The Plumbing Directory
Your complete plumbing resource — expert guides, brand profiles, product types, and troubleshooting across 10 categories.
Browse by Category
Water Heaters
Water heaters provide hot water for residential and commercial applications. This category includes tank-style storage water heaters, tankless on-demand systems, heat pump water heaters, and hybrid models. Key considerations include fuel type (gas, electric, propane), capacity (gallons or flow rate), energy efficiency ratings, and installation requirements.
Toilets
Toilets are essential plumbing fixtures for waste removal in residential and commercial settings. This category includes gravity-fed toilets, pressure-assisted models, dual-flush systems, and one-piece or two-piece designs. Key specifications include flush volume (gallons per flush), bowl shape (elongated or round), rough-in size, and mounting type (floor-mounted or wall-hung).
Faucets
Faucets control water flow in kitchens, bathrooms, and utility areas. This category includes single-handle and two-handle designs, pull-down and pull-out kitchen faucets, widespread and centerset bathroom faucets, and touchless or touch-activated models. Key specifications include mounting type (deck-mount, wall-mount), spout height and reach, handle count, finish options, and flow rate (measured in gallons per minute). Installation requirements vary by configuration and may include single-hole, three-hole, or four-hole setups.
Sinks
Sinks provide water access and drainage for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and utility spaces. This category includes undermount, drop-in, farmhouse, vessel, and pedestal sink designs. Materials range from stainless steel and cast iron to composite, fireclay, and natural stone. Key considerations include bowl configuration (single, double, or triple basin), dimensions, drain location, and mounting method. Kitchen sinks often feature deeper bowls and accessories like cutting boards or colanders, while bathroom sinks prioritize space efficiency and aesthetic integration.
Bathtubs & Showers
Bathtubs and showers are primary bathing fixtures in residential and commercial bathrooms. This category includes alcove tubs, freestanding soaking tubs, whirlpool and air-jet tubs, walk-in tubs, shower stalls, shower-tub combinations, and steam shower systems. Materials include acrylic, fiberglass, cast iron, and cultured marble. Key specifications include dimensions, drain location, water capacity, and installation type (drop-in, undermount, or freestanding). Shower systems may feature multiple spray heads, body jets, digital controls, and accessibility features like low-threshold or zero-entry designs.
Garbage Disposals
Garbage disposals grind food waste for safe disposal through household drain systems. This category includes continuous-feed and batch-feed models with varying motor horsepower ratings (typically 1/3 HP to 1 HP). Key features include grinding chamber capacity, noise insulation, stainless steel or galvanized steel components, and anti-jam mechanisms. Installation considerations include mounting system compatibility (3-bolt or EZ-mount), electrical requirements (hardwired or plug-in), and drain connection specifications. Higher horsepower models handle tougher food waste and operate more quietly.
Pumps
Pumps move water for drainage, pressure boosting, and circulation in residential and commercial plumbing systems. This category includes sump pumps for basement water removal, sewage and effluent pumps for waste water handling, utility pumps for general water transfer, well pumps for groundwater extraction, and booster pumps for pressure enhancement. Key specifications include flow rate (gallons per hour or per minute), maximum head (vertical lift capacity), motor horsepower, power source (electric, battery backup), and pump construction (submersible or pedestal). Installation requirements vary by application and may include float switches, check valves, and discharge piping.
Water Treatment
Water treatment systems improve water quality by removing contaminants, minerals, and impurities. This category includes whole-house water filters, point-of-use filtration systems, reverse osmosis units, water softeners, UV disinfection systems, and sediment filters. Treatment methods address specific concerns such as chlorine, lead, bacteria, hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium), iron, sulfur, and total dissolved solids. Key specifications include flow rate capacity, filter lifespan, regeneration cycles for softeners, and NSF certifications for contaminant reduction. Installation requirements vary from simple under-sink units to whole-house systems requiring professional plumbing integration.
Pipes & Fittings
Pipes and fittings form the distribution network for water supply and drainage in plumbing systems. This category includes supply pipes (copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized steel), drain-waste-vent (DWV) pipes (PVC, ABS, cast iron), and connecting fittings (elbows, tees, couplings, adapters, unions). Pipe materials are selected based on application, local codes, water chemistry, and installation method. Key specifications include nominal pipe size, wall thickness (schedule rating), pressure rating, and connection type (soldered, threaded, push-fit, solvent-welded). Fittings enable directional changes, branch connections, size transitions, and system maintenance access.
Valves
Valves control water flow, pressure, and direction in plumbing systems. This category includes shut-off valves (ball, gate, globe), check valves (preventing backflow), pressure-reducing valves, temperature and pressure relief valves, mixing valves, and specialty valves for specific applications. Valve types are selected based on function, flow characteristics, pressure requirements, and installation location. Key specifications include valve size, connection type (threaded, soldered, compression, push-fit), pressure rating, and material construction (brass, bronze, stainless steel, PVC). Common applications include fixture isolation, main water line control, water heater safety, and backflow prevention.
Popular How-To Guides
View All 112 GuidesHow to Add Salt to a Water Softener
Pick the right salt, fill the brine tank correctly, break up salt bridges, and keep your water softener running so you get consistent soft water without the scale and spotty dishes.
How to Adjust a Pressure Reducing Valve
Test your water pressure, find the PRV on your main line, and adjust it to a safe 50-60 PSI -- before high pressure wears out your fixtures, appliances, and water heater.
How to Adjust Toilet Water Level
Raise or lower your toilet tank water level to fix weak flushes, stop a running toilet, or cut water waste -- covers ball floats and cup floats in 5 minutes flat.
How to Adjust Water Temperature
Set your gas or electric water heater thermostat to the right temperature for comfort, safety, and lower energy bills -- plus how to verify the actual output with a thermometer.
Common Plumbing Problems
View All 66 ProblemsBad Taste or Odor in Water
Water that tastes or smells off -- chlorine, rotten eggs, metallic, musty -- has a specific cause for each type. Identifying what it tastes or smells like is the fastest path to the right fix.
Bathtub Drain Smells Bad
Rotten or musty smell coming from the bathtub drain -- caused by hair and soap scum biofilm in the P-trap, dry trap from disuse, or a venting problem allowing sewer gas through.
Bathtub Won't Drain
Tub draining slow or holding standing water? Almost always a hair clog in the stopper, crossbar, or P-trap. Soap scum and conditioner cement it into a dense mat. Clearable in under 30 minutes.
Chipped or Cracked Sink
Chips and cracks in porcelain, enamel, fireclay, composite, and acrylic sinks range from cosmetic to structural. Small chips fix with a touch-up kit. Larger cracks may need refinishing or replacement.
