Katy Home Inspection – RedStar Professional Home Inspectors

Your home inspector glossary for Katy home inspections and surrounding Houston areas.

Glossary – V

Valley:  The internal angle formed by the intersection of tow sloping roof planes.

Valve:   Device in a heating or plumbing system that controls the flow of a liquid or gas.

Vapor Barrier:   Any material used to prevent the passage of water vapor.

Vaporize:   To convert liquid into a gas, usually by application of heat.

Vault:   A continuous length of arched ceiling.

Vent:   Any outlet for air that protrudes through the roof deck such as a pipe or stack. Any device installed on the roof, gable or soffit for the purpose of ventilating the underside of the roof deck.

Ventilation:   The circulation of air in a room or building; a process of changing the air in a room by natural or artificial means.

Vent Pipe:   A small pipe that extends from plumbing fixtures to a vent stack in the roof, allowing sewer gases to escape to the outer air.

Vent Sleeve:   See Collar

Vent Stack:   Pipe that rids plumbing system of sewer gas and prevents pressure buildup in pipes.

Vestibule:   A small entrance hall to a building or room.

Vinyl:  A man-made plastic material.

Volt:   Unit of measurement denoting electrical pressure or potential (usually abbreviated V).