Home maintenance glossary
Inspectors, plumbers, and home-improvement videos throw around terms like they're obvious. They're not. Here's every word you need, in plain English.
A
B
C
- Catch basinA drainage box in the yard that collects runoff and routes it to pipes.
- CaulkFlexible sealant that closes gaps to keep water and air out.
- Check valveA one-way valve that lets water flow in only one direction.
- CleanoutA capped pipe fitting that gives access to clear a drain or sewer line.
- Combustion airThe fresh air a gas appliance needs to burn fuel safely.
- Condensate lineThe small drain pipe that carries water away from your AC or furnace.
- Condenser coilsThe dusty coils on your fridge (and AC) that shed heat — keep them clean.
- Crawl spaceThe shallow unfinished area under a home with no full basement.
D
- DamperA movable plate that controls airflow in a chimney or duct.
- Damper (chimney)A movable plate in a chimney that opens for fires and closes to block drafts.
- Deferred maintenanceUpkeep that's been put off — and the growing backlog of cost and risk it creates.
- Dielectric unionA fitting that joins two different metals without causing corrosion.
- Drain fieldThe underground area that filters wastewater from a septic tank.
- Drip edgeMetal flashing along roof edges that directs water into the gutter.
- Drip loopA downward bend in a wire that keeps water from running into a connection.
- Drip panA tray under an appliance that catches leaks before they cause damage.
- Dryer ventThe duct that carries hot, lint-filled air from your dryer outdoors.
E
F
G
- Gable ventA vent in the upper exterior wall that lets hot attic air escape.
- Galvanized pipeOlder steel water pipe coated in zinc that corrodes and clogs over time.
- Garbage disposalThe grinder under the kitchen sink that shreds food scraps so they wash down the drain.
- GFCI outletA shock-protection outlet (the kind with TEST/RESET buttons) required near water.
- GradingThe slope of soil around your house — it should fall away from the foundation.
H
- Heat pumpAn HVAC system that both heats and cools by moving heat instead of burning fuel.
- Home inventoryA documented list of your belongings and home systems, with details for insurance and upkeep.
- Hose bibAn outdoor faucet — the spigot you connect a garden hose to.
- HVAC filterThe air filter that protects your heating/cooling system and indoor air.
I
J
K
L
M
P
R
S
- Sediment flushDraining mineral buildup from the bottom of a water heater tank.
- Septic tankAn underground tank that separates and partially treats household waste.
- Service lifeThe number of years a home system is expected to last before replacement.
- Service panelYour home's breaker box — where electricity is split into circuits.
- Sill plateThe wood board bolting your home's frame to its foundation.
- SoffitThe underside of your roof's overhang, usually vented for airflow.
- Sump pumpA pump in a basement pit that ejects groundwater before it floods.
- Supply lineThe flexible hose feeding water to a fixture like a toilet or washer.
- Surge protectorA device that clamps voltage spikes before they reach your electronics.