The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-09-27
THE HOUSE TRAPS TO REMAIN
EThey Are Necessary for the Safety of
the Inmates of Houses.

1Q6Te Was d large mum DeT Ol luD6T-
ested persons at the meeting held in
the police court room last night to
discuss the plumbing code especially
that section relating to the house
trap, which reads - Sec. 18.-E Every
house drain must have house trap
placed inside of the house or in vault
on the outside, made accessible for
cleaning purposes. When a house
trapis installed on any house drain,
there shall be a fresh air intake in
stalled on house side Of trap, tine open
ing of which shall be at least ten feet
from any window or cold air box.
1t was stated at the outset that the
sewerage system was installed in Nor
ristown for the benefit of the town,
aud should be SO used as to secure the
greatest benefits to the greatest num-
Der Of people. The amendments to
the plumbing code had been prepared
and adopted with that end in view.
The code was several months in course
of preparation, during which time
several conferences had been held with
the master plumbers association and
a committee from that organization
had assisted in its preparation. Codes
of other towns had been compared and
it was believed that the best code had
been adopted. When it was found
that the sewer plans had made no pro-
vision for the ventilation of the sewers
except through the soil pipes of the
houses connected, and it was agreed
that probably ninety per cent. of the
houses in town had mechanical traps
which would permit syphoning and
letting bad air into the rooms, there
was but one of two courses to be
adopted either compel the overhaul
ing Of all the plumbing in the houses
that were liable to be defective, or in
stall house traps which would shut
out the sewer gas SO far as possible
and send current of fresh, pure air
through the pipes at all times. AS the
last plan was far less expensive it was
adopted ct is but fair to say in this
connection, however, that Mr.. Potts,
the sewer engineer, insists, and is sus-
tained in his contention by the best
authorities, that there is absolutely
no danger from gas in our system Of
sewerage, as the current will be SO
strong as to prevent the accumulation
Of dead matter to putrify and create
gas.l
At the meeting objections and sug-
gcstions we're asked for. A number of
persons spoke on the subject. TIE
arguments against the house traps
we're that they were an unnecessary
expense, for if the houses were proper
ly plumbed the sewer gas could not
get in; that if they were installed
they would prevent the ventilation ol
the sewers through the house pipes
and sometimes when the pipes were
flushed inside the air in the pipes
would be forced out and create an un
pleasant odor for brief period. The
answer to these arguments was that
while there was some expense attend.
| ing the installation of the traps (tht
cost being from eight to twelve dol
lars unless pit was installed outside
which could in almost every case bt
avoided), it was far cheaper than tx
COMPEL the alteration of the plumb
ing Of ninety per cent. of the houses
in the town. That while the board ol
health was not responsible for the idea
of ventilating the sewers through the
soil pipes Of homes and thought it was
wrong in principal, the conditions are
as they are and the only thing to do il
to make the best regulations possible
to fit present circumstances in regard
to the ordor sent out when pipes arr
flushed it was simply what happens in
bath room whenever a water closet
is flushed which is but temporary anC
unavoidable, and for that reason thi
code provides that the vent shall b,
far enough away from window o.
cold air box to be unobjectionable.
In the general discussion which fol
lowed the close of the meeting nearl,
every plumber present and a numbel
iof house owners said they would per
sonally install the house traps under
present conditions even if they were
not obligatory.
The board decided to make NJ
change in the code in this respect
but reserved the right to conside
written applications for changes in it,
requirements in specific cases after thu
ordinance had been amended to per
! NIT this course to be pursued. But Ii
no case will changes be made unless i
is shown that the plumbing OF hous,
is of such a character as to preclud,
the danger from sewer gas. AS on,
property owner expressed himsel
"The cost of installing a house tral
will lot be half as much as q fit o
sickness.