We understand that putting together a new bathroom can be stressful – ordering items, tiling walls, arranging plumbing and building work to name just a few of the things that can raise your blood pressure. Then you’re confronted with confusing bathroom jargon such as ‘comfort raised’, ‘thermostatic’ and ‘close coupled’… what does it all mean? To make your next renovation a little bit easier, we’ve put together this essential guide to all the bathroom buzzwords you need to know when buying items for your home.

We understand that putting together a new bathroom can be stressful – ordering items, tiling walls, arranging plumbing and building work to name just a few of the things that can raise your blood pressure. Then you’re confronted with confusing bathroom jargon such as ‘comfort raised’, ‘thermostatic’ and ‘close coupled’… what does it all mean? To make your next renovation a little bit easier, we’ve put together this essential guide to all the bathroom buzzwords you need to know when buying items for your home.

Bathroom Jargon – BUSTED!

Low Pressure Taps

If you have a low pressure water system, low pressure taps are designed to operate at this pressure. This will mean that you will always get a steady flow of water.

Close Coupled

Reserved for describing toilets, close coupled means that the cistern sits on the back of the toilet pan rather than hung on the wall above the pan. Close coupled toilets are considered to be a modern choice.

Back To Wall

Back to wall toilets stand on the floor but have the WC pan fixed to the wall with the cistern and pipes sitting concealed behind the wall or a furniture unit. These toilets are perfect if you are looking to save space in a smaller bathroom.

Wall Hung

Wall hung toilets are almost identical to back to wall toilets except that instead of standing on the floor, they are mounted to the wall with a concealed frame to hold it together placed behind the wall along with the cistern. The great thing about wall hung toilets is that you can have it installed at the height that you choose (and don’t worry – the frames are incredibly sturdy so your toilet won’t fall off the wall)!

Comfort Raised

Toilets that are described as comfort raised have been adjusted so that they sit slightly higher than a standard toilet. This is so that is sits more comfortably for taller people and those with joint or back issues.

Short Projection

Short projection toilets are designed to save space. They do not protrude from the wall as much as regular toilets.

Concealed cistern

Concealed cisterns (tanks) are toilet cisterns that have been hidden in some way.

Soft Close

Soft close refers to doors or toilet seats and simply means that they have hinges that slow the fast motion of movement down so that the door or toilet seat doesn’t slam down. These reduce noise, but are also great for families with young children as soft close hinges can stop little fingers getting trapped where they shouldn’t be!

Wastes

Perhaps the king of all bathroom jargon, a waste is actually something we all know about. In layman’s terms, it is simply the water drainage point of a basin product such as a shower, bath or sink. The plug hole! There are a few types of waste that you can buy at Bathshop321 and here is a quick run down of what they all mean:

A chain waste is simply a traditional plug and chain. A click-clack waste is a waste that you push the plug in with your finger so it clicks shut, and to open it you do the same thing until it lifts up. A flip waste (or captive waste) sits in the plug hole and pivots when pushed on one side to let the water go. A free flowing waste can’t be closed and just sits over the top of the plug hole – designed to be only used in basins with free flowing water. Finally, a pop up waste is usually supplied with a tap that has a control for the waste at the back of it.

Thermostatic

Used mostly in relation to showers, thermostatic means that a product can monitor and respond to changes in temperature. This means that it does not get too hot, therefore reducing the risk of scalding.

Double Ended Bath

This simply means a bath that has the waste in the centre of the bath and has the taps fitted centrally. This essentially means that you can sit at either end of the bath instead of having your back against the taps at one end!

P Shaped and L Shaped Baths

P shaped baths and L Shaped Baths are quite self-explanatory.  They are both shower baths with widened ends so that you have more room for showering when you install a shower unit on the wall above. P Shaped Baths have a curved wide end, whilst L Shape Baths have a square wide end.

Vanity Unit

A vanity unit is simply a unit that consists of a washbasin sunk into a flat top with cupboards or drawers underneath.

WRAS Approved

WRAS stands for the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme, so if you see this on our items you can rest assured that they comply with the WRAS water regulations that encourage water efficiency and the protection of public health.

NLA

If you see this abbreviation on our website, it means that the product is no longer available.

BPO

If you see this abbreviation on our website it means that the product in question is being phased out – meaning that once the stock runs out we will not be getting more in.

Any bathroom jargon we’ve missed? Need help with anything we have described online? Leave us a message telling us what piece of bathroom jargon you need to be explained on our Facebook or Twitter pages and we’ll talk you through it – and add it to this list.