air ducts: pipes that carry warm and cold air to rooms and return back to the heating and cooling system.
air gap: the unobstructed vertical distance between the lowest opening of a faucet which supplies a plumbing fixture (such as tank or wash bowl) and the level at which the fixture will overflow. (usually the rim) This is typically provided by a mechanical device called an "air gap". It is also accomplished by a physical 1 inch separation between the end of the spout and the rim of the fixture.
asbestos: fine, flexible, noncombustible material. It can withstand high temperatures without change.
atmospheric: (HVAC) where a heater relies on the surrounding atmosphere for air supply. Air is not forced through unit, but is naturally draft vented. Also called a "gravity system". These are typically found in older homes in a basement or as floor heaters.
basement: any building story having a floor below ground level. (grade)
beam: principal horizontal wood, steel or concrete support members of a building.
bearing wall: wall that supports a floor or roof of a building.
blower: (HVAC) fan used to force air under pressure.
bonding wire: (pool) an approved conductor that connects all electrical equipment to the metal mesh or reinforcing bar frame that is embedded in the walls of the pool.
box (junction box): (electrical) metal or plastic enclosure within which electrical connections are made; has removable cover to provide easy access.
BTU: (HVAC) British Thermal Unit. (A unit of heat.) The amount of heat required to raise one gram of water, one degree centigrade.
burner assemblies: (HVAC) the gas burners used in a furnace or wall heater.
burner tubes: (HVAC) tubes that have holes in them where gas comes out and is ignited.
casing: window and door trim.
caulking: a resilient material used to seal cracks, fill joints, prevent leakage, and/or provide water proofing.
central heating system: a boiler or furnace connected and installed as an integral part of the structure and designed to supply heat adequately for the entire structure.
chimney: vertical masonry shaft of reinforced concrete or other approved noncombustible heat-resisting material enclosing one or more flues. The chimney removes the products of combustion from solid, liquid or gaseous fuel.
circuit: path of electrical flow from a power source through a fixture and return to ground or neutral.
circuit breaker: device that interrupts electrical flow automatically in case of an overload in the circuit. The circuit breaker can be reset by either a switch or push-button.
condensate line: drain line attached to the evaporative coil of an air conditioner to remove condensation.
condensation: change of water from vapor to liquid when warm, moisture-laden air comes in contact with a cold surface. (such as an evaporator coil in an A/C system)
conductor: wire or some other material that will carry electrical charge.
containment: work area isolated from the rest of the building to prevent escape of asbestos fibers.
composite shingles: roofing material that is made in layers usually with one layer being tar and one being fiberglass for strength.
corrosion: the gradual wearing away by rusting or by action of chemicals.
CMU: Concrete Masonry Unit Also known as concrete block. Used in the building of structural walls. A large rectangular brick used in construction. Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel.
cripple walls: less than full height wood stud walls that rest on the perimeter foundation walls and support the floor(s) above.
double-tap: where two wires are attached to one circuit breaker that is approved for one wire only. This is a dangerous practice that can lead to circuit overload and fires.
downspouts: a pipe that leads water down from a gutter.
drain: (plumbing) any pipe that carries waste water or waterborne waste in a building drainage system. (roofing) device that allows for the flow of water from the roof area. (exterior or area) piping that carries away the rain water from an exterior area such as a patio or pool deck.
drip pan: (HVAC) pan-shaped panel or trough used to collect condensate from the evaporator coil of an A/C system. Also used under water heaters and washing machines.
dry rot: dry, crumbling decay in wood exposed to moisture (go figure!) caused by various fungi.
dry wall: wall surface of plaster board.
efflorescence: an encrustation of soluble salts, commonly white, deposited on the surface of stone, brick, plaster, or mortar; usually caused by free alkalies leached from mortar or adjacent concrete as moisture moves through it. It is an indication that water, under hydrostatic pressure, is present behind this wall and not being properly drained away.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): agency of the U.S. government tasked with the responsibility for regulating, advising on and assisting in resolving environmental issues.
evaporator coil: (HVAC) device made of a coil of tubing (it looks like a car radiator inside a metal box) that functions as a refrigerant evaporator that cools air when passed over it during the A/C function. This unit is usually located attached to the top or end of the furnace inside the house.
flex line: a flexible pipe usually used for gas or water.
flue: a pipe, tube or channel for conveying hot air, gas, steam, or smoke, as from a furnace or fireplace to a chimney.
flush valve: device located at the bottom of the tank for flushing toilets. (the "flapper" part)
footing: portion of the foundation below ground that transfers the structural load to the ground.
foundation: masonry or concrete walls, usually above ground level and bearing on the footings, that support the building structure. (see above)
French drains: underground perforated pipe that removes subsurface water. Usually found at the base of foundation walls or retaining walls. (see efflorescence)
fungi, decay: fungi that are major destroyers of the strength of wood, such as white rot and brown rot.
fungi, stain: fungi that feed on wood at a slow rate, causing discoloration but little damage.
fuse: a single use electrical device that stops the flow of current in case there is a circuit overload for any reason. Fuses can not be reset; they must be replaced.
gas ports: (HVAC) openings where the gas comes out in a furnace to feed a gas burner.
GFCI: (see Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)
glazing: (verb); the act of fitting glass into window frames and doors. (noun); the glass itself.
ground (grounding): (electrical) electricity always seeks the shortest path to earth. Neutral wires carry electricity to the ground in all circuits. An electrical panel must have a ground connected to either the copper cold water line or a rod driven in the ground. Preferably both.
ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI): safety device that senses any shock hazard and interrupts the flow of electricity in the circuit.
gutter: trough that gathers rainwater from a roof. (also see downspout)
HVAC: heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
junction box: (see box)
mastic: A sealant with putty like properties that is usually tar based.
mitigation: "to reduce the severity of" Usually associated with the handling of mold or asbestos contamination.
molding: strip of decorative material with a planed or curved narrow surface prepared for ornamental applications; also used to hide wall imperfections.
pitch: the slope of roof. usually designated in "rise and run" i.e. 3 in 12. (3 inch rise for every 12 inches horizontal distance)
pressure release valve: In a pressure tank for water storage, a pressure-actuated safety valve that is designed to open and relieve pressure automatically if the pressure within the tank exceeds the value for which it was designed to operate safely.
pyrolysis: (HVAC) deterioration of metal due to heating and cooling.
radon: naturally occurring, colorless, odorless, radioactive inert gaseous element formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms.
rain leader: an extension of a downspout that carries water away from the base of a structure.
rafter: series of roof framing members that carry the load of the actual roof and it's covering.
refrigerant: substance circulated under pressure within a cooling system that is used to transfer heat from one place to another producing the refrigerating effect.
reinforced concrete: concrete strengthened with metal bars (rebar) or wire mesh.
retrofit: the addition of new building materials, building elements, and components, not provided in the original construction.
reverse polarity: where the hot (energized conductor) is reversed with the neutral conductor.
ridge: the line at the junction of the upper edges of two sloping roof surfaces of a roof.
ridge cap: any covering (such as metal, wood, shingle, etc.) used to cover the ridge of a roof.
roof covering: material placed on roof to create a water proof surface.
roofing: wood, asphalt, tile, slate, metal or waterproof materials that forms protection against weather on the uppermost portion of a house.
run-off: precipitation discharged into stream channels. Water that flows off the land surface with out sinking into the soil is surface run-off.
seepage: movement of water through soil.
septic system: comprises all piping and facilities used for the collection and disposal of sewage. This is found in areas NOT connected to a Public Sewer System.
sewer, public sewer: common sewer directly controlled by public authority.
shear panels: usually plywood panels attached to cripple walls or interior walls in newer construction, for bracing.
skylight: glass or plastic opening in roof.
soil: surface layer of dirt that supports plant life.
stud: vertical wood members of house wall framing.
temperature relief valve: a temperature affected safety valve designed to open automatically when the temperature of the water being heated exceeds a preset value.
watt: measure of the power an electrical lamp or appliance consumes.
weep holes: openings that allow entrapped water to escape. Found at the bottom of retaining walls and in the tracks of sliding windows and doors.
