Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
CITY AND DISTRICT.
WHY THE PIPES FREEZE.
A Talk with the Inspector of Plum i ne


bow TO PREVENT INCONVENIENCE IN COLD
wEATHER-THE BAD PLUMBING IN OLD HOUSES
SOME INTERESTING SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD
TO House sAEITATIoy-THE POPULAR NOTION
THAT PLUMBERS Hail. A 'FREEzE' WITH JOY
NOT CORRECT.
As so many people are now Inconvenience
By reason Of the freezing of the water in the
supply pipes of their houses. STAR reporter
asked Mr.. 8. A. Robinson the inspector of
plumbing, ii there any way to prevent such
trouble? Eyes sir" said Mr.. Robinson there is
away to prevent It. and no one should be in
convenienced where the plumbing is properly
constructed and where stop and waste cocks
are provided to shut off the water at night, or
when the house is unoccupied.''
who Is responsible in cases where water
freezes In the pipes?" asked the reporter
eff all necessary provision is made for shut
ting of the water at the proper places and tn g
supply pipes in the house are planned and laid
out IN such a manner that every line Of pipe ran
be completely drained and emptied. it is the
fault of the tenant or occupant of the house"
How will you provide against the water
freezing in the traps under the fixtures, such as
water Closets sinks. basins. etc"
'All waste pipes" said Mr. Robinson, :have,
In q good system of plumbing. sufficient fall to
insure the running off of all water from the
pipes, and every trap is. if not in plain sight ct
least accessible. These traps when in very ex-
posed places should be packed. and where so
situated that this cannot be done little CIV
cerne poured into the smaller pipes and rock
salt in the larger ones will prevent freezing in
this climate
''ff all this can be so easily done.'' said the
reporter. 'why Is it that so many houses are
now without water by reason of having their
pipes frozen or on account of the waste of water
In other houses?'
"Ifthere is any trouble with new houses" an
swered Mr.. Robinson, lit arises first from the
carelessness OF the architect in locating the fix
lures In exposed places and allowing the supply
pipes to run along cold walls. or in parts of the
house not heated during the winter season. and
againit Is in great measure due to the ignor-
6nce or careiesSnesS OF tenantS servants not un
Outstanding or making use of the stop aud
waste cocks provided for shutting off the water
from the house at night. There is no necessity
for allowing the water to run to prevent
freezing when all the occupant of the house has
TO do is to go into the basement before retiring
and shut the water Off"
What is the result of these people allowing
the water to waste?"
ut causes great inconvenience to the careful
householder" said Mr.. Robinson, "by deriving
him of the use OF water in his bath ROOM In
many houses the water will not rise above the
first floor whilst this waste is going on. and in
many cases have known people to be deprived
of the use of water in their kitchen. and vet
these people who waste the water think il a
great hardship because the water department
sends an Inspector 70 stop the waste"
How about the old houses:'
Landlords should be compelled to provide
proper facilities for cutting off the water
and such an arrangement of the plumbing and
fixtures in every house he offers for rent as will
Insure not only health, but cleanliness and
comfort"
How can this be brought about ?" inquired
the reporter.
III, in the opinion of the Commissioners, the
present regulations governing plumDing and
house-drainage cannot De applied to the recon-
struction of the plumbing in old houses. adj
ditiOnal legislation should be asked of Congress
compelling all landlords to put their houses in
good sanitary condition. In planning a new
house We generally find every one anxious to
have proper and efficient system of water sup
ply and sewerage; but as to our old houses, |
can safely say nearly all so defective as to
be dangerous to the health of those who occupy
them will mention some of the graver and
common faults found in the plumbing of old
houses. that you may understandable Importance
OF change Fixtures without traps; ieaky
terra Gotta drains under the house. poluting the
soil and filling the house with sewer air: no
ventilation to prevent espionage of traps; soil
pipe terminating at the location of fixtures in
the bathroom; connection of the drip pipes to
the soil pipe system or to traps; the connection
OF the overflow from drinking water tanks to
soil or waste pipes; the running of vent pipes
from water-elOset bowls into soil pipes; the run
ming OF soil or waste pipes into chimney fues;
the use OF rain leaders as soil and waste pines;
the use OF rain leaders as the only yentiatOrs
for house drains; uatrapped leaders under win
dows OF sleeping apartments. These and MANY
other serious defects exist In many of our first
class houses, built before the act OF Congress
was passed making provision for an inspection
OF plumbn
Are not the plumbers reaplng rich harvest
at this timer
Il think not" said Mr. Robinson SIT is a
O 10 f0C %lNa4
or that they are exOrbitant IN their charges for
work done In time of a freeze. 1t costs a first
class plumbing establishment not less than fifty
cents an hour TO send man to repair leak,
and when the bill is presented for time and ma
terial. with the addition OF small percentage
so great is the howl about extravagant charges
ne wishes he had never undertaken the lob
For this reason and because it interferes with
his regular work many plumbers decline all
orders TO repair bursted pipes except for regu-
lar customers
1t would seem to me more economical in the
end tc have the plumbing of all houses put in
proper sanitary condition" suggested the re-
porter.
Yes. 1t not only costs great deal to repair
the leaks. but the damage to the house anil FUR
ntare, ana the great Inconvenience to the occu-
pant. should be considered. house having q
proper arrangement Of plu..bing always COM
Hanos better rent than those that are defect
lve- Although the average householder may
not know when fixtures are properly trapped
and ventilated. they certainly can tell from
whence the foul odOrs proceed and are apt to
leave house where the landlord refuses to cure
me evil IL is but just and right that they
should leave, for it is very certain that many of
the diseases with which our people suffer and
our children die are caused by the villainous
condition OF the drainage and plumbing in old
houses and the absence of proper sub-surface
drains TO prevent dampness of cellar floors and
walls II is OF the greatest importance to the
community that the press should agitate this
subject OF the plumbing drainage and yentila-
ton OF old houses. until every householder is
provided with the facilities tor having ceanlf-
ness. adequate means of ventilating their
houses and the proper appliances for warming
them during cold weather. and at the same time
educate the people in all matters connected
with house sanitation"
Was Abraham Lincoln Teetotalerl
To the Editor Of The EVENING STAR:
Under the caption Of ssTonsorial "reminiscences n
IN saturdays STAR, "Stewart, the veteran barber
at Willards," is quoted as saying
7 was the first man who shaved Abe Lincoln when he
tonse here and went shave him before he went
u bed He was q pleasant talking man. one thing
struck NE, remember, when went to his room and
tnat was fhas he had big bottle of whisky aud
Know that Presidents drank whisky"
Mr.. stewart must have mistaken "a To the con-
tents OF that bottle
MI Lincoln, In his address TO the Order of Sons
OF temperance In the east ROOM September go
1865, stated with emphasis that had ..s}oaod