Below is a glossary of names for appliances found in plumbing:

Airlock:
The blockages usually found in pipework are caused by trapped air. Water will splutter through the pipework, start to flow slowly or even stop flowing altogether and you may hear some creaking and hissing noises. Taps, radiators or appliances connected to these pipes all have the potential to be affected. The air might have entered a system for different reasons, like damaged pipework or poor plumbing. You may need professional advice from Streatham Plumbers.Ball Valve: This is a valve that is controlled via a ball that floats on top of the cistern water and allows the cistern to fill after flushing. Once the WC has been flushed the cistern will empty and the float lowers which causes the valve to open and allows water to fill. Whilst the cistern is filling, the ball float raises and when the cistern is full the inlet valve closes.

Bleed Valve (Radiator): This valve is fitted at the top corner of a radiator. The bleed valve is opened by unscrewing it using a bleed key. This process allows air caught in the radiator to vent. The trapped air will stop the heater from working correctly by filling the space that should hold hot water. Venting the air will normally sort the issue. A Streatham Plumber knows these appliances.

Cistern: This is a cylinder that is used for storing water, an example is a toilet cistern.Combination Boiler (or Combi-Boiler): The combination boiler is a very efficient and compact boiler that services both your heating and hot water as needed. The cold water is fed directly into the boiler via the mains supply and heated as demanded. There is no need for a cold water storage tank to be installed in the loft.
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