plumbing plumbing plumbing is any system that conveys fluids for a wide range of applications. plumbing uses pipes, valves, plumbing fixtures, tanks, and other apparatuses to convey fluids. heating and cooling (hvac), waste removal, and potable water delivery are among the most common uses for plumbing, but it is not limited to these applications. the word derives from the latin for lead, plumbum, as the first effective pipes used in the roman era were lead pipes. a complex arrangement of rigid steel piping and stop valves regulate flow to various parts of the building, with an evident preference for right-angle pipe bends and orthogonal pipe routes in the developed world, plumbing infrastructure is critical to public health and sanitation. boilermakers and pipefitters are not plumbers although they work with piping as part of their trade and their work can include some plumbing. history