Drain maintenance terms, in plain English.

A

Air gap

A visible gap between a drain line and the fixture or drain it empties into, which prevents backflow.

B

Backflow

Water flowing the wrong way in a pipe, which can pull wastewater back toward a building.

Backwater valve

A one-way valve in the sewer line that closes if wastewater tries to flow backward into the house.

Baseline visit

A first cleaning and check that records the starting condition of a property’s drains.

Biofilm

A slimy layer of microbes and residue that coats the inside of drains and causes odors.

Branch line

A drain pipe serving one or more fixtures that joins the main sewer line.

C

Cable machine

A motorized drum with a flexible cable and cutting head used to clear drains.

Camera check-up

A recorded trip through a pipe with a waterproof camera to see its condition.

Catch basin

A box under a grate that collects surface water and traps silt before it enters a pipe.

Cleanout

A capped pipe that gives direct access to the sewer line for cleaning and inspection.

Condensate line

A small drain line that carries water from air conditioners, ice machines and coffee machines.

D

Descaling

Removing mineral scale and rust from the inside of a pipe.

Drain field

The area of soil where septic tank effluent is dispersed.

Dry trap

A drain trap whose water seal has evaporated, letting sewer air into a room.

E

Effluent filter

A filter on the outlet of a septic tank that keeps solids from reaching the drain field.

Enzyme treatment

A product containing enzymes or microbes that digest light organic buildup in drains.

F

Floor drain

A drain set in a floor, typically with a trap, in basements, garages, laundry rooms and kitchens.

Flow test

Running measured water through a drain to see how quickly and freely it leaves.

FOG

Fats, oils and grease: the leading cause of kitchen drain and sewer line blockages.

G

Grease interceptor

A large trap, often outdoors or underground, that separates grease from kitchen wastewater.

Grease trap

A smaller device, often in-floor, that catches fats, oils and grease before they enter the sewer.

H

Hydro-jetting

Cleaning a pipe with high-pressure water from a nozzle on a hose.

I

Interval

The time between scheduled visits, such as three months or a year.

L

Lateral

The private sewer pipe running from a building to the public sewer main.

Lint trap

A screen or bag that catches lint before it enters the laundry drain.

M

Main sewer line

The principal drain pipe that carries all of a building’s wastewater to the street or tank.

Maintenance plan

A schedule of planned cleaning and checks, with records, that fits a property.

O

Orangeburg

A mid-century pipe of tar-impregnated fiber that deforms and collapses with age.

P

P-trap

A curved section of drain pipe that holds water to block sewer air.

Pumping

Removing the contents of a grease trap or septic tank with a vacuum truck.

Q

Quarter-full rule

A guideline to service a grease trap before it is about a quarter full of grease and solids.

R

Root intrusion

Tree roots growing into a sewer pipe through joints or cracks.

S

Scale

A hard crust of minerals and rust that forms inside pipes.

Septic system

An on-site wastewater system with a tank and drain field, used where there is no public sewer.

Service record

A dated note of what was cleaned or checked at a visit.

Silt

Fine particles of soil and sand that settle in drains, sumps and catch basins.

Stack

The vertical drain pipe in a building that carries waste from upper floors down to the main line.

Standpipe

A vertical pipe that receives the drain hose of a washing machine.

Sump pit

A basin in a basement or crawl space where groundwater collects for the pump.

T

Trap primer

A device that adds water to a trap automatically so it does not dry out.

Trench drain

A long, narrow drain set in a floor or pavement to collect water along its length.

V

Vent stack

A pipe that lets air into the drain system so water flows freely and traps keep their seals.

W

Walkthrough

The first visit to a property to find its drains, cleanouts and trouble spots.

Wye

A Y-shaped pipe fitting that joins one drain line to another at an angle.

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