Common Terminology
Handle – The trim piece that turns the stem on the cartridge.
Escutcheon – Handle trim that covers the valve under the handle.
Bonnet – A common term for escutcheon, also the middle piece of a 3-part handle trim.
Shower arm – Pipe that comes out of the wall that the showerhead threads onto.
Flange – Non-threaded piece that covers the hole in the wall where the shower arm is.
Valve – Controls the water flow to the faucet.
Cartridge – Part of the valve that controls the ON/OFF function of the valve, also known as the stem.
Aerator – A device located in the faucet spout that mixes air with water. It is made from a screen and restrictor that limits the flow of water while increasing water pressure.
Center-To-Center (CTC) (C-C) – This dimension typically refers to the points where the water enters the faucet to where it exits the faucet. It can also refer to the distance between the hot valve and the cold valve.
Tee Assembly – This part attaches the hot and cold flex hoses to the inlet of the spout.
Flex Hose – These parts connect the outlet of the valves to the connecting tee assembly on the spout. They’re also referred to as supply lines. The hoses are typically fabricated from stainless steel to allow for ease of installation.
Rough In – Any part that is installed in the wall, floor, ceiling or under the counter or deck.
Splines – The length of most stems that has grooves around the perimeter. The handle has matching grooves machined into it. The grooves are called splines.
LAVATORY FAUCETS– Spouts do not swivel (except bridge faucets)
SINGLE HOLE As the name implies, these faucets require a single hole for installation. They may be available as a single handle or two handle model.
4-INCH CENTER These faucets require three holes to be cut in the surface with the centers of the two outside holes four inches apart and one in the center for the pop-up rod.
8-INCH WIDESPREAD Widespread faucets feature a separate spout and valves and require three holes to be cut in the surface. Widespread faucets are generally referred to as eight in faucets, but their spread can range anywhere from 8” to 20”. These are normally equipped with flexible stainless steel braided hoses that allow the flexibility of their spread. Also widespread faucets do not have to be set in a straight line. This allows the faucet to be installed in a manner that follows the line of curved lavatory sinks.
BRIDGE FAUCETS Bridge faucets have separate holes for the hot and cold supply lines. Water travels to the spout via and exposed finished waterway sometimes referred to as a bridge. All bridge faucets do swivel.
WALL MOUNTED FAUCET Wall mounted faucets have gained in popularity recently. Wall mounted faucets are usually used with free standing, above the counter bowls. Generally the installation is similar to a two-valve wall mounted tub set. The valves usually have solid roughs with an eight-inch spread. The spout can only be mounted in-line with the handles, it cannot be above or below the handles.
KITCHEN FAUCETS – Spouts swivel
SINGLE HOLE As the name implies, these faucets require a single hole for installation. They may be available as a single handle or two handle model.
8-INCH WIDE SPREAD Widespread faucets feature a separate spout and valves and require three holes to be cut in the surface. Widespread faucets are generally referred to as eight in faucets, but their spread can range anywhere from 8” to 20”. These are normally equipped with flexible stainless steel braided hoses that allow the flexibility of their spread. Also widespread faucets do not have to be set in a straight line. This allows the faucet to be installed in a manner that follows the line of curved lavatory sinks.
BRIDGE Bridge faucets have separate holes for the hot and cold supply lines. Water travels to the spout via and exposed finished waterway sometimes referred to as a bridge. These faucets are used primarily in the kitchen.
SIDE SPRAY Side sprays are available with all of our deck mounted kitchen faucets (single hole, widespread, or bridge faucets). If the faucet did not come with a side spray, one cannot be adapted to it.
POT FILLER Wall mounted kitchen cold-water only fixture. Primarily used to fill pots, hence the name pot filler.
SHOWER SETS
TWO HANDLE This valve consists of a hot and cold valve connected together on an 8 inch spread. It is still available today but it does not meet code requirements in most states where it has to be pressure balanced or anti-scald, however code does not apply to tub only applications.
THREE HANDLE This valve consists of a hot, cold, and diverter valve connected together on an 8 inch spread. It is still available today but it does not meet code requirements in most states where it has to be pressure balanced or anti-scald.
BALANCED PRESSURE SHOWER ONLY Pressure balance valves are single control (one handle as opposed to two handles) valves that are also classified as anti-scald devices. They monitor the pressure of the hot and cold water at the inlet location. If the cold water pressure decreases, the valve senses this and quickly reduces the hot water pressure. When the pressure changes on the hot or cold side, the valve instantly reacts to produce an even temperature. They operate from a single handle that goes from off to cold to hot.
BALANCED PRESSURE TUB/SHOWER Pressure balance valves are single control (one handle as opposed to three handles) valves that are also classified as anti-scald devices. They monitor the pressure of the hot and cold water at the inlet location. If the cold water pressure decreases, the valve senses this and quickly reduces the hot water pressure. When the pressure changes on the hot or cold side, the valve instantly reacts to produce an even temperature. They operate from a single handle that goes from off to cold to hot.
THERMOSTATIC VALVE The thermostatic valve is an anti-scald valve. It has a sensor that reacts instantly to changes in temperature caused by either pressure or inlet temperature changes. If the water pressure drops or the hot water supply cools, the valve assures that the water temperature remains the same. This valve requires a separate Stop Valve/Volume Control for each function in the bathroom, also the thermostatic valve is a mixing valve only, it cannot control on or off to any function.