A plumbing outlet box, often referred to as a supply box, is a fixture specifically designed to connect appliances to your home water-supply lines. It serves as a convenient and accessible point within the wall for plumbing connections.
Based on common descriptions and the provided reference, here's a breakdown of what a plumbing outlet box entails:
Function and Purpose
The primary role of a plumbing outlet box is to provide a secure and readily accessible connection point for water supply lines (and sometimes drain lines) behind the wall, typically where an appliance or fixture will be located.
- Appliance Connection: It facilitates the hookup of water-using appliances like washing machines, ice makers, or dishwashers directly to the household plumbing system.
- Accessibility: By housing the connections within a box set flush with the wall, it allows for easy shut-off, maintenance, or disconnection without needing to access plumbing within the wall cavity.
Physical Characteristics
As described, a plumbing outlet box has distinct physical attributes:
- Material: It is typically constructed from metal or plastic.
- Mounting: Its box mount is set flush with the exterior of a finished wall. This design ensures it doesn't protrude and can be easily covered by a faceplate, blending with the wall surface.
- Access: The flush mount design is crucial to allow easy access to your water supply and/or drain.
Key Features and Benefits
Using a plumbing outlet box offers several advantages:
- Clean Installation: Provides a neat, organized point for connections within the wall.
- Easy Maintenance: Shut-off valves, often located inside the box, are simple to reach and operate.
- Safety: Reduces the risk of pipes being accidentally damaged within the wall.
- Compliance: Many building codes require the use of such boxes for specific appliance connections.
- Variety: Available for various applications, including single-fixture supply, dual-fixture supply, and combinations of supply and drain connections.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Connects appliances to water supply lines |
| Location | Set flush within a finished wall |
| Material | Metal or Plastic |
| Benefit | Allows easy access to water supply and/or drain |
| Common Use | Washing machines, ice makers, dishwashers |
In summary, a plumbing outlet box is a standard plumbing component that provides a safe, accessible, and clean way to connect water supply (and sometimes drain) lines from the wall to household appliances.
