Homeowner Glossary
A
A Frame Roof
This is a roof style where the sides slope all the way down to the foundation.
Accumulator
This is a metal tank attached to your air conditioner or heat pump.
Acre
An acre is a unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet.
Actual Cash Value
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.
Adjustable Wrench
This is a metal hand tool with a movable jaw that you can change to fit different sized nuts and bolts.
Adjuster
An adjuster is a professional who visits your home after you file an insurance claim.
Aeration
This is a lawn care process that punches small holes into the soil.
Aerator
This is a small metal screen attached to the tip of a faucet.
AFCI Receptacle
This is a special electrical outlet designed to detect dangerous electrical sparks.
AFUE
This rating tells you how efficiently a gas furnace turns fuel into heat for your home.
Agitator
This is the tall plastic spindle in the center of a top loading washing machine.
Air Admittance Valve
This small plumbing device lets air enter your drain pipes so wastewater can flow smoothly without creating a vacuum.
Air Gap
An air gap is a small metal or plastic cylinder that sits next to your kitchen sink faucet.
Air Handler
The indoor part of your heating and cooling system that blows air through your house.
Allen Wrench
This is a small, L shaped piece of metal with a six sided tip.
Aluminum Wiring
This is a type of electrical wire used in some homes built between 1965 and 1973.
Amortization
The schedule that shows exactly how your monthly mortgage payments pay down your home loan over time.
Ampacity
This is the maximum amount of electrical current a wire can carry safely before it overheats.
Ampere
An ampere is the unit used to measure the volume of electrical current flowing through a wire.
Anchor Bolt
This is a heavy duty metal fastener set into a concrete foundation.
Angle Stop
This is a small shutoff valve located where a water pipe comes out of the wall.
Anode Rod
An anode rod is a long metal stick inside your water heater.
Appraisal
This is a formal report that states exactly how much your house is worth on the current market.
Appraisal Gap
This happens when a professional appraiser says a home is worth less than the price you agreed to pay for it.
Arbor
This is a freestanding outdoor structure with an open roof framework that supports climbing plants and vines.
Arborist
An arborist is a trained professional who knows how to plant, care for, and safely remove trees.
Asphalt Granules
The crushed rock coating pressed into the top of roofing shingles.
Asphalt Shingle
This is the most common roofing material found on US homes.
Assessed Value
This is the specific dollar amount your local government assigns to your home to calculate your property taxes.
Attic Baffle
This is a thin channel made of foam or plastic installed under your roof deck.
Auger
This is a spiral metal or plastic rod found inside your refrigerator ice maker or a pellet stove.
Azimuth
This is a compass measurement that tells you the exact direction your roof faces.
B
Backflow Preventer
This is a mechanical valve that keeps dirty water from flowing backward into your clean water supply.
Baffle Filter
A baffle filter is a metal grate found underneath your kitchen range hood.
Bake Element
This is the thick black or grey metal coil located at the very bottom of your electric oven.
Ball Valve
This is a water shutoff switch with a handle that turns a quarter of the way around.
Balloon Framing
An older style of house construction where the wooden wall studs run continuously from the foundation all the way up to the roof.
Baluster
A baluster is one of the vertical posts that support the handrail on your staircase or outdoor deck.
Baseboard
This is a wooden or plastic trim piece that covers the joint where your interior walls meet the floor.
Basement Waterproofing
This is a system of coatings, drains, and pumps used to keep water out of your lower level.
Basin Wrench
This is a specialized plumbing tool with a long handle and a pivoting jaw at the top.
Batten
This is a thin strip of wood or plastic used to cover the seams between wide boards.
Battery Bank
This is a group of batteries wired together to store electrical energy.
Berm
A berm is a raised mound of dirt created in your yard to change the landscape.
Bidet
A bidet is a plumbing fixture that sprays a small stream of water to wash you after you use the toilet.
Bird Stop
This is a curved piece of metal or plastic placed under the bottom edge of a tile roof.
Blocking
Blocking involves cutting short pieces of lumber and nailing them between your long wall studs or floor joists.
Blower Motor
This is the large fan inside your indoor heating and cooling unit.
Board Foot
This is the special unit of measurement lumberyards use to sell rough wood.
Boiler
A boiler is a large heating unit that warms your house by heating water.
Brad Nailer
This is a power tool that shoots very thin nails into wood using compressed air or a battery.
Branch Drain
This is a smaller plumbing pipe that connects a single fixture like a sink or shower to your main sewer line.
Breaker Panel
This is the main metal box that takes electricity from the street and splits it into different circuits for your house.
Bridging
Bridging consists of small pieces of wood or metal placed diagonally between your floor joists.
Broil Element
This is the thick metal heating coil located at the top of your oven.
BTU
A BTU is a measurement that tells you how much heat an appliance can produce or remove from the air.
Building Permit
A building permit is a formal approval document from your local government that lets you start a construction or remodeling project.
Burner Grate
A burner grate is the heavy metal grid that sits on top of your gas stove to hold your pots and pans.
Busbar
A busbar is a thick strip of copper or aluminum inside your electrical panel.
Butterfly Roof
This is a roof design where two panels slope down toward the middle of your house.
Bypass Diode
A bypass diode is a tiny electronic part built into solar panels.
C
Cable Clamp
A small metal or plastic fitting that holds electrical wires securely where they enter a junction box.
Cable Tie
A cable tie is a small plastic strap that holds loose wires tightly together.
Caliper
A caliper is a precise measuring tool with two metal jaws that slide open and closed.
Cantilever
This is a structural beam or floor section that sticks out past its support base.
Capacitor
A small cylinder inside your air conditioner or furnace that acts like a temporary battery.
Cartridge
This is a small plastic or brass cylinder hidden inside your sink or shower handle.
Catch Basin
This is a buried box in your yard with a grated cover on top.
Caulk
Caulk is a flexible, waterproof paste used to seal joints around windows, doors, and bathtubs.
Caulking Gun
This metal or plastic frame holds a tube of sealant.
Central Vacuum
This is a whole house cleaning system built right into your walls.
Cesspool
This is an underground pit lined with brick or stone that collects wastewater from your home.
Chalk Line
A tool that uses a string coated in colored dust to snap a perfectly straight line across a long surface.
Charge Controller
This is an electronic box that sits between your solar panels and your solar battery bank.
Check Valve
A check valve is a plumbing part that lets water flow in only one direction.
Chimney Cap
A chimney cap is a metal cover that sits on top of your chimney crown.
Chisel
This is a hand tool with a sharp beveled edge at the end of a metal blade.
Circular Saw
This is a handheld power tool with a spinning round blade used for cutting wood.
Claim
This is a formal request you make to your insurance company for money after an accident or disaster.
Clapboard
Clapboard is a type of wooden siding made from long boards.
Cleanout
A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives a plumber easy access to your main sewer line.
Clerestory Window
This is a row of windows placed high up on a wall just below the roofline.
Closet Flange
This metal or plastic ring connects your toilet to the floor and the drain pipe.
Closing Costs
These are the various fees you pay at the very end of a real estate transaction.
Closing Disclosure
A closing disclosure is a five page form you receive right before you buy or refinance a house.
Collar Tie
This horizontal piece of lumber connects two opposing roof rafters high up near the peak of your attic.
Combiner Box
A small electrical box mounted on your roof or wall that connects the wires from multiple solar panels together.
Compost
This is a dark soil mixture made from decayed organic matter like leaves, grass clippings, and food scraps.
Compression Nut
A metal or plastic fitting that squeezes a small ring onto a pipe to create a watertight seal.
Compressor
The heavy motor located inside the metal box of your outdoor air conditioning unit.
Concrete Form
A concrete form is a temporary mold made of wood or metal that holds wet concrete in place.
Concrete Siding
This is a tough exterior wall covering made from a mix of cement, sand, and water.
Condensate Drain Line
A condensate drain line is a small PVC pipe connected to your indoor air conditioner.
Condensate Pump
This is a small electric pump that sits next to your indoor air conditioner or high efficiency furnace.
Condenser Coil
This is a network of metal tubes on the back or bottom of your refrigerator.
Conductor
This is any material that allows electricity to flow through it easily.
Conduit
Conduit is a tough tube used to protect electrical wires from damage.
Conduit Bender
A conduit bender is a heavy metal hand tool that electricians use to curve protective metal pipes.
Conduit Body
This is a small metal or plastic box that joins sections of electrical pipe together.
Construction Adhesive
This is a heavy duty glue used by builders to bond materials like wood, metal, and drywall.
Contactor
A contactor is a heavy duty electrical switch inside your outdoor air conditioning unit.
Contingency
A safety clause written into your real estate contract when you buy a house.
Continuity Tester
A continuity tester is a small electrical tool that checks if an electrical path is complete and unbroken.
Coping Saw
This is a hand tool with a very thin metal blade stretched across a metal frame shaped like a capital D.
Counterflashing
Counterflashing is a second layer of metal that overlaps the base flashing on your roof.
Covenants
These are strict neighborhood rules created by a homeowners association that dictate what you can and cannot do with your property.
Crankcase Heater
This small electrical band wraps around the outside of your heat pump or air conditioner compressor.
Crawlspace
This is an unfinished area under the first floor of a house that is not tall enough to stand up in.
Cricket
This is a small peaked structure built on your roof right behind a chimney.
Cripple Stud
This is a short piece of framing wood placed above a door or below a window.
Crisper Drawer
A clear plastic bin at the bottom of your refrigerator designed to store fresh fruits and vegetables.
Cubic Foot
This is a unit of measurement that describes the volume of a space.
Cubic Yard
This is a unit of volume used to measure bulk landscaping materials like dirt, mulch, and gravel.
D
Damper
A damper is a small metal plate inside your heating and cooling ducts.
Dead Load
Dead load is the permanent weight of the building materials that your foundation and framing must support.
Declarations Page
This is the first page of your home insurance policy that summarizes your exact coverage.
Deductible
This is the amount of money you must pay out of your own pocket before your home insurance starts paying for a repair.
Deed
This is the official legal document that proves you own your house and land.
Defrost Heater
This is a small electric heating element located behind the walls of your freezer.
Depreciation
This is the loss of value of your home or its parts over time due to age and wear.
Dethatcher
This is a gas or electric machine that pulls up the dead layer of grass stems and roots choking your lawn.
Dielectric Union
A special plumbing fitting that connects two different types of metal pipes, like copper and galvanized steel.
Diffuser
This is a type of vent cover that spreads conditioned air evenly across a room.
Dimmer Switch
This is a wall dial or slider that lets you control how bright your lights are.
Dip Tube
This is a long plastic pipe inside your water heater.
Disconnect Switch
This is a safety box mounted on the outside wall near your air conditioner.
Diverter Valve
A diverter valve sends water to different parts of your plumbing system.
Dormer
A dormer is a small roofed structure with a window that sticks outward from a main sloping roof.
Double Pole Breaker
A double pole breaker is a wide switch in your electrical panel that controls a 240 volt circuit.
Downspout
This is the vertical pipe that carries rainwater from your roof gutters down to the ground.
Draft Hood
This is an open metal funnel located on top of a gas water heater or furnace.
Draft Inducer
This small motor and fan sit inside a gas furnace.
Drain Stopper
A drain stopper is a small plug inside your sink or bathtub that holds the water in the bowl.
Drainpipe
A drainpipe is the hollow tube that carries wastewater away from your sink, tub, or toilet.
Drip Edge
A drip edge is a piece of L shaped metal installed along the edge of your roof.
Drip Irrigation
This is a network of small plastic tubes laid out in your garden beds.
Drip Pan
A drip pan is a shallow metal or plastic tray that sits under your appliances or air conditioning unit.
Drive Belt
This thick rubber band connects the electric motor to the moving parts inside your household appliances.
Drum Roller
This is a small rubber or plastic wheel located inside your clothes dryer.
Drywall
This is the flat building material used to make the interior walls and ceilings in your house.
Ductwork
Ductwork is the system of large metal or flexible tubes hidden in your walls, ceilings, and floors.
Dutch Gable Roof
A Dutch gable roof combines two different roof shapes into one design.
E
Earnest Money
This is a cash deposit you give to a seller to prove you are serious about buying their house.
Easement
An easement is a legal right that lets someone else use a specific part of your property.
Eaves
These are the lower edges of your roof that hang over the exterior walls of your house.
Efflorescence
A powdery white stain that appears on brick, concrete, or basement walls.
Electrical Tape
Electrical tape is a stretchy plastic tape used to wrap and protect exposed wire connections.
Endorsement
This is a written document attached to your home insurance policy that changes or adds to your coverage.
Energy Recovery Ventilator
This machine brings fresh air into your home while pushing stale air out.
Equipment Pad
An equipment pad is a flat base that sits on the ground outside your house to support heavy machines.
Equity
Equity is the portion of your home that you actually own outright.
Escrow
A safe holding account managed by a neutral third party during a real estate deal.
Escutcheon
This is the decorative metal plate that covers the hole in your wall where a pipe comes through.
Evaporative Cooler
This is a cooling system that blows warm outside air through wet water pads.
Evaporator Coil
A network of copper or aluminum tubes located inside your indoor heating and cooling unit.
Expansion Joint
An expansion joint is a flexible gap left between large slabs of concrete in your driveway or basement floor.
Expansion Tank
This is a small metal tank attached to your water heater.
Expansive Soil
This type of dirt contains a lot of clay that acts like a sponge when it gets wet.
F
Fascia
This is the long, straight board that runs along the lower edge of your roof.
Felt Paper
A heavy sheet of black paper soaked in asphalt that roofers roll out over your bare roof.
Fiber Cement
This is a tough building material made by mixing sand, cement, and wood pulp.
Fill Valve
This tall plastic mechanism sits inside your toilet tank.
Filter Drier
This is a small metal cylinder installed on the copper lines of your air conditioning system.
Filter Grille
A filter grille is the slatted metal cover on your wall or ceiling that swings open to hold your heating and cooling air filter.
Fish Tape
A long, flat coil of stiff steel wire that electricians use to pull new wires through walls and pipes.
Fixture
This is any item that is permanently attached to your house or land.
Flame Rollout Switch
This is a safety device located near the burners of your gas furnace.
Flame Sensor
This thin metal rod sits inside your gas furnace right next to the burners.
Flapper
A flapper is the rubber plug sitting at the bottom of your toilet tank.
Flashing
Flashing is a thin piece of waterproof material that keeps water from getting into the joints of your house.
Flat Roof
A flat roof is a roof style that is almost completely level instead of slanted.
Flexible Coupling
A flexible coupling is a thick rubber sleeve used to connect two plumbing pipes together.
Floor Drain
This is a heavy metal grate set into the lowest point of your basement or garage floor.
Floor Truss
This is a thick wooden frame used to support floors.
Flue
A flue is the metal pipe or brick channel that carries exhaust gases from your furnace or water heater to the outside.
Footing
A footing is the wide pad of concrete poured deep underground to support the weight of your house.
Foundation Wall
This is the solid vertical structure made of concrete or block that supports the entire weight of your home.
French Drain
This is a trench filled with gravel and a pipe that has holes in it.
Furnace
A furnace is a large appliance that heats your home by blowing warm air through ducts.
Furring Strip
These are thin strips of wood or metal used to level a wall or ceiling.
G
Gable
This is the triangular upper part of a wall at the end of a ridged roof.
Gable Vent
A gable vent is a slatted opening located at the very peak of your exterior wall just under the roofline.
Gallons Per Flush
Gallons per flush is a measurement that tells you exactly how much water your toilet uses every time you pull the handle.
Gallons Per Minute
This is a measurement that tells you how fast water flows out of a fixture.
Galvanic Corrosion
A chemical reaction that destroys metal pipes when two different types of metal touch each other in water.
Galvanized Steel
This is regular steel that has been coated with a thin layer of zinc.
Gambrel Roof
This is a roof style with two different slopes on each side, making the house look like a classic American barn.
Gasket
This is a flexible rubber or silicone ring used to seal the gap between two surfaces so water or air cannot escape.
Gate Valve
This is a plumbing valve that uses a round knob to lower a metal barrier into the pipe to stop water flow.
Geothermal Loop
It's a series of pipes buried underground to heat or cool a home.
GFCI Receptacle
This is a special type of electrical outlet designed to protect you from deadly shocks.
Grading
This is the process of shaping the dirt around your house so the ground slopes away from the foundation.
Green Roof
A green roof is a special roofing system covered with a waterproof layer, soil, and living plants.
Greywater
This is the relatively clean wastewater that drains from your bathroom sinks, showers, and washing machines.
Grid Tie
This is a type of home solar system that connects directly to your local utility power lines.
Ground Rod
A ground rod is a long copper or steel pole driven deep into the earth outside your house.
Ground Wire
This is a safety wire in your electrical system.
Grout
Grout is a thin, sandy mixture used to fill the gaps between tiles in your bathroom or kitchen.
Gusset Plate
This is a flat metal or wood bracket that connects multiple beams together.
Gutter Guard
This is a protective cover that sits on top of your rain gutters to keep leaves and twigs out.
H
Hacksaw
A hand tool with a thin, fine-toothed blade stretched tight across a metal frame.
Hardiness Zone
This is a geographic area defined by how cold its winter temperatures get.
Hardscape
Hardscape refers to the heavy, non living parts of your landscaping.
Hardwired
This describes a device connected directly to your home electrical wiring instead of plugging into an outlet.
Hazard Insurance
This is the part of your homeowner policy that pays to fix your house if a disaster strikes.
Header
A header is a heavy wooden beam placed horizontally over a door or window frame.
Heat Exchanger
This is a metal chamber inside your furnace that heats up when gas burns.
Heat Pump
A heat pump is an energy efficient system that heats and cools your home.
Heat Sequencer
A heat sequencer is a small electrical switch inside your electric furnace.
Heat Strip
This is a coil of wire inside your air handler that acts as a backup heater for your heat pump.
Heating Element
This is a thick metal coil inside your oven, electric water heater, or clothes dryer.
Helical Pile
A long steel shaft with spiral shaped plates that builders twist deep into the ground.
Hip Roof
A hip roof slopes downward on all four sides of your house so there aren't any flat ends.
HOA Dues
This is a mandatory fee you pay to your neighborhood homeowners association every month or year.
Home Warranty
This is a service contract you can buy that covers the repair or replacement of your major home systems and appliances.
Hose Bibb
A hose bibb is the outdoor water faucet attached to the side of your house.
Housewrap
This is a thin sheet of synthetic material wrapped around the outside walls of your home before the siding goes on.
Humidistat
This is a control device that measures and adjusts the moisture in your home air.
Hurricane Tie
A metal bracket used to connect a wooden roof rafter or truss to the top of a wall.
I
Ice and Water Shield
This thick, sticky rubber membrane goes onto your bare roof deck before the shingles.
Ice Dam
An ice dam is a thick ridge of solid ice that forms along the edge of your roof in winter.
Ice Maker
This is the small machine inside your freezer that automatically freezes water into cubes.
Igniter
An igniter is a small part inside your gas furnace, oven, or water heater that starts the flame.
Insolation
This is a measurement of how much raw solar energy hits a specific area of your roof over a given time.
Insurance Binder
This is a temporary legal document that proves you have home insurance before your official policy is issued.
Inverter
This is a metal box connected to your rooftop solar panels.
Irradiance
This is a measure of how much raw sunlight actually hits your roof at any given moment.
J
Jack Stud
This is a vertical wooden board inside your wall that holds up the heavy beam above a window or door.
Joint Compound
A thick, white paste used to cover the seams and screws when installing new drywall.
Joist
A joist is a thick wooden or steel beam that supports a floor or a ceiling in your house.
Joist Hanger
A joist hanger is a metal bracket shaped like a U that holds the wooden beams supporting your floor or deck.
Junction Box
A small plastic or metal box installed inside your walls or ceilings where electrical wires connect.
K
Kilowatt
A kilowatt is a unit of electrical power equal to 1,000 watts.
Kilowatt Hour
A unit of energy that shows how much electricity your home uses over time.
King Stud
A king stud is a vertical framing board that runs from the floor all the way to the ceiling.
Knee Kicker
This is a heavy metal tool used to stretch carpet tightly across a room during installation.
Knob and Tube
This is an outdated electrical wiring system found in homes built before 1950.
Knockout
This is a small metal circle stamped into an electrical box or breaker panel.
L
Lally Column
A steel pipe filled with concrete that supports the heavy wooden beams in your basement.
Lauan
Lauan is a thin and flexible type of plywood made from tropical wood.
Leach Field
A leach field is a network of underground pipes with small holes in them.
Ledger Board
This is a thick horizontal piece of lumber that attaches a deck or porch directly to your house.
Level
A straight hand tool containing small tubes of colored liquid with an air bubble inside.
Leveling Leg
A leveling leg is a thick metal or plastic foot screwed into the bottom corner of a heavy household appliance.
Liability Coverage
This is the part of your home insurance policy that protects you if someone gets hurt on your property.
Lien
A lien is a legal claim placed on your property by someone you owe money to.
Limit Switch
A limit switch is a safety sensor inside your furnace that measures air temperature.
Line Set
A pair of copper tubes that connect your indoor air handler to your outdoor air conditioner.
Linear Foot
This is a measurement that only looks at the length of an item in a straight line.
Lint Trap
This is a removable mesh screen inside your clothes dryer that catches loose fabric fibers.
Load Bearing Wall
This is a structural wall that holds up the weight of the floor or roof above it.
Loam
A dark, crumbly type of soil that is perfect for growing healthy lawns and garden plants.
Loss of Use
A section of your homeowners insurance policy that pays for your living expenses if your house is too damaged to live in.
Louver
This is a set of angled slats or fins that allow air and light to pass through while keeping rain and direct sunshine out.
Low-E Coating
This is a microscopically thin layer of metal applied to modern window glass.
Lug
A lug is a heavy metal connector that attaches thick electrical wires to your main breaker panel.
Lumen
This is a measurement that tells you exactly how bright a light bulb will be.
Luxury Vinyl Plank
This flooring material looks like real wood but is made of durable plastic.
M
Macerator
A macerator is a machine that grinds up solid waste and toilet paper into a fine slurry.
Magnetron
A magnetron is the hidden device inside your microwave oven that actually cooks your food.
Main Sewer Line
The main sewer line is the large underground pipe that carries all the wastewater from your house to the city sewer or your septic tank.
Main Water Valve
This is the primary handle that controls all the water entering your house.
Manifold
This is a main plumbing hub that distributes water to different zones in your house.
Mansard Roof
This is a roof with four sides that each have two different slopes.
Mastic
This is a thick, gooey paste that heating workers use to seal the joints in your metal air ducts.
Medium Density Fiberboard
This is an engineered wood product made by pressing wood fibers, wax, and resin together under high heat.
Melamine
This is a tough plastic coating applied to the outside of particleboard or wood.
MERV Rating
This is a number between 1 and 16 that tells you how well your furnace filter catches dust and pollen.
Meter Socket
This grey metal box mounts on the outside wall of your house to connect your home to the local power grid.
Microinverter
A small device attached to the back of a single solar panel that converts solar energy into usable home power.
Mil
A mil is a tiny unit of measurement equal to one thousandth of an inch.
Mildewcide
This chemical additive kills mold and mildew spores on contact.
Mini-Split
This is a ductless heating and cooling system used in many modern homes.
Miter Saw
A miter saw is a power tool used to make precise, angled cuts in wood.
Monocrystalline Panel
This is a type of solar panel made from a single, pure silicon crystal.
Monolithic Slab
A monolithic slab is a concrete foundation where the floor and the thick support edges are poured at the exact same time.
Mortar
A thick mixture of sand, cement, and water used to lock bricks and stone together.
Mortgage Broker
This is a financial professional who helps you find the best home loan by comparing offers from many different banks.
Motorized Damper
This is a metal plate inside your heating and cooling ducts that opens and closes automatically.
Mudjacking
This is a repair method used to lift a sunken concrete driveway, patio, or foundation.
Mulch
Mulch is a layer of material spread over the soil around your plants.
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical strip of wood, metal, or plastic that divides a window or a set of doors.
Multimeter
A multimeter is a handheld tool used to test electrical circuits safely.
N
Net Metering
Net metering is a billing system for homeowners with solar panels.
Neutral Wire
The neutral wire carries electricity back to your breaker panel after it powers a device like a lightbulb.
NM Cable
This is the standard electrical wire used inside the walls of most modern US homes.
Non Contact Voltage Tester
A non contact voltage tester is a pen shaped safety tool that checks for live electricity.
O
Off-Grid System
This is a solar power setup that is completely disconnected from the local utility company.
Ohm
This is a measurement of electrical resistance.
Oriented Strand Board
Oriented strand board is a strong building panel made by gluing together thousands of small wood chips.
Oscillating Tool
This handheld power tool uses a blade that vibrates rapidly from side to side.
Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen bleach is a safe cleaning powder used to wash siding and decks.
P
P-Trap
This is the curved pipe right under your sink drain.
Parapet Wall
This is a low protective wall that extends upward past the edge of your roof.
Particle Board
This is a cheap building material made from wood chips, sawdust, and glue pressed together under high heat.
Peak Sun Hours
This solar measurement tells you how many hours a day your roof gets powerful, direct sunlight.
Perc Test
This is a soil test required before you can install a new septic system.
Perennial
A perennial is a plant or flower that lives for more than two years.
Peril
This is a specific event that can damage your home or property.
PEX Tubing
This is a flexible plastic pipe used for water supply lines in modern homes.
Photovoltaic
Photovoltaic refers to the technology that turns sunlight directly into electricity.
Pier
This is a vertical support column that holds up the structure of a house.
Pigtail
This is a short piece of electrical wire used to connect two or more wires to a single device like an outlet.
Pilaster
A pilaster is a rectangular support column that is built directly into a wall so it only sticks out slightly.
Pilot Light
A pilot light is a small gas flame that stays on all the time in older gas appliances.
Pipe Dope
This is a thick paste that plumbers brush onto the threads of metal or plastic pipes before twisting them together.
Pipe Insulation
Pipe insulation is a foam or fiberglass tube that wraps around your water lines.
Pipe Nipple
A short piece of pipe with threads on both ends.
Pipe Strap
A pipe strap is a curved piece of metal or plastic that fastens a plumbing pipe to a wall or joist.
Pipe Wrench
A heavy metal hand tool with jagged teeth used to grip and turn smooth metal pipes.
Pitch
Pitch is a measurement that tells you how steep your roof is.
PITI
This stands for principal, interest, taxes, and insurance.
Pivot Rod
This is a metal or plastic wand that connects your bathroom sink drain stopper to the lift rod assembly.
Plaster
This is a traditional wall finishing material made of gypsum, sand, and water that dries into a hard surface.
Plat Map
A detailed drawing drawn by a surveyor that shows the legal property lines for a neighborhood.
Plenum
A plenum is an enclosed box that connects your HVAC system to the ductwork.
Plumb Bob
This is a heavy, pointed metal weight attached to a long string.
Plumber's Putty
A soft, clay-like material used to create a watertight seal around sink drains and faucets.
Polarity
This refers to the correct flow of electrical current through your home wiring.
Policy Exclusion
This is a specific rule written into your home insurance contract that points out exactly what the company will not cover.
Polyurethane
Polyurethane is a tough, clear liquid finish used to protect bare wood floors and furniture.
Pop Up Drain
You'll find this stopper assembly inside most bathroom sink basins.
Portland Cement
This is the fine gray powder that acts as the main binding ingredient in concrete and mortar.
Post Base
A post base is a metal bracket that connects a wooden upright post to a concrete floor or footing.
Post Tension Slab
This is a type of concrete foundation that uses strong steel cables to hold the concrete tightly together.
Premium
A premium is the amount of money you pay your insurance company to keep your home protected.
Pressure Reducing Valve
A pressure reducing valve is a brass plumbing fitting that lowers the water pressure coming from the city main into your house.
Pressure Washer
A pressure washer is a motorized machine that blasts water at high speeds to clean hard surfaces.
Property Tax
This is an annual fee you pay to your local county or city government.
Pry Bar
This is a heavy iron or steel hand tool with a flattened, angled end.
PSI
PSI stands for pounds per square inch.
Punch List
This is a document you and your contractor create near the end of a building or remodeling project.
Purlin
A purlin is a horizontal beam that runs along the length of a roof.
Putty Knife
A putty knife is a simple hand tool with a flat metal blade and a smooth handle.
Q
R
R-Value
This is a number that tells you how well insulation stops heat from moving through your walls and attic.
Raceway
This is an enclosed metal or plastic channel that protects and hides electrical wires running along a wall.
Radiant Barrier
A radiant barrier is a highly reflective material that you install in your attic to reflect heat away from your home.
Rafter
These are the angled wooden boards that support the weight of your roof.
Rake Board
A rake board is the piece of trim that runs along the sloped edge of your roof.
Range Hood
This appliance sits directly above your stove or cooktop.
Rebar
Rebar is a steel rod covered in ridges that builders place inside wet concrete.
Receptacle Tester
This is a small tool you plug directly into a wall outlet to check if the wiring is safe.
Reciprocating Saw
This is a powerful handheld power tool that uses a push and pull motion to cut through tough materials.
Refrigerant
Refrigerant is the chemical fluid that flows through your air conditioner or heat pump.
Register
A register is the metal or plastic grille that covers the air vents in your floors, walls, or ceilings.
Relief Valve
This is a safety device on water heaters and boilers that opens automatically if pressure gets too high.
Replacement Cost
Replacement cost is a type of home insurance coverage that pays to rebuild your home with brand new materials.
Retaining Wall
A sturdy outdoor wall built to hold back soil and stop dirt from sliding down a slope.
Return Duct
This is a large metal or fiberglass tube that pulls stale air out of your rooms.
Reversing Valve
This is a special valve inside a heat pump that changes the direction of the refrigerant.
Rider
An extra document added to your standard home insurance policy to cover specific valuable items.
Ridge Board
The heavy horizontal board at the very peak of your roof.
Ridge Cap
These are special shingles installed along the very top peak of your roof.
Ridge Vent
A ridge vent is a long opening built into the very top peak of your roof.
Rim Joist
A rim joist is the outer wooden board that forms the box around your floor frame.
Riser
The vertical board placed at the back of a stair step that connects one step to the next.
Roof Boot
This is a special rubber or metal flashing piece that fits tightly around plumbing vent pipes sticking out of your roof.
Roof Deck
This is the solid wooden base of your roof that sits right on top of the structural trusses.
Roof Square
A roof square is a standard measurement equal to 100 square feet of roof area.
Roofing Nail
This short and thick fastener features a very wide and flat head.
Root Barrier
This is a thick plastic wall buried in the ground near trees or large bushes.
Rough In
The rough in phase happens when builders install the basic lines for your plumbing and wiring.
Rough Opening
This is the framed hole in a wall where a window or door will eventually sit.
S
Saddle Valve
A small plumbing valve that clamps onto an existing copper water pipe to create a new water line.
Saltbox Roof
A saltbox roof is a traditional house shape with a short roof in the front and a long roof sloping down the back.
Schrader Valve
It's a small valve on your outside air conditioner unit.
Scupper
This is a drainage hole built directly into the raised edge of a flat roof.
SEER Rating
This stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.
Septic Tank
A large underground container that treats wastewater from your home if you are not connected to a city sewer.
Service Drop
The bundle of overhead electrical wires that connect the power pole on the street to your house.
Service Entrance Cable
This thick bundle of wires carries electricity from the utility line into your main breaker panel.
Service Mast
A service mast is the tall metal pipe on the outside of your roof or exterior wall.
Setback
A local zoning rule that dictates how far your house must be from the property line or the street.
Shear Wall
This specially reinforced wall stands strong against side to side forces like high winds and earthquakes.
Sheathing
The layer of wood boards or panels attached to the outside frame of your house.
Shed Roof
A shed roof is a flat roof that slopes down in one single direction.
Short Sale
This happens when a home is sold for less money than the owner still owes on their mortgage.
Shower Pan
A shower pan is the solid, waterproof floor of your shower stall that catches water and directs it down the drain.
Siding Cleaner
This is a chemical solution you spray onto the outside of your house to remove dirt, mold, and algae.
Sight Glass
A small window on an air conditioning or heat pump line.
Sill Pan
A sill pan is a piece of molded plastic or metal placed right under an exterior door or window.
Sill Plate
This is the very bottom piece of wood in your home framing.
Sill Sealer
This thin strip of ribbed foam sits between the top of your concrete foundation wall and the bottom wooden framing of your house.
Sistering
This is a framing repair where you attach a new piece of lumber directly alongside an old or damaged piece.
Skylight
This is a window built directly into your roof to let natural sunlight into your home.
Slab Foundation
This is a solid pad of concrete poured directly onto the ground to support a house.
Slip Joint Nut
A slip joint nut is a threaded plastic or metal ring found under your sink.
Smart Switch
A smart switch is a modern wall switch that connects to your home internet network.
Snow Guard
A small metal or plastic device attached to a sloping roof.
Snubber Ring
This is a heavy rubber or plastic pad that supports the washing machine tub.
Sod
Sod is pre grown grass that comes attached to a thin layer of soil and roots.
Soffit
A soffit is the exposed underside of an architectural feature on your house.
Soft Wash
A soft wash is a cleaning method that uses low water pressure and special soaps to clean the outside of your house.
Solar Array
This is a complete group of solar panels wired together to generate electricity for a home.
Solar Optimizer
This small device attaches to the back of a single solar panel.
Solar Tracker
This is a mechanical mount that tilts your solar panels to follow the sun as it moves across the sky.
Solder
This is a soft metal alloy that plumbers melt to join copper water pipes together.
Sole Plate
This is the bottom horizontal piece of wood in a framed wall.
Spade Bit
A spade bit is a flat metal drill bit used to quickly bore large holes through wooden studs and joists.
Speed Square
This is a small metal triangle that carpenters use to mark straight lines and angles on wood.
Splash Block
This is a rectangular piece of plastic or concrete placed right under the end of a gutter pipe.
Sprinkler Head
This is the part of your lawn irrigation system that rises up and sprays water.
Square Footage
This is the total floor area of your home calculated by multiplying the length of each room by its width.
Square Yard
This is a unit of area equal to a patch that is three feet long and three feet wide.
Standpipe
It's a vertical pipe that catches wastewater from an appliance like a washing machine.
Starter Strip
This is the very first row of asphalt roofing material nailed down at the bottom edge of your roof.
Static Pressure
This is the resistance to airflow in your heating and cooling ducts.
Stem Wall
This short concrete or masonry wall connects your underground foundation footing to the wooden frame of your house.
Step Flashing
These are small L shaped pieces of metal used where your roof meets a wall or a chimney.
Strain Relief
A small fitting that grips an electrical cord where it enters a metal box or appliance.
Strainer Basket
A strainer basket is the metal or plastic cup that sits right inside your kitchen sink drain.
String Inverter
A string inverter is a large box that connects to a whole row of solar panels on your roof.
Stringer
The heavy, angled wooden boards that support the steps of a staircase.
Stucco
This is a durable exterior finish made of cement, sand, and water.
Stud Finder
This is a small hand tool that locates the hidden wooden framing boards behind your finished walls.
Subfloor
The thick bottom layer of flooring that rests directly on your wooden floor joists.
Subpanel
This is a smaller electrical box that gets its power from your main breaker panel.
Subrogation
This is a process where your insurance company pays for your home repairs and then goes after the person who caused the damage.
Sump Basin
This is a large plastic or concrete pit dug into your basement floor to collect groundwater.
Sump Pump
This is a motorized pump that sits in a hole in your basement floor.
Supply Line
This is the small flexible hose that brings clean water from your wall pipe to a sink, toilet, or appliance.
Surge Protector
This is an electrical device that defends your home electronics from sudden spikes in power.
Swale
A shallow and wide ditch in your yard that directs rainwater safely away from your foundation.
Switch Leg
This electrical wire carries power from your wall switch to the light fixture or ceiling fan.
Switch Plate
This is the flat cover that goes over a light switch on your wall.
T
Tailpiece
This is the straight pipe that drops down from your sink drain.
Tamper Resistant Receptacle
This is a standard electrical outlet with built in spring shutters behind the slots.
Tandem Breaker
A tandem breaker is a single electrical switch that fits into one slot on your electrical panel but controls two separate circuits.
Tear Off
This is a roofing project where workers remove all your old shingles before putting on new ones.
Tee Fitting
This pipe fitting shaped like the letter T connects three separate pipes together.
Thermistor
A thermistor is a small sensor inside appliances like refrigerators, ovens, and dryers.
Thermocouple
A small safety sensor found near the pilot light of your gas water heater or furnace.
Thermostat
This is the control center for your heating and cooling system.
Thermostatic Expansion Valve
This brass part sits near the indoor coil of your air conditioner.
Thinset
Thinset is a type of sticky cement used to attach heavy floor and wall tiles to a surface.
Thread Seal Tape
A thin, white, non sticky tape used to seal the grooves on metal or plastic plumbing pipes.
Three-Way Switch
This type of wall switch lets you control a single light from two different locations.
Title
A title is a legal concept that proves you are the true owner of your home.
Title Insurance
This is a policy that protects you if someone else claims they own your property.
Toggle Switch
A toggle switch is the standard electrical wall switch you use to turn your room lights on and off.
Tons of Cooling
A measurement used to describe the cooling power of a home air conditioning system.
Top Plate
The horizontal piece of lumber that runs along the very top of a framed wall.
Topsoil
This is the nutrient rich upper layer of dirt in your yard where grass and plants grow best.
TPR Valve
This stands for temperature and pressure relief valve.
Transfer Switch
An electrical panel that safely disconnects your house from the utility grid and connects it to a backup generator.
Transformer
This electrical device changes the voltage of electricity running through a circuit.
Trap Adapter
A special plumbing fitting that connects a straight pipe to a curved drain piece.
Trap Primer
This plumbing device squirts a small amount of water into a floor drain to keep the water seal full.
Trellis
This is a wooden or metal frame built to support climbing plants in your garden.
Trisodium Phosphate
This is a strong chemical powder you mix with water to clean stubborn dirt, grease, and old paint off your house.
Truss
A strong wooden framework made of triangles that supports your roof.
Turbine Vent
This is a dome shaped metal vent on your roof that has spinning fins.
U
Umbrella Policy
This is extra liability insurance that protects your finances beyond the limits of your standard home policy.
Underlayment
This is a water resistant layer installed directly on your roof deck before the shingles go on.
Utility Knife
A utility knife is a small hand tool with a sharp, replaceable razor blade.
Utility Meter
A utility meter is a device that tracks exactly how much electricity, gas, or water your home uses.
V
Vacuum Breaker
This small plumbing fitting stops dirty water from flowing backward into your clean drinking water supply.
Valley
A valley is the V shaped line where two sloping sections of a roof meet.
Vapor Barrier
A vapor barrier is a thick plastic sheet used to keep moisture out of your home.
Veneer
A veneer is a very thin layer of expensive wood or stone glued over a cheaper building material.
Vent Stack
This is a vertical pipe that runs from your plumbing system up through your roof.
Vinyl Siding
This is a lightweight plastic exterior covering for your house.
Volt
This is a unit of measurement that describes electrical pressure.
Voltage Drop
This is a loss of electrical power that happens when electricity travels through a very long wire.
W
Wall Stud
This is a vertical framing board that creates the skeleton of your home walls.
Waste Arm
This short pipe connects your sink drain directly to the curved trap underneath.
Waste Line
This is the wide pipe that carries dirty water and solid waste away from your sinks, toilets, and showers.
Water Hammer Arrestor
A small device on your plumbing lines that absorbs the shock of fast closing valves.
Water Inlet Valve
This electrical part connects your home water pipes to your washing machine or refrigerator.
Water Meter
A water meter is a mechanical device that measures how much water your home uses.
Water Softener
This appliance removes hard minerals like calcium and magnesium from your household water.
WaterSense
WaterSense is a voluntary certification program and label run by the U.S.
Wattage
This is the measure of how much electrical power a device uses to do its job.
Wax Ring
This is a thick circle of sticky wax that sits between the bottom of your toilet and the bathroom floor.
Weatherhead
This rounded waterproof cap sits at the very top of the electrical pipe on the outside of your roof.
Weatherstripping
Weatherstripping is the foam, rubber, or metal seal placed around the edges of doors and windows.
Weep Hole
A weep hole is a small gap left at the bottom of a brick wall or window frame.
Wire Gauge
This is a standard measurement that tells you how thick an electrical wire is.
Wire Nut
A wire nut is a small plastic cap used to safely connect two or more electrical wires together.
Wire Splice
This is a physical connection where you join two or more electrical wires together.
Wire Staple
A U shaped metal fastener with two sharp points used to secure electrical cables to wood framing.
Wire Stripper
A wire stripper is a hand tool that looks like a pair of pliers with small holes in the jaws.
Wood Siding
This is an outer layer of wooden boards that protects your home from the weather.
Wye Fitting
A wye fitting is a plastic or metal plumbing pipe piece shaped exactly like the letter Y.
X
Z
Zone Board
A control panel that tells different dampers in your ductwork to open or close.
Zone Valve
This is a motorized plumbing valve used in hot water heating systems to control the flow of water.
Zoning Variance
This is special permission from your local government to break a building rule on your property.
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