Glossary

A vent designed to prevent water backflow/contamination during dishwasher use.

Water shut-off valve(s) underneath sinks that allow the main faucets to be maintained or replaced. The toilet also has an angle stop which turns off water in case of toilet overflow. These have a high failure rate if not maintained and used fairly regularly.

A sacrificial aluminum or magnesium rod used to prevent rusting.

A collection of legal requirements for buildings designed to protect the safety, health, and general welfare of people who work and live in them.

A common, pervasive hazardous mineral fiber found in many older buildings.

A trim board that is attached to the active side of a French door or double window. It acts as a stop, a weatherstripping mount, prevents air/water entry and is a cosmetic trim.

Abbreviation for British Thermal Unit, a standard unit for measuring heat gain or loss.

A horizontal or inclined door providing access to a cellar.

A receptor or reservoir in the ground that receives surface water runoff or drainage.

A lined excavation in the ground that receives the discharge of a sewer drainage system.

An electrical device for discontinuing current to electrical receptacles.

Moisture that accumulates in a building, frequently on the inside of the exterior walls.

The part of a roof that projects out from the wall.

A shallow space below a building between the foundation walls.

Carbon deposits left in stovepipes and chimneys from condensed wood smoke.

A passage for water below ground level.

A movable plate that regulates the draft of a stove, fireplace, or furnace.

A structure projecting from a sloped roof, usually with a window.

A pipe usually metal or plastic used to carry water from the roof gutters.

A pit that is designed to contain drainage water until it can be absorbed into the soil.

The tubes and channels used to distribute conditioned air from heating or cooling systems

The right to use land owned by another, such as a utility company's right-of-way.

That part of a roof that projects over a wall.

A white powdery deposit of salts left on the surface of foundations and masonry walls by moisture.

A means or place of going out; exit.

An L-shaped pipe fitting.

A vertical board nailed on the ends of the rafters. It is part of the outer edge of a cornice.

Metal or other impervious material used to prevent water from entering at building joints.

The opening in a chimney through which smoke passes.

The portion of the end of a building that extends upward to the peak of the roof.

Ground fault circuit interrupter; a quick tripping circuit breaker that can stop the flow of electricity within 1/40 second of sensing a short or current leak. They are designed for use in areas where there is potential risk of shock such as outdoors, around kitchen and bathroom sinks and in carports/garages. GFCI's are required by the building code now although retrofitting is optional.

A conducting connection between an electric circuit or equipment and the earth or some other grounded body.

A thin cement mortar used for leveling and filling masonry and tile applications.

A sheet of material made of gypsum also sheetrock or drywall. Used in place of interior plaster in modern construction.

Our seasonal home maintenance program.

Abbreviation for Home Preservation Service

Waterproof penetrations through the roof for plumbing vents and electrical masts.

A horizontal structural member that supports the floor system or ceiling system.

Older electric wiring through walls where insulated wires are supported with porcelain knobs and tubes when passing through wood construction members.

A shut off valve that turns off a boiler with low water.

The lumen (symbol: lm) is the SI derived unit of luminous flux, a measure of the total "amount" of visible light emitted by a source. Luminous flux differs from power (radiant flux) in that luminous flux measurements reflect the varying sensitivity of the human eye to different wavelengths of light, while radiant flux measurements indicate the total power of all light emitted, independent of the eye's ability to perceive it.

LUX is an abbreviation for Lumens per square meter.

The act of preventing deterioration and breakdowns in a building system.

Fungus that appears on organic matter when exposed to high moisture levels.

Tubes made of dirt used by termites to travel from the ground to the wood structure.

The wood member placed directly on top of the foundation wall in woodframe construction.

An acid used to clean masonry surfaces.

The exposed or daylight end of a drainage system where the collected water spills out.

A system of drains used to divert water away from a building foundation.

Wood destroying insects that turn wood into a fine powdery residue.

Wood treated with a chemical preservative under pressure.

Naturally occurring gas that is caused by the radioactive decay of the element radium.

The uppermost horizontal line of the roof.

An electrical cable that has multiple conductors protected by a non-metallic coating or sheath.

Slow water leaks occurring in piping or through basement walls.

A watertight collector that receives sewage from the plumbing drains.

The structural covering of boards or wallboards, placed over exterior studding or rafters of a structure.

The underside of a roof overhang or eave.

A device placed on top of a chimney designed to catch embers. It is strongly recommended if the home has a wood shake roof or is located in a fire prone area.

A cement plaster used for the finish siding on exterior surfaces of buildings.

A small pump used to remove water.

The temperature and pressure relief valve on a water heater tank.

Trouble Shoot

Wood destroying insects the size and appearance of winged ants.

The inside angle formed by the junction of two sloping sides of a roof.

Material used to retard the flow of moist air into wall cavities to prevent condensation.

The means by which circulating air is introduced or removed from a structure.

Material used to prevent the passage of air around doors and windows.

A small opening that allows water to escape from an enclosed area.