The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-14

residences for q dozen years now realize
that the frost even penetrates their domiciles
Where 80 III ny persons are interested IN the sub
Ject how TO prevent the freezing OF pipes and now
TO thaw them out IL one that cannot at TINS crisis
view OF the case IN the interest of the houseKeep-
ers ,,s, representative OF the HERALD Yesterday
and obtained mis- views on the sub.
All experienced persons that the only
constant motion by allowing 1t 10 run. Water
freezes at tnlrty-two degrees Fahrenheit bu!
water may be kept in liquid form even II the soil
or air surrounding the or lead pipes are below
the thlrty-two degrees. Science does not give us
any chemical property tnat Will prevent water
ducing CONCEALED water to liquid iorm-
HALP A PINT OF ALCOHOL
poured into pipe Will reduce the Ice IN the pipes
OF a medium ICED house, II the pipes be per-
pendcular or inclined 30 that alcohol can reach 1t.
the pipe even alcohol falls as the Ice forces the
spirits back. Another remedy Is salpnurlc
ac can on nsea m tS ~ is san
| pipes and endanger the joints. Sulphuric acid
accompanies the work much quicker than alcohol,
but as IT Is poison 1t should only De used IN case
oil emergency and care should be taken to keep IL
out Of the reach OF Ignorant servants
in each case should be allowed to run for
some time alter the pipes are thawed OUT To pre-.
aee sne qfs e o. ar saIe dcay s
that this winter the frost has penetrated so Tar
into the earth as to freeze the water IN the pipes
irost the Professor stated that there is little,
| difference between lead and iron. Both conduct
heat and cold more than rubber and some other
materials. The gsss-lined pipe II It once freezes
to about thlrtyeght degrees on being cooled, and
from that point IL win expand to the freezing
point, and on being cooled further, TO sodltca-
ton, SO that che ice takes larger space than the
water, and causing the bursting OF pipes and
al the damage upon IT. SAT- as we
form. 1t has an afnnity 70 the water waich can
only be satisfied by getting into liquid form; but
1T makes the water cold. In the case OF mixture
OF alcohol or sulphuric acid with water heat is
engineered, and consequently the wafer thaws.
VIEWS OF PRACTICAL PLUMBER.
With q view to learn how pipes should be in
serted IN building TO guard against freezing. the
reporter called upon Mr.. P. Meade. OF No. 90
Tor fifteen or sixteen years. he attributed
the great cause Of freezing OF pipes to
not placed low enough in the ground
to escape the irost; the street main Is not four
be bent or depressed 80 as to be TOUR eet beneath
the surface OF the street at tie point where IL
enters the building. II Is possible TO have the
man stopcock ana waste pipe under the surface OF
the ground IN tue cellar, the water In the upright
pipes in the building viii De empned by openlog
sible TO have frozen pipes. Ii the pipes are
correctly laid and the cocks on the
various floors are opened even with horizontal
pipes between the doors there wn not De lett IN
them enough water 10 freeze and burst them.
by the Department OF PuOhc Works iOr plumbers,
when they found pipe connecting with the main
nearer the surface than iour eet, 10 depreSS IL to
that depth, and All licensed plumbers are supposed
The HOUSE OWNER OFTEN OBJECTS
to the extra cost OF from IS to $40. They usually
lay the street mains about three feet below the
surface; but the now OF water In them s so STRONG
that even If the frost penetrate to that depth
they Will not freeze. The smaller pipes, where
there Is slower motion OF the water, OF course,
sae 1907 eso1 pipe
stop and waste COCK on each line of
supply pipe, so as TO cut 1t OF separately.
Mr.. Meade stated that plumbers rarely select the
pace TOR the pipes, as mat devolves upon tine
architect; but when they are lett to their own dis
cretlon they are supposed TO run them as near TO
the fiues as possible or wherever they will les
liable to freeze In supply pipes there Is little chance
Tor plumber to put tnem IN SO as TO nave taeIn
get out oil order that he may soon have another
order, unless he puts III cocks that have no waste
attached TO draw OF The water. or Ia horizontal
pipes
BENDS THEM TO PORN TRAPS
in which the water Will collect The common
COCK, = matter OF course, when turned OH, does
not disc barge the water In the pipes above, but
the waste cock Allows 1t all to run down and out
through the waste pipe connecting with the water
closet sewer II 1t Is necessary 10 lay pipes under
floors il should be done with gradual descent
toward the stopcoCk and they should be well
strapped or hooked to the beams: so tnat water
cannot collect traps and 4reeze. That Is the great
FAULT with plumbers They never pay sufficient
attention TO this and the first cold snap bursts the
pipes. Another point should be observed by
housekeepers. When the water is turned OF In the
cellar basement and the SiOpcocks on the
various floors are opened, the janItor or house.
floor. This will force out what little water may
remain in traps tl not very large) to freeze THIS
thus little "blowine down" on the part OF vile
may have a better eect In preventing pipes freez-
ing thAn
GLOWING UP'' HER HUSBAND
or the landlord can have after the damage has
been done. The waste pipes to carry on water
should be laid with the same care, so TO get
n
nections should always De covered with warm,
fine earth. as 1t IS less liable TO freeze. Mr.. Meade
1867. ms winter 1T mas penetrated
The above suggestions may have the effect Of CIV
ing housekeepers some hints as 20 how 70 AVOID
frozen pipes and how to thaw them out, conse.
even those who may ind that much OF the iDlorma.
ton given they already are aInliiar with.
FIRE HYDRANrS.
Another branch OF this same subject TO which
TOO much attention cannot oe paid. for 1t Is
lraugnt with probability OF no mconsiderabe
late In obtaining water from the IRE nydrants all
over the CITY Tor the service oil the engines IN case
OF such difficulty arising ought BY some
meaus TO be guarded against, for II q
fire were to break out In some OF the more densely
built districts OF the city the most serious coase-
Quences might ensne II water were unattainab.e
except alter long deiay c Ssl1 equsy
cago and the that visited Boston In 1878 might
easily occur, the only dlnerence lkely TO result
being that the actual damage would far exceed IN
amount the netary loss occasoned by these two
fires pu. together. The distress and inconven-
fence TO the dwellers In the densely populated
houses In this city can scarcely be estimated II
such disaster were TO occur, and yet, under eX-
listing conditions, 1t Is an event not at all impossl
bic or even improbable The repoit t. from every
nre that has occurred during the past
SIX weeks or more snow that great
dIffcuity has been experienced by the fremen
In obtaining water from the hydrants with
which operate against the flames, and that IL
was only got alter tue hydrants mad been carefully
thawed ont. This mas OF course, required more
or less time in eacn case, but IA some Instances,
at actual fires, IL took as long az thirty minutes
before water could be Obtained In other In
stances where visit was made. under orders OF
| the Chief Engineer, to each OF the new
large hydrants the line OF Church street
with two steam engines and full
complement OF men, nearly all were found frozen,
recurring from seven minutes each to one hour
and seventeen minutes work upon them before
hey could be thawed out and water made to now
in sufficient quantity Tor use. Others were found
10 be utterly useless through being out or re-
pair so that had fire happened at this time
in this district, the consequences likely &c