Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-11
DEFECTIVE PLUMBING.
Points from Prof. Fava's Lecture Last
Evening.

Quite large audience gathered last night In
the lecture-room at Columbian university 90 hear
something about the plumbing Of our houses
Ivy Prof. Francis II. Fava. IL was the continua-
tion of the subject OF the previous conference,
and Prof. Faya apologiZed for dwelling longer
upon H. giving the reason that no subject is OF
more vital Importance 10 US: with no one have
we uncoGsciously a more continuous connec-
ton, and yet no one l. treated with more indif-
ference and almost dislike. We take il for
granted, when We enter a house, that the
plumbing is all right. just we suppose the
gas-pipes 10 be properly connected with the
gas-mains of the city or the water-pipes with
the water-mains. But that j. quite a different
thing. as we test gas and water pipes daily and
hourly by burning gas or drawing water
We have. no such tests with drain-pipes and
when we come TO smell the sewer air We are
already
VERY BADLY OFF.
There are easy tests that can be made but
We do not make them. The speaker then said
that just as We do not think of handling q gun
or pistol without any instruction. lest We might
hurt rs or those around US. 50 should we not
/ treat lightly the subject Of plumbing, which is
lar more dangerous. because bullet NAV not
make deadly wound or may not strike us at
ali. while there is no chance of avoiding to
breathe poisoned air If there is sny in the
| room.
Then n series Of common faults were Illus
trated on especially prepared large plates,
under three headings. First defects caused
by negligence or ignorance on the part of the
plumber; secondly, defects CEASED by the neg
| ligcnce of the public and the want of under
standing of the real meaning and Use of the
| appliances, and. thirdly, defects beyond the
| control of both builder and owner.
DEFECTS EXPLAINED.
Among the first class OF defects the professor
explained and illustrated defective connections,
untrapped waste-pipes side by side with trapped
ones, rendering these latter useless: drains
under the rooms of the house, water-closets in
| the center of the house. house-maids' sinks IN
| trapped. overflow of the water-tank into the
! sewer instead Of into the open air. one single
water-tank to provide all the water as well TO
the water closets a. for drinking purposes and
! many Others. and the reasons and explanations
were given IN all cases. Among the second
1 class of defects he quoted traps becoming ''un-
sealed. because the inmates of house, bv not
using the appliance sufficiently. allow the water
| I'm II to eyaporate. ana then direct connection
| between sewer and room Is established. He
| then explained the ''unsyphonirC" of traps,
| which takes place when water falling from
| higher floor aspirates the water from a trap
| below and leaves this empty until il is filed
! again after being used. Finally, as agencies
| entirely beyond our control. he explained the
work of rats an the drains the settling of the
| foundations. producing gaps. etc. He showed,
as rccdpitulatIon, house with all sanitary
arrangements defective. and Will show next
Wednesday one with all faults corrected.