🔧 The Plumbing Directory — Resource Center
Your complete plumbing resource with expert guides, brand information, product types, troubleshooting tips, and more 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.
Explore Water Heaters →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).
Explore Toilets →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.
Explore Faucets →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.
Explore Sinks →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.
Explore Bathtubs & Showers →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.
Explore Garbage Disposals →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.
Explore Pumps →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.
Explore Water Treatment →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.
Explore Pipes & Fittings →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.
Explore Valves →Resource Hubs
Plumbing Brands
Browse 175 plumbing brands with detailed profiles, product lines, and category coverage.
Browse All Brands →How-To Guides
Step-by-step guides for plumbing maintenance, repairs, and installations.
Browse All Guides →Common Problems
Diagnose and fix the most common plumbing problems with expert advice.
Browse All Problems →