)* A test for leaks in the drain system under a slab: a test ball is inflated in the sewer cleanout to block the line, the drains are filled with water to slab level, and the level is watched. If it drops, the under-slab drains are leaking. **In Houston:** Foundation repair companies commonly require a hydrostatic test before and after lifting a Houston home, since lifting can break old drain lines. Read more: [What is a hydrostatic plumbing test?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hydrostatic-plumbing-test-houston) ### Isolation test Narrowing a drain leak to one section by testing branches separately, for example plugging and filling the kitchen line alone after a whole-house hydrostatic test fails. Tells the plumber which fixtures' pipes need repair. ### Water meter leak test Turning off every fixture, noting the meter reading or watching the low-flow indicator, and checking again after 10 to 30 minutes. Any movement means water is leaving the system somewhere, which points to a pressurized supply leak. Read more: [Why is my water bill so high?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/why-is-my-water-bill-so-high-houston) ### Expansive clay soil *(also: shrink-swell soil, gumbo clay)* Soil with a high clay content that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. The movement lifts and drops foundations and the pipes under them, cracking joints and creating bellies in sewer lines. **In Houston:** The Houston area sits on some of the most expansive clay in the country, which drives much of its slab leak, sewer and foundation repair work. ## Water Supply & Pressure ### Main water shutoff valve *(also: house shutoff, main valve)* The valve that stops all water to the house. Usually a lever (ball valve) or wheel (gate valve) on an exterior wall near where the line enters, or near the water heater. The city meter box at the curb has a second valve that needs a meter key. Read more: [How to shut off your water main](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-to-shut-off-your-water-main-houston) ### Ball valve A shutoff valve with a lever handle that closes with a quarter turn. Handle in line with the pipe means open; across the pipe means closed. Preferred over gate valves because it seals reliably and closes fast. Read more: [Types of plumbing valves](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/mastering-the-flow-understanding-different-types-of-plumbing-valves) ### Gate valve An older style of shutoff valve with a round wheel handle that takes several turns to close. Prone to seizing or failing to seal fully after years without use; often replaced with a ball valve during repairs. ### Pressure reducing valve (PRV) *(also: pressure regulator)* A bell-shaped valve on the incoming water line that drops high municipal pressure to a safe level for the house, typically 50 to 70 psi. Plumbing codes generally cap residential static pressure at 80 psi. A failed PRV causes pressure that is too high, too low, or that fluctuates. Read more: [PRV replacement cost in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/pressure-reducing-valve-replacement-cost-houston) ### Water pressure (psi) The force pushing water through the pipes, measured in pounds per square inch with a gauge screwed onto a hose bib. Normal residential range is about 40 to 80 psi. Low pressure throughout the house points to the supply, PRV or main; low pressure at one fixture points to that fixture. Read more: [Low water pressure in Houston: causes and fixes](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/low-water-pressure-in-houston-causes-and-fixes) · [Low pressure in only one shower](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/why-is-my-water-pressure-low-in-only-one-shower-houston-homeowners-guide) ### Closed plumbing system A water supply system that cannot push water back toward the city main because a PRV, backflow preventer or check valve on the meter blocks it. When the water heater heats, the expanding water has nowhere to go, so a closed system needs an expansion tank. Read more: [Do you need an expansion tank?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-expansion-tank-required-houston) ### Backflow Water flowing backward from a building's plumbing into the public supply, which can carry contaminants with it. It happens when pressure drops in the main (a water main break, hydrant use) or when a pump or boiler pushes harder than the supply. ### Backflow preventer *(also: RPZ, double check valve assembly, PVB)* A device that keeps water from flowing backward into the public supply. Required on irrigation systems, fire sprinklers, commercial buildings and some residential connections, and tested annually by a licensed tester in most jurisdictions. Read more: [Backflow testing](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/backflow-testing) ### Hard water *(also: water hardness, grains per gallon (gpg))* Water with a high level of dissolved calcium and magnesium, measured in grains per gallon. Hard water leaves scale on fixtures, inside water heaters and tankless heat exchangers, and shortens appliance life. Softening removes the minerals by ion exchange. **In Houston:** Houston's water is moderately hard, roughly 7 to 12 grains per gallon depending on the source and season. Read more: [How Houston hard water damages your plumbing](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/houston-hard-water-how-it-damages-your-plumbing) · [Water softener vs. whole-house filter](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-softener-vs-whole-house-filter-houston) ### Water softener An appliance that removes hardness minerals by passing water through resin beads that swap calcium and magnesium for sodium or potassium, then regenerates the resin with a brine solution. Does not filter chlorine, sediment or taste. Read more: [Water softener and filtration](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/water-softener-and-filtration) ### Whole-house water filter *(also: point-of-entry filter)* A filter installed on the main line so every tap gets treated water. Carbon media removes chlorine, chloramine, taste and odor; sediment cartridges catch grit and rust. Does not soften water. ### Hose bib *(also: spigot, sillcock, outdoor faucet)* An outdoor faucet with a threaded spout for a garden hose. Also the easiest place to screw on a pressure gauge to test house water pressure. ### Water hammer The bang or thud in pipes when a valve closes fast (a washing machine or dishwasher solenoid, for example) and the moving water slams to a stop. Fixed with water hammer arrestors, by lowering pressure with a PRV, or by securing loose pipes. ## Water Heaters ### Tank (storage) water heater A water heater that keeps 30 to 80 gallons hot and ready in an insulated tank, heated by a gas burner or electric elements. Typical life is 8 to 12 years in a tank, less where water is hard or the unit is in a hot attic. Read more: [Water heater repair and installation](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/water-heater-repair-and-installation) · [How long does a water heater last?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-long-does-a-water-heater-last-houston) ### Tankless (on-demand) water heater A wall-mounted unit that heats water only as it flows through a heat exchanger, so there is no stored hot water and no standby loss. Sized by flow rate (gallons per minute) and the temperature rise needed. Read more: [Tankless water heater installation](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/tankless-water-heater-installation) · [Tank vs. tankless](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hot-water-heater-showdown-standard-vs-tankless) ### First-hour rating (FHR) How many gallons of hot water a tank heater can deliver in one hour starting full, combining tank size with recovery rate. The number to match against a household's busiest hour when sizing a tank. Read more: [What size water heater do you need?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/what-size-water-heater-do-i-need-houston) ### Temperature rise The difference between incoming groundwater temperature and the hot water setpoint. A tankless unit's flow capacity in gallons per minute falls as the required rise grows. **In Houston:** Houston's incoming water runs about 60 to 75 degrees, so a tankless unit only has to add 45 to 60 degrees to reach 120, which means it delivers more flow here than the same unit would up north. ### Temperature and pressure relief valve (T&P valve) *(also: relief valve, pop-off valve)* A safety valve on the side or top of a water heater that opens to release water if the tank gets too hot (about 210 degrees) or pressure exceeds about 150 psi. It must never be capped. A T&P valve that drips usually signals thermal expansion or high house pressure, not a bad valve. Read more: [T&P valve dripping or leaking?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-tp-valve-dripping-houston) ### Thermal expansion tank A small tank with an air bladder plumbed into the cold side of a water heater that absorbs the extra volume created when water heats and expands. Generally required by code on closed systems; a 2-gallon tank fits most 40- to 50-gallon residential heaters. Read more: [Do you need an expansion tank in Houston?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-expansion-tank-required-houston) ### Anode rod *(also: sacrificial anode)* A magnesium or aluminum rod inside a tank water heater that corrodes instead of the steel tank. Once it is used up, the tank itself starts to rust. Checking and replacing it every few years is the single best way to extend a tank's life. Read more: [Water heater maintenance](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/water-heater-maintenance) ### Dip tube The plastic tube that carries incoming cold water from the top of a tank heater down to the bottom, where the burner or element is. A broken dip tube lets cold water mix at the top, so showers run lukewarm even though the heater works. Read more: [No hot water: troubleshooting](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/no-hot-water-troubleshooting-houston) ### Sediment (water heater) Minerals that settle out of heated water and collect at the bottom of a tank. A sediment layer insulates the water from the burner, causing popping and rumbling, slow recovery, higher gas or electric bills, and early tank failure. Removed by draining and flushing. Read more: [Water heater making popping or rumbling noises](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-making-noise-popping-rumbling) ### Water heater drain pan *(also: drip pan, safe pan)* A shallow metal or plastic pan under a water heater, with a drain line to the outside or an approved location, that catches a leak before it damages floors or ceilings. Generally required wherever a leak would cause damage, which includes attics and finished spaces. Read more: [Water heater in the attic](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-in-attic-houston) ### Descaling (tankless flush) *(also: tankless flush, vinegar flush)* Circulating white vinegar or a descaling solution through a tankless water heater's heat exchanger for 45 to 60 minutes to dissolve mineral scale. Done through the isolation valves on the unit; yearly is the common baseline, more often with hard water. Read more: [How often to flush a tankless water heater](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/tankless-water-heater-flush-how-often-houston) ### Hot water recirculation pump *(also: recirc loop)* A small pump that keeps hot water moving through the pipes (or back through the cold line with a crossover valve) so hot water arrives at distant fixtures in seconds instead of minutes. Read more: [Hot water takes too long to arrive](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/hot-water-takes-too-long-houston) ### Pilot light / thermocouple On a standing-pilot gas water heater, the pilot is a small always-on flame that lights the main burner, and the thermocouple is the sensor that shuts off gas if the pilot goes out. A pilot that will not stay lit is usually a thermocouple, a dirty pilot assembly or a draft problem. Read more: [Water heater pilot light won't stay lit](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-pilot-light-wont-stay-lit) ## Gas Lines ### Gas pressure test Capping a gas piping system, pressurizing it with air to a test pressure well above operating pressure, and watching a gauge for a set time to prove there are no leaks. Required by inspectors after new gas piping or repairs. Read more: [Gas line installation and repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/gas-line-installation-and-repair) ### Sediment trap (drip leg) A short capped tee on the gas line just before an appliance that catches debris and moisture so it does not reach the gas valve. A code item inspectors look for on water heater installs. ### CSST (corrugated stainless steel tubing) Flexible yellow- or black-jacketed gas tubing used instead of rigid black iron pipe. Must be bonded to the home's grounding system to reduce lightning damage risk. ### Gas leak (what to do) If you smell rotten eggs (the odorant added to natural gas), leave the building without flipping switches or using phones inside, then call the gas utility and 911 from outside. A plumber repairs the leak after the utility makes the line safe. Read more: [Smell gas in the house? What to do](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/smell-gas-in-house-what-to-do) ## Fixtures & Fittings ### Toilet flapper The rubber seal at the bottom of a toilet tank that lifts to flush and drops to let the tank refill. A warped or mineral-coated flapper is the most common cause of a running toilet and a silently high water bill. Read more: [Running toilet: causes and fixes](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/running-toilet-causes-and-fixes) ### Fill valve (ballcock) The valve in a toilet tank that refills it after a flush and shuts off at the set water level. A fill valve that sticks or is set too low causes weak flushes; set too high, it runs into the overflow tube. ### Wax ring The wax seal between the base of a toilet and the flange on the floor. A failed wax ring leaks at the base, lets sewer gas into the bathroom, and can rot the subfloor. Replaced whenever a toilet is pulled. Read more: [Toilet repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/toilet-repair) ### Closet flange (toilet flange) The ring that anchors a toilet to the floor and connects it to the drain pipe. A cracked or low flange causes a rocking toilet and recurring wax ring leaks. ### Gallons per flush (gpf) *(also: low-flow toilet, MaP rating)* How much water a toilet uses per flush. Federal standard is 1.6 gpf; high-efficiency toilets use 1.28 or less. Early-1990s 1.6 gpf toilets often flushed poorly; a modern toilet with a high MaP (Maximum Performance) score clears more with less water. Read more: [Toilet installation cost in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/toilet-installation-cost-houston) ### Faucet cartridge The replaceable valve inside a single-handle faucet or shower valve that controls flow and mixes hot and cold. Dripping, stiff handles and temperature drift usually mean a worn cartridge, not a new faucet. Read more: [Faucet repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/faucet-repair) ### Angle stop (supply stop) The small shutoff valve under a sink or behind a toilet where the supply line connects. Lets you shut off one fixture without turning off the house. Old multi-turn stops often fail to close; quarter-turn replacements are standard. ### Garbage disposal A motor-driven grinding chamber under the kitchen sink that shreds food waste into the drain. Humming without spinning means a jam; dead silence means a tripped reset or power; a leak location (top, side, bottom) tells you which part failed. Read more: [Garbage disposal repair](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/garbage-disposal-repair) · [Garbage disposal problems](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/garbage-disposal-problems-houston) ### AC condensate drain line The PVC line that carries water pulled from the air by an air conditioner's evaporator coil to a drain outside or into the plumbing. When it clogs with algae, the pan overflows and water shows up at the ceiling or near the air handler, which is often mistaken for a plumbing leak. Read more: [Clogged AC drain line in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/clogged-ac-drain-line-houston) ## Permits, Code & Process ### Plumbing permit Authorization from the city or county to perform plumbing work that affects safety or the public system, followed by an inspection. Water heater replacements, repipes, sewer replacements, gas work and new construction typically require one; pulled by the licensed plumber, not the homeowner. **In Houston:** The City of Houston requires a permit and inspection for water heater replacement. Unincorporated Harris County has no residential plumbing permit program, though MUDs and cities within the county have their own rules. Read more: [Water heater permits in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/water-heater-permit-houston) ### Master plumber (MPL) *(also: Responsible Master Plumber, RMP)* The highest Texas plumbing license, issued by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners after years as a journeyman and an exam. A plumbing company must operate under a Responsible Master Plumber's license number, which should appear on its trucks, website and invoices. Read more: [How to choose a plumber in Houston](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-plumber-in-houston) ### Texas 811 (call before you dig) The free statewide service that notifies utilities to mark buried gas, electric, water and communication lines before any excavation. Texas law requires a locate request at least two working days before digging; the marks are in standard colors (yellow gas, blue water, green sewer). ### Flat-rate pricing *(also: upfront pricing)* Quoting one fixed price for a defined job, labor and materials included, before the work starts, rather than billing by the hour. The price is the same whether the job takes one hour or four. Read more: [Pricing](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/pricing) ### Diagnostic fee / trip charge *(also: service call fee, dispatch fee)* A fee some plumbers charge to come out and assess a problem, sometimes credited toward the repair. Not all companies charge one; ask before booking. Read more: [How much does a plumber cost in Houston?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/how-much-does-a-plumber-cost-in-houston) ### Service line coverage *(also: utility line insurance)* An optional homeowners insurance endorsement (or a separate plan) that covers repair of the buried water, sewer, gas and electrical lines on the homeowner's side of the property line, which a standard policy excludes when they fail from age, roots or settling. Read more: [Does homeowners insurance cover sewer line repair?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/sewer-line-insurance-service-line-coverage-houston) ### Plumbing inspection (home purchase) A plumber's evaluation of a home's water supply, drains, water heater, gas and fixtures, often paired with a sewer camera inspection, done during a buyer's option period. More thorough than the plumbing portion of a general home inspection, which is visual and does not scope the sewer. Read more: [Plumbing inspection service](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/plumbing-inspection) ### Plumbing emergency Any plumbing failure that is actively causing damage or a safety risk: a burst or gushing pipe, sewage backing up inside, a gas smell, no water to the house, or a water heater leaking from the tank. Shut off the water (or leave the house for gas) first, then call. Read more: [What counts as a plumbing emergency?](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/blog/what-is-a-plumbing-emergency-houston) · [Emergency plumbing](https://hugoplumbingtx.com/services/emergency-plumbing) ## Contact & Booking - **Book online:** https://book.housecallpro.com/book/Hugo-Plumbing/a36279ec67c14456b0b25f1f992b2f4e?v2=true - **Call or text:** (713) 409-7176 (tel:+17134097176) - **Request service form:** https://hugoplumbingtx.com/contact - **Hours:** Open 24/7 for Emergency Service --- *Canonical page: https://hugoplumbingtx.com/glossary · Machine-readable index: https://hugoplumbingtx.com/llms.txt · Data: https://hugoplumbingtx.com/api/business.json*