National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-08
Rurstea Pipe. ana ExPsoaea Boilers.

lkufSEe4 ElReS o1Q EXRI00E4 DOllcE3s
To ihe Editor Of The National Republican:
As this is a subject which interests nearly every
citizen Just now and as others are offering advice
want to say few words on the subject. In the
Sdr notice the announcement OF two great dis
coverieS-hrs the statement of one OF its reporters
that the mildness of the weather began than
which split up the cGstiron pipes as if they were
glasE II has been generally supposed that 1t was
the freezing and consequent expansion of the
water that burSts pipes or vessels of any kind.
is idea that it is the thawiDg that splits oI
bursts the pipe, aud it would be exceedingly inter
eSting to know how this wonderful discovery was
houses. A correspondent of that paper also tells
us that the way to prevent boilers from exploding
Is to keep their fires burning, it would prevent
the 6oIeFS from becoming cold and frozen
Here's news again. l never before heard that
was the boiler that froze up, especially as they are
usually full of hot water, which seldom gets cool
by the next morning. 1t is the general suppOsition
that boilers explode in consequence of the pfpes
freezing up so that water cannot enter or flow out
and that consequently steam Is soon formed III the
water back and continues to increase the pressure
in the boiler until it bursts which, of course 1t is
bound to do as soon the steam pressure exceeds
the strength of the boiler.
1t Is usually the supply or cold water pipe that
freezes in such cases and generally at consider
able distance from the boiler. In such case
keeping fire in the range would not prevent the
trouble, unless the point At which the pipe freezes
Is near enough 20 the range to be kept from freez
ing by the heat Of the range. If the freezing point
i'll the pipe Is near enough to be effected by the
neat from the range II WOUlu 90 ROOu, II llOl
it would be of no benefit whatever.
There is a perfectly simple and sure means OF
preventing all trouble from the bursting of water
pipes, or the explosion OF kitchen bOilers-and that
is to locale ard protect the Eaer pipes that they lC
not freeze, and there is no other means under
Heaven whereby il can be done. That's the whole
thing in nutshell. II is very simple and mex
pelSlve thing 20 do First Rerei place trGeT plpc
iH against outer lDoH unless in basement, and
even there II better not; second, whenever pipe
Is exposed by running along an outer wall or the
iala Ia IN
freeze in the coolest night protect IL dtt0rOagfty.
This can be done by jacketing il with felt or any
similar substance or by enclosing il In box hlled
with plaster of Paris, cement, ashes or any good
non-conducting dry material.
OF course know perfectly well that this is not
done, and will not be just so long 1t is lett to
the plumbers or builders to do the work by con-
tract. And know further that the reason that
hundreds of others, rs well as myself cannot get
any water where it usually runs is simply because
there are hundreds, If not thousands, OF citizens
who, to prevent their exposed pipes from freezing,
let the water run day and night. 1t may be less
dishonest to rob Il neighbor of water than to rob
his wOodpile, but fail to see the difference.
Now, the remedy for this water trouble next
after increasing the supply or until 1t Is increased,
is not to be found i'll the bill authorizing the police
to enter our bath rooms or WaterclOSetS at any
time, without notice, but in a law requiring all
owners of buildings to locate and protect their
water-pipes that they will not freeze. 1t should
also make it the duty of the Water Register TO see
that the law was complied with at the time the
pipes put in and in addition tothis to examine
every building using the water, and compel the
owner to fix his pipes so they viii not freeze and
in case he neglects or refuses, cut off his water
supply and fine him besides. Let this be done,
and we shall hear no more of busted pipes, eX-
plnded boilers, or decreased supply every cold
snap
And to show that this is perfectly feasible, viii
end by stating that have built five buildings in
one Of which no fire is kept at night, and in not
Of tcm has the trdier-pipes been frozen at any
time, is the lCater erer tet running. And more
than that In my stable, where there Is never any
fosl
ceSsiyely cold season. The reason is simply be-
cause looked after the matter myself-located the
letting the plumber stick in common stOp-cOck
box in my stable, sent to New York, paid couple
of dollars extra and got an anti-freezng hydrant.
cheap" less trouble CITIZEN.