An acre is a unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet. If you look at a standard American football field, one acre covers about three quarters of it.
An insurance payout method that gives you money for a damaged item based on what it's worth today, not what you paid for it. The insurance company subtracts money for age and wear and tear before writing your check.
This is a metal hand tool with a movable jaw that you can change to fit different sized nuts and bolts. You spin a small thumb wheel to open or close the mouth of the tool.
An adjuster is a professional who visits your home after you file an insurance claim. They inspect the damage from a storm, fire, or leak to decide how much money the insurance company should pay.
This is a lawn care process that punches small holes into the soil. It pulls out little plugs of dirt to relieve soil compaction.
This is a small metal screen attached to the tip of a faucet. It mixes air into the water stream to reduce splashing and save water.
This is a special electrical outlet designed to detect dangerous electrical sparks. If it senses a sparking wire that could start a fire, it instantly cuts the power.
This is the tall plastic spindle in the center of a top loading washing machine. It twists back and forth to rub clothes together and break apart stains.
The indoor part of your heating and cooling system that blows air through your house. It contains a blower fan and filters to push conditioned air into your ductwork.
This is a small, L shaped piece of metal with a six sided tip. You use it to turn special screws that have a matching six sided hole in the top.
The schedule that shows exactly how your monthly mortgage payments pay down your home loan over time. At the beginning of the loan, most of your payment covers the interest fee.
An ampere is the unit used to measure the volume of electrical current flowing through a wire. You'll often see it shortened to amp on your electrical panel.
This is a heavy duty metal fastener set into a concrete foundation. It holds the wooden base plates of the house firmly to the concrete.
An anode rod is a long metal stick inside your water heater. It attracts corrosive elements in the water so they eat the rod instead of the tank.
This is a formal report that states exactly how much your house is worth on the current market. A licensed professional inspects your home and compares it to similar houses that recently sold nearby.
This is a freestanding outdoor structure with an open roof framework that supports climbing plants and vines. You will often see them placed over garden pathways or at the entrance to a backyard.
An arborist is a trained professional who knows how to plant, care for, and safely remove trees. You hire them to diagnose tree diseases, trim dangerous branches, or grind down leftover stumps.
This is the specific dollar amount your local government assigns to your home to calculate your property taxes. It is usually lower than the actual price your home would sell for on the open market.
This is a spiral metal or plastic rod found inside your refrigerator ice maker or a pellet stove. It spins to push ice cubes or wood pellets forward into the dispenser.
This is a compass measurement that tells you the exact direction your roof faces. Solar installers use this angle to figure out if your roof points south to catch the most sunlight.
This is a mechanical valve that keeps dirty water from flowing backward into your clean water supply. You will often see it on sprinkler systems or main water lines.
A baffle filter is a metal grate found underneath your kitchen range hood. It forces greasy cooking air to change direction quickly, which causes the grease to stick to the metal instead of going into your vents.
This is the thick black or grey metal coil located at the very bottom of your electric oven. When you turn the oven on, electricity flows through the coil and makes it glow bright red to heat your food.
This is a water shutoff switch with a handle that turns a quarter of the way around. Inside the pipe, a metal ball with a hole in it spins to block or allow water flow.
An older style of house construction where the wooden wall studs run continuously from the foundation all the way up to the roof. Builders used this method in the late 1800s and early 1900s before switching to modern floor by floor framing.
A baluster is one of the vertical posts that support the handrail on your staircase or outdoor deck. They are spaced closely together so children and pets can't squeeze through and fall.
This is a wooden or plastic trim piece that covers the joint where your interior walls meet the floor. It hides uneven drywall edges and protects the bottom of your wall from shoe scuffs and vacuum bumps.
This is a specialized plumbing tool with a long handle and a pivoting jaw at the top. You use it to reach straight up behind a sink bowl to tighten or loosen the nuts holding the faucet in place.
This is a group of batteries wired together to store electrical energy. If you have solar panels, this system holds the extra power for you to use at night.
A berm is a raised mound of dirt created in your yard to change the landscape. You can build one to redirect rainwater away from your foundation or to create a visual barrier.
A bidet is a plumbing fixture that sprays a small stream of water to wash you after you use the toilet. You can install a standalone bidet next to your toilet, or buy a bidet seat that replaces your regular toilet lid.
This is a curved piece of metal or plastic placed under the bottom edge of a tile roof. It blocks the open gaps created by the curved shapes of the roofing tiles.
This is the large fan inside your indoor heating and cooling unit. It pushes the heated or cooled air through the ductwork and into the rooms of your house.
This is the special unit of measurement lumberyards use to sell rough wood. It equals a piece of wood that is 12 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 1 inch thick.
This is a power tool that shoots very thin nails into wood using compressed air or a battery. You use it to attach delicate trim pieces like baseboards and window casings without splitting the wood.
This is the main metal box that takes electricity from the street and splits it into different circuits for your house. It holds rows of switches that automatically flip off if a wire gets too hot.
This is the thick metal heating coil located at the top of your oven. It gets bright red and very hot to cook your food quickly from above.
A BTU is a measurement that tells you how much heat an appliance can produce or remove from the air. You'll see this number on air conditioners, furnaces, and gas grills.
A busbar is a thick strip of copper or aluminum inside your electrical panel. It conducts electricity from the main power line and distributes it to your individual circuit breakers.
A bypass diode is a tiny electronic part built into solar panels. It acts like a detour sign for electricity when part of the panel is covered by shade or leaves.
A caliper is a precise measuring tool with two metal jaws that slide open and closed. You use it to measure the exact thickness of a pipe or the width of a small gap.
This is a structural beam or floor section that sticks out past its support base. It allows a balcony or an upper floor to hang over the ground without posts underneath.
A small cylinder inside your air conditioner or furnace that acts like a temporary battery. It stores electricity and gives the motor a big jolt of power to start running.
This is a buried box in your yard with a grated cover on top. It collects heavy rain water from your lawn or downspouts and directs it into an underground drain pipe.
Caulk is a flexible, waterproof paste used to seal joints around windows, doors, and bathtubs. It blocks drafts and stops water leaks.
This metal or plastic frame holds a tube of sealant. When you squeeze the trigger, a metal rod pushes a plunger into the tube to force the sealant out of the nozzle.
This is an underground pit lined with brick or stone that collects wastewater from your home. The liquid slowly seeps out through the unsealed walls into the surrounding dirt.
A tool that uses a string coated in colored dust to snap a perfectly straight line across a long surface. Contractors use it to mark where to cut wood, lay tile, or install wallpaper.
This is an electronic box that sits between your solar panels and your solar battery bank. It limits the rate at which electric current is added to or drawn from the batteries.
A check valve is a plumbing part that lets water flow in only one direction. It stops dirty water from backing up into your clean water supply.
This is a hand tool with a sharp beveled edge at the end of a metal blade. You strike the handle with a hammer to carve away small pieces of wood or chip away old mortar.
This is a handheld power tool with a spinning round blade used for cutting wood. Carpenters use it to quickly cut through boards and plywood sheets.
This is a formal request you make to your insurance company for money after an accident or disaster. You file one when your roof is damaged by hail or your basement floods.
A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives a plumber easy access to your main sewer line. You can usually find it in your yard, basement, or near the foundation.
This metal or plastic ring connects your toilet to the floor and the drain pipe. It gives you a secure spot to bolt the toilet down so it will not rock.
These are the various fees you pay at the very end of a real estate transaction. They include charges for loan processing, title searches, taxes, and appraisals.
A closing disclosure is a five page form you receive right before you buy or refinance a house. It lists your final loan terms, monthly payments, and all the fees you must pay.
A small electrical box mounted on your roof or wall that connects the wires from multiple solar panels together. It takes the electricity from several different solar cables and merges it into one main wire.
This is a dark soil mixture made from decayed organic matter like leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps. Gardeners mix it into their flower beds to give plants extra nutrients.
The heavy motor located inside the metal box of your outdoor air conditioning unit. It squeezes the refrigerant gas and pumps it through your system to remove heat from your house.
This is a small electric pump that sits next to your indoor air conditioner or high efficiency furnace. It collects the water that drips off the cooling coils and pumps it through a clear tube to the outside of your house.
This is a network of metal tubes on the back or bottom of your refrigerator. It takes the heat pulled from inside the fridge and releases it out into your kitchen air.
This is any material that allows electricity to flow through it easily. In your home, the copper or aluminum wires inside your walls serve this purpose.
Conduit is a tough tube used to protect electrical wires from damage. You'll see it made of metal or plastic, often running along exposed basement walls or outdoors.
This is a small metal or plastic box that joins sections of electrical pipe together. It has a removable cover that lets you pull wires around tight corners without snagging them.
A contactor is a heavy duty electrical switch inside your outdoor air conditioning unit. It turns the high voltage power on and off to start your compressor and fan.
A safety clause written into your real estate contract when you buy a house. It lets you walk away from the deal and keep your deposit if something goes wrong.
This is a hand tool with a very thin metal blade stretched across a metal frame shaped like a capital D. You use it to cut tight curves and intricate shapes in wood trim or plastic.
Counterflashing is a second layer of metal that overlaps the base flashing on your roof. Roofers install it right into the brickwork of your chimney to keep rain from sliding behind the bottom metal pieces.
These are strict neighborhood rules created by a homeowners association that dictate what you can and cannot do with your property. They might restrict the color you can paint your house or ban you from parking a boat in your driveway.
This is an unfinished area under the first floor of a house that is not tall enough to stand up in. It provides access to plumbing pipes, electrical wires, and heating ducts.
This is a small peaked structure built on your roof right behind a chimney. It stops water and debris from pooling against the flat back side of the brickwork.
A clear plastic bin at the bottom of your refrigerator designed to store fresh fruits and vegetables. It has a tiny sliding vent that lets you control how much moisture stays inside.
This is a unit of measurement that describes the volume of a space. You'll see it on appliance labels to tell you how much food a refrigerator holds or how much dirt a wheelbarrow carries.
This is a unit of volume used to measure bulk landscaping materials like dirt, mulch, and gravel. It represents a block of space that is three feet wide, three feet long, and three feet deep.
A damper is a small metal plate inside your heating and cooling ducts. You can open or close it to control how much air flows into different rooms.
This is the first page of your home insurance policy that summarizes your exact coverage. It tells you how much you pay each year, the cost of your deductible, and the maximum payout for a disaster.
This is the amount of money you must pay out of your own pocket before your home insurance starts paying for a repair. If a storm ruins your roof, you pay this set amount first.
This is the official legal document that proves you own your house and land. You sign it at closing, and the title company records it with your local county government.
This is a small electric heating element located behind the walls of your freezer. It turns on automatically a few times a day to melt away built up frost on the cooling coils.
This is the loss of value of your home or its parts over time due to age and wear. Your insurance company uses this to calculate how much they will pay out if your old roof gets damaged.
This is a gas or electric machine that pulls up the dead layer of grass stems and roots choking your lawn. It uses a spinning drum covered in metal tines to comb fiercely through the turf.
A special plumbing fitting that connects two different types of metal pipes, like copper and galvanized steel. It uses a plastic washer to keep the metals from touching each other.
This is a type of vent cover that spreads conditioned air evenly across a room. It has angled fins that direct the airflow in multiple directions.
This is a long plastic pipe inside your water heater. It carries cold water from the top of the tank down to the bottom so it can heat up.
This is a safety box mounted on the outside wall near your air conditioner. It lets a repair person completely cut the power to the unit before they start working.
A diverter valve sends water to different parts of your plumbing system. You use it every time you pull the knob to switch water from the bathtub spout to the showerhead.
This is the vertical pipe that carries rainwater from your roof gutters down to the ground. It stops water from pouring directly off the roof and damaging your foundation.
This is an open metal funnel located on top of a gas water heater or furnace. It pulls in room air to mix with hot exhaust gases so they can safely exit your home.
This small motor and fan sit inside a gas furnace. It turns on before the burners ignite to push leftover gases up the chimney or exhaust pipe.
A drip edge is a piece of L shaped metal installed along the edge of your roof. It guides rain water directly into your gutters so it doesn't rot the wood underneath.
This is a network of small plastic tubes laid out in your garden beds. The tubes have tiny holes that slowly leak water directly into the soil right at the roots of your plants.
This is a small rubber or plastic wheel located inside your clothes dryer. Most dryers use two or more rollers to support the heavy metal drum as it spins.
This is the flat building material used to make the interior walls and ceilings in your house. It consists of a hard plaster core sandwiched between two thick sheets of paper.
Ductwork is the system of large metal or flexible tubes hidden in your walls, ceilings, and floors. These tubes carry heated or cooled air from your HVAC unit to every room in your house.
This is a cash deposit you give to a seller to prove you are serious about buying their house. It goes into a safe account while you complete your inspections and secure a loan.
An easement is a legal right that lets someone else use a specific part of your property. You might see this on your property survey if the city needs access to a buried sewer line in your backyard.
These are the lower edges of your roof that hang over the exterior walls of your house. They help direct rainwater away from your siding and foundation.
A powdery white stain that appears on brick, concrete, or basement walls. It happens when water leaks through the masonry and leaves natural salt crystals behind as it dries.
This is a written document attached to your home insurance policy that changes or adds to your coverage. You might buy one to get extra protection for expensive jewelry or to cover damage from a sewer backup.
Equity is the portion of your home that you actually own outright. You calculate it by taking the current market value of your house and subtracting what you still owe on your mortgage.
A safe holding account managed by a neutral third party during a real estate deal. It holds your deposit money until all the paperwork is signed and the house keys are yours.
This is the decorative metal plate that covers the hole in your wall where a pipe comes through. You'll usually see it behind a toilet or under a sink.
This is a cooling system that blows warm outside air through wet water pads. The air drops in temperature as the water evaporates into it.
A network of copper or aluminum tubes located inside your indoor heating and cooling unit. It gets freezing cold as chemical refrigerant flows through it to absorb heat from your home air.
This is the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of your roof. Your gutters attach directly to this board.
A heavy sheet of black paper soaked in asphalt that roofers roll out over your bare roof. It adds an extra layer of waterproof protection between the wood framing and your shingles.
This is a tough building material made by mixing sand, cement, and wood pulp. Manufacturers press this mixture into boards that look like real wood siding but will never rot or catch fire.
This tall plastic mechanism sits inside your toilet tank. When you flush, it opens to let fresh water refill the tank and the bowl.
This is a small metal cylinder installed on the copper lines of your air conditioning system. It catches dirt and absorbs harmful moisture before they can reach your expensive compressor.
A long, flat coil of stiff steel wire that electricians use to pull new wires through walls and pipes. You push the tape through the empty space, hook your new wire to the end, and pull it all back.
This is any item that is permanently attached to your house or land. Things like ceiling lights, built-in cabinets, and bathroom sinks fall into this category.
This thin metal rod sits inside your gas furnace right next to the burners. It detects if a fire is actually burning when the gas turns on.
A flapper is the rubber plug sitting at the bottom of your toilet tank. When you flush, a chain lifts it up to let water rush into the bowl.
Flashing is a thin piece of waterproof material that keeps water from getting into the joints of your house. Roofers install these metal sheets around chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys.
A flue is the metal pipe or brick channel that carries exhaust gases from your furnace or water heater to the outside. It works exactly like a chimney to safely remove dangerous carbon monoxide from your home.
A footing is the wide pad of concrete poured deep underground to support the weight of your house. It sits at the very bottom of the foundation wall and spreads the weight of the building into the soil.
This is a trench filled with gravel and a pipe that has holes in it. It catches standing water in your yard and redirects it away from your house foundation.
These are thin strips of wood or metal used to level a wall or ceiling. Builders attach them to rough surfaces like brick or concrete before hanging drywall.
This is the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a ridged roof. It fills the space where the two sloping sides of the roof meet.
This is a measurement that tells you how fast water flows out of a fixture. You'll see this rating printed on showerheads and kitchen faucets to show how much water they use.
A chemical reaction that destroys metal pipes when two different types of metal touch each other in water. It happens often in plumbing when a copper pipe connects directly to a steel pipe.
This is regular steel that has been coated with a thin layer of zinc. The zinc coating stops the metal from rusting when exposed to water or weather.
This is a flexible rubber or silicone ring used to seal the gap between two surfaces so water or air cannot escape. You will find them on the doors of your refrigerator to keep cold air inside and inside your plumbing fixtures to stop drips.
This is a plumbing valve that uses a round knob to lower a metal barrier into the pipe to stop water flow. You have to turn the handle several times to fully open or close it.
This is a special type of electrical outlet designed to protect you from deadly shocks. It constantly monitors the electricity flowing in and out of the plug.
This is the process of shaping the dirt around your house so the ground slopes away from the foundation. It ensures that rainwater flows toward the street or a drainage ditch.
This is the relatively clean wastewater that drains from your bathroom sinks, showers, and washing machines. It does not include raw sewage from toilets or heavy food waste from kitchen sinks.
This is a type of home solar system that connects directly to your local utility power lines. When your solar panels make more electricity than you need, the extra power flows outward to the city grid.
A ground rod is a long copper or steel pole driven deep into the earth outside your house. It connects to your electrical panel and gives stray electricity a safe path into the dirt.
Grout is a thin, sandy mixture used to fill the gaps between tiles in your bathroom or kitchen. It locks the tiles in place and keeps water from seeping behind them.
This is a protective cover that sits on top of your rain gutters to keep leaves and twigs out. It has tiny holes or a mesh screen that lets water flow through while blocking debris.
A hand tool with a thin, fine-toothed blade stretched tight across a metal frame. You use it to cut through hard materials like metal pipes, plastic tubes, and thick bolts.
This is a geographic area defined by how cold its winter temperatures get. You use these zones to figure out which trees and flowers will survive the winter in your specific yard.
Hardscape refers to the heavy, non living parts of your landscaping. This includes concrete patios, stone walkways, brick retaining walls, and wooden decks.
A header is a heavy wooden beam placed horizontally over a door or window frame. Because the wall studs are cut to make room for the window, the header carries the weight of the roof above it.
This is a metal chamber inside your furnace that heats up when gas burns. The blower pushes air over this hot metal to warm the air before it enters your home.
A heat pump is an energy efficient system that heats and cools your home. It moves heat from one place to another instead of generating it.
This is a coil of wire inside your air handler that acts as a backup heater for your heat pump. When the weather gets too cold for the heat pump, electricity flows through the wire to make it glowing hot.
This is a thick metal coil inside your oven, electric water heater, or clothes dryer. When electricity flows through it, the metal resists the current and glows red hot to create heat.
This is a mandatory fee you pay to your neighborhood homeowners association every month or year. The association uses this money to pay for community perks like pool maintenance, landscaping, and streetlights.
This is a service contract you can buy that covers the repair or replacement of your major home systems and appliances. If your old dishwasher breaks, you pay a small service fee and the company pays for the rest of the repair.
A hose bibb is the outdoor water faucet attached to the side of your house. You use it to connect your garden hose or fill up a bucket.
This is a thin sheet of synthetic material wrapped around the outside walls of your home before the siding goes on. It blocks wind and rain from getting into the wood frame.
This is a control device that measures and adjusts the moisture in your home air. You set a target humidity level just like you set a temperature on a thermostat.
This thick, sticky rubber membrane goes onto your bare roof deck before the shingles. Roofers place it along the bottom edges and in the valleys of your roof.
An ice dam is a thick ridge of solid ice that forms along the edge of your roof in winter. It blocks melting snow from draining off the roof and into the gutters.
This is the small machine inside your freezer that automatically freezes water into cubes. It drops the finished cubes into a bin and stops making them when the bin is full.
An igniter is a small part inside your gas furnace, oven, or water heater that starts the flame. It gets glowing hot when electricity passes through it so the gas can catch fire safely.
This is a measurement of how much raw solar energy hits a specific area of your roof over a given time. Solar contractors use this data to figure out exactly how many panels you need to power your home.
This is a temporary legal document that proves you have home insurance before your official policy is issued. You usually need to show this paperwork to your mortgage lender on the day you close on a new house.
This is a metal box connected to your rooftop solar panels. It takes the direct current electricity your panels make and changes it into the alternating current electricity your home outlets use.
This is a measure of how much raw sunlight actually hits your roof at any given moment. Solar installers use this number to figure out how many panels you need to power your home.
This is a vertical wooden board inside your wall that holds up the heavy beam above a window or door. It sits right next to a full length wall stud and is cut shorter to create a resting ledge for the beam.
A thick, white paste used to cover the seams and screws when installing new drywall. You spread it on with a flat blade and sand it smooth once it dries.
A joist is a thick wooden or steel beam that supports a floor or a ceiling in your house. Builders place them in parallel rows spaced 16 to 24 inches apart.
A small plastic or metal box installed inside your walls or ceilings where electrical wires connect. It protects the wire splices from damage and contains any sparks if a connection fails.
A unit of energy that shows how much electricity your home uses over time. Your power company uses this measurement to calculate your monthly utility bill.
A king stud is a vertical framing board that runs from the floor all the way to the ceiling. Builders place one on each side of a window or door opening.
This is a heavy metal tool used to stretch carpet tightly across a room during installation. It has a padded cushion on one end and sharp metal teeth on the other.
This is an outdated electrical wiring system found in homes built before 1950. It uses white ceramic knobs to hold wires away from wood framing and ceramic tubes to protect wires passing through studs.
This is a small metal circle stamped into an electrical box or breaker panel. You can punch it out with a screwdriver to create a hole.
A steel pipe filled with concrete that supports the heavy wooden beams in your basement. It holds up the weight of the house above it so your floors do not sag.
Lauan is a thin and flexible type of plywood made from tropical wood. You often find it used as a smooth backing layer under vinyl flooring or on the back of cheap cabinets.
This is a thick horizontal piece of lumber that attaches a deck or porch directly to your house. You bolt it securely into the structural framing of your home to support one side of the deck.
A straight hand tool containing small tubes of colored liquid with an air bubble inside. You use it to make sure a picture frame, a shelf, or a new wall is perfectly straight up and down or side to side.
This is the part of your home insurance policy that protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. It pays for their medical bills and covers your legal fees if they decide to sue you.
A lien is a legal claim placed on your property by someone you owe money to. If you don't pay a contractor for a kitchen remodel, they can file a lien against your house.
A limit switch is a safety sensor inside your furnace that measures air temperature. If the furnace gets dangerously hot, this switch turns off the gas burner immediately.
A pair of copper tubes that connect your indoor air handler to your outdoor air conditioner. One tube carries cold liquid refrigerant indoors, and the other carries warm gas back outside.
This is a measurement that only looks at the length of an item in a straight line. It does not matter how wide or thick the material is.
This is a removable mesh screen inside your clothes dryer that catches loose fabric fibers. You must slide it out and wipe the fuzz off after every single load of laundry.
This is a structural wall that holds up the weight of the floor or roof above it. You can't safely remove it without adding a heavy support beam in its place.
A dark, crumbly type of soil that is perfect for growing healthy lawns and garden plants. It's a balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay that holds water well but drains easily.
A section of your homeowners insurance policy that pays for your living expenses if your house is too damaged to live in. It covers the cost of hotel rooms, restaurant meals, and laundry while your home is being repaired.
This is a set of angled slats or fins that allow air and light to pass through while keeping rain and direct sunshine out. You will see them on attic vents, window shutters, and folding closet doors.
A lug is a heavy metal connector that attaches thick electrical wires to your main breaker panel. You strip the insulation off the wire, push the bare copper into the lug, and tighten a large screw to hold it in place.
This is a measurement that tells you exactly how bright a light bulb will be. A higher number means the light is brighter while a lower number means it is dimmer.
This flooring material looks like real wood but is made of durable plastic. The planks snap together tightly without glue or nails.
A macerator is a machine that grinds up solid waste and toilet paper into a fine slurry. It lets you install a toilet in a basement where the plumbing sits below the main sewer line.
A magnetron is the hidden device inside your microwave oven that actually cooks your food. It takes electricity from your wall and turns it into microwave radiation.
This is a main plumbing hub that distributes water to different zones in your house. One large pipe brings water into the hub, and several smaller pipes branch out to feed your sinks and showers.
This is a thick, gooey paste that heating workers use to seal the joints in your metal air ducts. It goes on wet with a brush and dries into a tough, rubbery shell.
This is an engineered wood product made by pressing wood fibers, wax, and resin together under high heat. It is very smooth and does not have wood grain, which makes it perfect for painted cabinets and trim.
This is a tough plastic coating applied to the outside of particleboard or wood. You will find it covering the shelves and boxes of most modern kitchen cabinets.
This is a number between 1 and 16 that tells you how well your furnace filter catches dust and pollen. A higher number means the filter traps smaller particles to keep your air cleaner.
A small device attached to the back of a single solar panel that converts solar energy into usable home power. Unlike a central system, it lets each panel work independently.
A mil is a tiny unit of measurement equal to one thousandth of an inch. You will see this word on the packaging of plastic sheeting and vapor barriers to describe how thick they are.
This is a ductless heating and cooling system used in many modern homes. It has an outdoor compressor and one or more indoor air handling units mounted on the wall.
A miter saw is a power tool used to make precise, angled cuts in wood. It features a circular blade mounted on an arm that you pull down onto the wood.
A thick mixture of sand, cement, and water used to lock bricks and stone together. Masons spread it between bricks when building a chimney or a house wall.
This is a financial professional who helps you find the best home loan by comparing offers from many different banks. Instead of you visiting five different lenders, the broker does the shopping for you.
This is a metal plate inside your heating and cooling ducts that opens and closes automatically. Your thermostat tells a small motor to move the plate to block or allow air into specific rooms.
This is a repair method used to lift a sunken concrete driveway, patio, or foundation. A contractor drills small holes in the concrete and pumps a thick mixture of water, dirt, and cement underneath.
Mulch is a layer of material spread over the soil around your plants. You can buy it in bags of shredded wood, bark, or even rubber.
A mullion is a vertical strip of wood, metal, or plastic that divides a window or a set of doors. In your kitchen, you might see a mullion separating the two doors of your refrigerator.
A multimeter is a handheld tool used to test electrical circuits safely. It has two metal probes and a digital screen that tells you if a wire is live.
Net metering is a billing system for homeowners with solar panels. When your panels make more electricity than you use, the extra power goes back to the grid.
The neutral wire carries electricity back to your breaker panel after it powers a device like a lightbulb. It completes the electrical circuit so power can flow continuously.
This is the standard electrical wire used inside the walls of most modern US homes. It bundles several insulated wires inside a flexible plastic jacket to keep your electrical system safe.
This is a solar power setup that is completely disconnected from the local utility company. You generate all your own electricity with panels and store it in large batteries.
This is a measurement of electrical resistance. It tells you how much a wire or a device slows down the flow of electricity.
Oriented strand board is a strong building panel made by gluing together thousands of small wood chips. Builders use it to cover the outside walls and roof of a house before putting on siding and shingles.
This handheld power tool uses a blade that vibrates rapidly from side to side. You can use it to plunge into drywall, cut pipes in tight spaces, or scrape away old caulk.
This is the curved pipe right under your sink drain. It holds a small amount of water to block smelly sewer gases from coming up into your house.
This is a soil test required before you can install a new septic system. A professional digs a hole, fills it with water, and times how fast the water drains.
A perennial is a plant or flower that lives for more than two years. It dies back in the winter, but it'll grow back from its roots every spring.
This is a specific event that can damage your home or property. Common examples include fire, windstorms, theft, and vandalism.
This is a flexible plastic pipe used for water supply lines in modern homes. You will often see it color coded in red for hot water and blue for cold water.
Photovoltaic refers to the technology that turns sunlight directly into electricity. This is the science behind the solar panels you see on home roofs.
This is a vertical support column that holds up the structure of a house. You will often find these made of concrete or masonry blocks resting on the ground in a crawlspace.
This is a short piece of electrical wire used to connect two or more wires to a single device like an outlet. It makes it easier to tuck wires into a crowded electrical box.
A heavy metal hand tool with jagged teeth used to grip and turn smooth metal pipes. The upper jaw moves up and down so it bites tighter into the metal as you pull the handle.
Pitch is a measurement that tells you how steep your roof is. Builders calculate it by seeing how many inches the roof rises for every 12 inches it goes across.
This is a traditional wall finishing material made of gypsum, sand, and water that dries into a hard surface. Before modern drywall existed, builders spread this thick paste over wooden slats to create smooth interior walls and ceilings.
A detailed drawing drawn by a surveyor that shows the legal property lines for a neighborhood. It shows the exact shape of your land, the street boundaries, and any shared utility spaces.
A plenum is an enclosed box that connects your HVAC system to the ductwork. It acts as a central hub for air to gather before it blows through your vents.
This is a heavy, pointed metal weight attached to a long string. When you let it hang freely, gravity pulls the string into a perfectly vertical line.
A soft, clay-like material used to create a watertight seal around sink drains and faucets. You roll it into a snake shape and press it under the metal drain piece before tightening it down.
This is a specific rule written into your home insurance contract that points out exactly what the company will not cover. For example, most standard policies will not pay for damage caused by earthquakes, floods, or termite infestations.
Polyurethane is a tough, clear liquid finish used to protect bare wood floors and furniture. It dries into a hard plastic shell that resists water, scratches, and stains.
This is the fine gray powder that acts as the main binding ingredient in concrete and mortar. When you mix it with water, sand, and gravel, it cures into a rock solid building material.
A post base is a metal bracket that connects a wooden upright post to a concrete floor or footing. It holds the wood slightly above the concrete so it doesn't soak up water and rot.
A premium is the amount of money you pay your insurance company to keep your home protected. You usually pay this bill once a month or once a year.
This is an annual fee you pay to your local county or city government. The amount is based on the assessed value of your home and land.
This is a heavy iron or steel hand tool with a flattened, angled end. You use it to pull out nails, tear down drywall, or separate stubborn pieces of wood.
PSI stands for pounds per square inch. It is the standard measurement for water pressure or air pressure in your home.
A purlin is a horizontal beam that runs along the length of a roof. It gives extra support to the roof deck and helps tie the rafters together.
This is a number that tells you how well insulation stops heat from moving through your walls and attic. A higher number means the material provides better protection against cold winters and hot summers.
This is an enclosed metal or plastic channel that protects and hides electrical wires running along a wall. You will often see it used in older homes or garages where wires cannot be hidden inside the drywall.
Rebar is a steel rod covered in ridges that builders place inside wet concrete. It adds strength to your foundation, driveway, or patio so the concrete doesn't crack under pressure.
This is a powerful handheld power tool that uses a push and pull motion to cut through tough materials. You will see contractors use it to quickly slice through wood, metal pipes, and nails during demolition.
Refrigerant is the chemical fluid that flows through your air conditioner or heat pump. It absorbs heat from inside your house and carries it outside to cool the air.
A register is the metal or plastic grille that covers the air vents in your floors, walls, or ceilings. It has moving louvers that let you point the air in different directions or shut it off completely.
Replacement cost is a type of home insurance coverage that pays to rebuild your home with brand new materials. It doesn't subtract money for how old or worn out your old roof was.
A sturdy outdoor wall built to hold back soil and stop dirt from sliding down a slope. Landscapers build them from concrete blocks, stones, or thick timber.
This is a large metal or fiberglass tube that pulls stale air out of your rooms. It carries that old air back to your furnace or air conditioner to be heated or cooled again.
An extra document added to your standard home insurance policy to cover specific valuable items. You might buy one to protect expensive jewelry, fine art, or high end electronics.
A ridge vent is a long opening built into the very top peak of your roof. It lets hot, moist air escape from your attic to prevent mold and roof damage.
A rim joist is the outer wooden board that forms the box around your floor frame. It sits flat on the foundation and caps the ends of all the other floor joists.
The vertical board placed at the back of a stair step that connects one step to the next. It closes the gap so your foot doesn't slip through the back of the stairs.
This is a special rubber or metal flashing piece that fits tightly around plumbing vent pipes sticking out of your roof. It seals the gap between the pipe and the shingles so rainwater cannot leak into your attic.
This is the solid wooden base of your roof that sits right on top of the structural trusses. Roofers nail large sheets of plywood or wooden boards across the frame to create a flat surface.
This is a thick plastic wall buried in the ground near trees or large bushes. It forces tree roots to grow straight down instead of spreading outward.
A small plumbing valve that clamps onto an existing copper water pipe to create a new water line. You tighten a sharp metal pin that pierces the pipe to let water flow to a refrigerator ice maker or water filter.
This is a drainage hole built directly into the raised edge of a flat roof. It allows heavy rainwater to pour off the roof and into a downspout or away from the building.
This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It tells you how much cooling your air conditioner gives you for every dollar of electricity it uses.
A large underground container that treats wastewater from your home if you are not connected to a city sewer. It separates solid waste from liquids and slowly releases the clean liquid into your yard.
The bundle of overhead electrical wires that connect the power pole on the street to your house. These wires carry all the electricity your home needs to run.
A service mast is the tall metal pipe on the outside of your roof or exterior wall. It protects the main power wires coming from the street into your electrical panel.
A local zoning rule that dictates how far your house must be from the property line or the street. This invisible boundary keeps homes from being built too close to sidewalks or neighbors.
The layer of wood boards or panels attached to the outside frame of your house. It covers the bare wall studs and roof rafters to make your home rigid and strong.
This happens when a home is sold for less money than the owner still owes on their mortgage. The bank must agree to take the lower amount and forgive the rest of the debt.
This is the very bottom piece of wood in your home framing. It sits completely flat on top of your concrete foundation wall.
This is a framing repair where you attach a new piece of lumber directly alongside an old or damaged piece. You bolt or nail the two boards together to create a single strong support.
This is a window built directly into your roof to let natural sunlight into your home. They are great for brightening up dark hallways or bathrooms that lack wall space.
This is a solid pad of concrete poured directly onto the ground to support a house. Homes built this way do not have a basement or a crawlspace underneath them.
This is a heavy rubber or plastic pad that supports the washing machine tub. It absorbs the wild vibrations when your washer spins wet clothes at high speeds.
Sod is pre grown grass that comes attached to a thin layer of soil and roots. Landscapers roll it out like a carpet to give you an instant green lawn.
A soffit is the exposed underside of an architectural feature on your house. You'll most often see it as the flat area under the roof eaves that connects the roof overhang to the side of the house.
This is a complete group of solar panels wired together to generate electricity for a home. It functions as a single power producing unit on your roof or in your yard.
This small device attaches to the back of a single solar panel. It adjusts the electrical output of that specific panel to make it run efficiently.
This is a mechanical mount that tilts your solar panels to follow the sun as it moves across the sky. Sensors tell small motors to adjust the angle of the panels from morning until evening.
This is a soft metal alloy that plumbers melt to join copper water pipes together. You heat the copper pipe with a torch and touch this metal wire to the joint where it melts and seals the connection.
This is a small metal triangle that carpenters use to mark straight lines and angles on wood. It has a lip on one edge so you can hook it quickly against a board.
This is the part of your lawn irrigation system that rises up and sprays water. It connects to underground pipes and uses water pressure to push above the grass.
This is the total floor area of your home calculated by multiplying the length of each room by its width. Real estate agents use this number to determine the market value of your house.
This is a unit of area equal to a patch that is three feet long and three feet wide. Homeowners usually see this measurement when buying carpet or ordering landscaping materials.
This short concrete or masonry wall connects your underground foundation footing to the wooden frame of your house. It lifts the wood above the dirt to protect it from moisture and bugs.
These are small L shaped pieces of metal used where your roof meets a wall or a chimney. Roofers weave one piece of metal over each shingle and under the siding.
A string inverter is a large box that connects to a whole row of solar panels on your roof. It changes the direct current electricity from the sun into alternating current that your home can use.
The heavy, angled wooden boards that support the steps of a staircase. Builders cut zigzag notches into these boards to hold the flat parts where you step.
This is a durable exterior finish made of cement, sand, and water. Contractors apply it wet over a wire mesh base on the outside walls of a house.
This is a small hand tool that locates the hidden wooden framing boards behind your finished walls. It beeps or lights up when you slide it over a board.
The thick bottom layer of flooring that rests directly on your wooden floor joists. It provides a flat and sturdy base for your carpet, tile, or hardwood floors.
This is a smaller electrical box that gets its power from your main breaker panel. You might install one in your garage or an addition to control the electricity for that specific area.
This is a process where your insurance company pays for your home repairs and then goes after the person who caused the damage. For example, if a neighbor's tree falls on your roof, your insurer pays you first.
This is a large plastic or concrete pit dug into your basement floor to collect groundwater. As water builds up under your foundation, it flows into this hole instead of flooding your floor.
This is a motorized pump that sits in a hole in your basement floor. It automatically sucks up groundwater that leaks in and pumps it safely outside your house.
This is the small flexible hose that brings clean water from your wall pipe to a sink, toilet, or appliance. It usually has a braided metal or plastic cover to prevent it from bursting.
This is an electrical device that defends your home electronics from sudden spikes in power. You can buy small ones that look like power strips, or an electrician can install a large one right at your main electrical panel.
A shallow and wide ditch in your yard that directs rainwater safely away from your foundation. It is usually covered in grass so it blends in with your lawn.
This is the straight pipe that drops down from your sink drain. It connects the sink basket to the curved trap below.
A small safety sensor found near the pilot light of your gas water heater or furnace. It detects if the flame is burning and shuts off the gas supply if the flame goes out.
This brass part sits near the indoor coil of your air conditioner. It controls exactly how much cold liquid refrigerant sprays into the coil.
Thinset is a type of sticky cement used to attach heavy floor and wall tiles to a surface. You spread it on the floor with a notched trowel before pressing the tile into place.
A thin, white, non sticky tape used to seal the grooves on metal or plastic plumbing pipes. You wrap it tightly around the threaded end of a pipe before screwing on a fitting.
This type of wall switch lets you control a single light from two different locations. You usually find them at the top and bottom of a staircase or at both ends of a long hallway.
A title is a legal concept that proves you are the true owner of your home. It isn't a single piece of paper, but a history of ownership recorded by your local government.
A measurement used to describe the cooling power of a home air conditioning system. A single ton means the air conditioner can remove enough heat to melt 2000 pounds of ice in one day.
This is the nutrient rich upper layer of dirt in your yard where grass and plants grow best. It is usually very dark and holds a lot of organic matter and moisture.
This stands for temperature and pressure relief valve. It is a vital brass safety spout on your water heater that opens up if the water gets too hot or builds up too much pressure.
An electrical panel that safely disconnects your house from the utility grid and connects it to a backup generator. It prevents your generator from sending dangerous electricity backward into the power lines where it could shock line workers.
This electrical device changes the voltage of electricity running through a circuit. In a home, a small one steps down the 120 volt power to a lower voltage for things like doorbells or smart thermostats.
This plumbing device squirts a small amount of water into a floor drain to keep the water seal full. You usually find it connected to a cold water pipe near your basement floor drain.
This is a wooden or metal frame built to support climbing plants in your garden. You place them against walls or fences so vines and roses have something to grab onto.
A strong wooden framework made of triangles that supports your roof. Factories build these frames ahead of time and ship them to the construction site.
This is a dome shaped metal vent on your roof that has spinning fins. When the wind blows, the fins spin and pull hot, stale air out of your attic.
This is extra liability insurance that protects your finances beyond the limits of your standard home policy. If someone gets badly hurt on your property and sues you for a massive amount, this policy covers the difference.
This is a water resistant layer installed directly on your roof deck before the shingles go on. It gives your home an extra shield against rain and melting snow.
A valley is the V shaped line where two sloping sections of a roof meet. Rainwater funnels into this area before flowing down to the gutters.
A vapor barrier is a thick plastic sheet used to keep moisture out of your home. You'll often see it laid over the dirt in a crawlspace or placed behind drywall.
A veneer is a very thin layer of expensive wood or stone glued over a cheaper building material. Cabinet makers use it to make standard plywood look like solid oak or cherry.
This is a vertical pipe that runs from your plumbing system up through your roof. It lets sewer gases escape outside and pulls fresh air into the pipes.
This is a lightweight plastic exterior covering for your house. It comes in long strips that interlock to shed rain and block the wind.
This is a unit of measurement that describes electrical pressure. It tells you how much force is pushing the electricity through your wires.
This is a loss of electrical power that happens when electricity travels through a very long wire. The natural resistance of the copper wire eats up some of the energy before it reaches your device.
A small device on your plumbing lines that absorbs the shock of fast closing valves. It stops the loud banging noise you hear when your washing machine or dishwasher shuts off the water.
This electrical part connects your home water pipes to your washing machine or refrigerator. When your appliance needs water, it sends an electrical signal to open the valve.
This is the measure of how much electrical power a device uses to do its job. A higher number means the device uses more electricity and usually produces more heat or light.
This is a thick circle of sticky wax that sits between the bottom of your toilet and the bathroom floor. It creates a watertight seal so nasty sewer gases and toilet water don't leak into your house.
This rounded waterproof cap sits at the very top of the electrical pipe on the outside of your roof. It covers the wires coming from the utility pole before they enter your home.
Weatherstripping is the foam, rubber, or metal seal placed around the edges of doors and windows. It crushes tight when you close the door to block cold drafts and keep bugs out.
A weep hole is a small gap left at the bottom of a brick wall or window frame. It allows trapped water to escape so it doesn't rot the wood framing behind the brick.
This is a standard measurement that tells you how thick an electrical wire is. A smaller number means the wire is thicker and can safely carry more power.
A wire nut is a small plastic cap used to safely connect two or more electrical wires together. You twist it onto the bare ends of the wires to hold them tight and cover the exposed metal.
A wire stripper is a hand tool that looks like a pair of pliers with small holes in the jaws. Electricians use it to cut and remove the plastic coating from electrical wires without damaging the metal inside.
This is a motorized plumbing valve used in hot water heating systems to control the flow of water. It opens and closes to send hot water only to the specific rooms or zones that need heat.
This is special permission from your local government to break a building rule on your property. You need one if you want to build a fence higher than allowed or put a shed too close to the property line.
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