100 Words Every Homeowner Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	Abatement	Removal or reduction of a hazard.
2.	Adjustable-rate mortgage	Loan with interest rate that changes over time.
3.	Air handler	Indoor unit that circulates conditioned air.
4.	Amortization	Paying off loan through scheduled payments.
5.	Anchor bolt	Bolt securing framing to concrete foundation.
6.	Appraisal	Professional estimate of a property’s market value.
7.	Asbestos	Hazardous mineral fiber found in older materials.
8.	Attic insulation	Material reducing heat transfer through attic.
9.	Backflow preventer	Device stopping contaminated water from reversing flow.
10.	Baluster	Vertical railing support between handrail and base.
11.	Baseboard	Trim covering wall-to-floor joint.
12.	Bearing wall	Wall supporting structural loads above.
13.	Berm	Raised strip of earth for drainage control.
14.	Breaker panel	Electrical panel containing circuit breakers.
15.	Building permit	Official approval to start specific construction work.
16.	Caulking	Sealant used to close gaps and joints.
17.	Cesspool	Underground pit collecting wastewater and solids.
18.	Circuit breaker	Safety switch that trips on overload.
19.	Closing costs	Fees paid to finalize a real estate purchase.
20.	CO detector	Alarm for carbon monoxide gas.
21.	Compressor	HVAC component that pressurizes refrigerant.
22.	Condensation	Water droplets forming from humid air cooling.
23.	Condenser	Outdoor HVAC unit releasing heat.
24.	Conduit	Protective tubing for electrical wiring.
25.	Crawlspace	Low space beneath a house floor.
26.	Curb stop	Exterior valve shutting off home water supply.
27.	Damper	Valve controlling airflow in ductwork.
28.	Deck ledger	Board attaching deck to house framing.
29.	Deed	Legal document transferring property ownership.
30.	Demising wall	Wall separating adjoining units or properties.
31.	Dew point	Temperature where air moisture condenses.
32.	Ductwork	Channels distributing heated or cooled air.
33.	Easement	Legal right to use another’s land.
34.	Egress	Required exit route for safety.
35.	Electrical load	Amount of power used on a circuit.
36.	Encumbrance	Claim or restriction affecting property title.
37.	Energy audit	Inspection identifying energy losses and upgrades.
38.	Equity	Home value minus outstanding mortgage balance.
39.	Escrow	Third-party holding funds until conditions met.
40.	Expansion tank	Tank absorbing water heater pressure changes.
41.	Fascia	Board covering roof edge and supporting gutters.
42.	FCI (fault current)	Abnormal current indicating insulation or wiring fault.
43.	Fence setback	Required distance between fence and property line.
44.	Flashing	Metal or membrane preventing water intrusion.
45.	Floodplain	Area prone to flooding during heavy rains.
46.	Foundation	Base structure supporting the entire building.
47.	Frost line	Depth where ground typically freezes.
48.	GFCI outlet	Outlet that trips on ground-fault current.
49.	Girder	Main beam supporting joists or floor loads.
50.	Grade	Slope of ground around the house.
51.	Grout	Filler between tiles, hardens after application.
52.	Gutter	Channel collecting roof water for drainage.
53.	Hardie board	Fiber-cement siding and trim material.
54.	Heat pump	System moving heat for heating and cooling.
55.	HEPA filter	High-efficiency filter capturing fine airborne particles.
56.	Home inspection	Professional evaluation of home condition and systems.
57.	Humidity	Amount of water vapor in air.
58.	HVAC	Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
59.	Insulation R-value	Measure of resistance to heat flow.
60.	Joist	Horizontal framing member supporting floors or ceilings.
61.	Kilowatt-hour (kWh)	Unit measuring electricity consumption over time.
62.	Lally column	Steel column supporting beams in basements.
63.	Laminate flooring	Layered synthetic floor covering resembling wood.
64.	Lateral line	Pipe carrying sewage from house to main.
65.	Ledger board	Board fastened to structure supporting framing.
66.	Lien	Legal claim securing payment of a debt.
67.	Load-bearing	Designed to support structural weight.
68.	Main shutoff valve	Primary valve stopping water to the home.
69.	Makeup air	Fresh air replacing exhausted indoor air.
70.	Mastic	Adhesive or sealant for ducts and tiles.
71.	Meter base	Mounting enclosure for electric utility meter.
72.	Mold	Fungus growth caused by moisture problems.
73.	Mortar	Cement mixture bonding bricks or stone.
74.	Mortgage	Loan secured by real property.
75.	Neutral wire	Conductor returning current to electrical source.
76.	Nosing	Stair tread edge projecting beyond riser.
77.	O-ring	Circular gasket providing a watertight seal.
78.	OSB	Engineered wood panel used for sheathing.
79.	P-trap	Curved drain fitting blocking sewer gases.
80.	PEX	Flexible plastic tubing for water supply lines.
81.	Pitch	Slope of a roof or pipe.
82.	Plenum	HVAC chamber distributing air to ducts.
83.	Pressure regulator	Device reducing incoming water pressure.
84.	Primer	Base coating improving paint adhesion and coverage.
85.	Property line	Legal boundary of a parcel.
86.	Radon	Radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors.
87.	Rafter	Sloped roof framing member supporting roof deck.
88.	Receptacle	Electrical outlet where plugs connect.
89.	Refrigerant	Fluid enabling heat transfer in HVAC systems.
90.	Return air	Air drawn back to HVAC for conditioning.
91.	Ridge vent	Roof peak vent allowing attic airflow.
92.	Rim joist	Perimeter joist closing off floor framing ends.
93.	Sill plate	Bottom framing plate anchored to foundation.
94.	Soffit	Underside of eaves providing ventilation and finish.
95.	Sump pump	Pump removing groundwater from a sump pit.
96.	Thermostat	Device controlling heating and cooling setpoints.
97.	Title insurance	Policy protecting against defects in property title.
98.	Trap primer	Device adding water to prevent trap drying.
99.	Underlayment	Layer beneath flooring or roofing for support.
100.	Vapor barrier	Material limiting moisture diffusion through assemblies.