General Plumbing

Sealed C H System:
This refers to a heating system where the system is not open to the atmosphere and is usually replenished from a temporary filling hose (or loop) connected to the mains water supply. Barnet Plumbers work on sealed systems.

Softened Water:
Soft or softened water is a term that means that there is no calcium held in it as this could hold more carbon dioxide that increases the waters acidity.

Cold Water Storage Cistern:
Big cylinder with an open style top that sits in a loft space. They are built to store cold water for the supply of a domestic hot and cold water system.

P-trap:
This type of trap is situated on the outlet of a sanitary appliance. The trap’s outlet sits horizontal to the floor. A Barnet Plumber fits traps.

Circulating Pump:
The ‘circ pump’ as it is known is fitted to a central heating system and is employed to send water around the system. They can also be used to divert water to hot water outlets.

Sealed Appliance (Room):
This particular appliance uses the air from the outside atmosphere and is a fuel burner. The appliance will discharge the flue products outside, normally at a point close to the air intake. This can be referred to as a balanced flue. If the flue gas discharge is at a different place than the air intake it is not in balance.

Radiant Heat:
This is a form of infrared heat output. The design is such that only objects that are hit by the heat waves are heated up. This is true of a place such as an office building and its occupants. This is not designed to heat the air.

Overflow:
These are found all over the plumbing world, like toilets and storage cylinders. The overflow is designed and fitted to allow the excess water filling these cylinders to flow away safely, should the float controlled filling valve malfunction and fail to close the water inlet valve. This stops the chance of flooding.

Solder:
This is an alloy that is melted under extreme direct heat and forms and seals capillary joints in copper tubing. This kind of solder can contain lead. It is now usually lead free, typically made from of copper and tin.

Room Thermostatic:
This device is fitted ( in a room) to control the heat, and is designed to automatically open ( to turn off) or close (turn on) an electrical control circuit as the temperature raises or lowers.