San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-12-20
TN these days Of high labor cost,
~ "a olr,ost pecassarv for


it is almost necessary for
housewife to become a gen.
eral ''handy man" for the round
the-house repairs needed from
time to time, in connection with
the plumbing system, laundry APP
planes, and particularly electri-
cally heated and operated devices.
The modern housewife boasts
her own convenient tool kit, which
should contain a claw-hammer, two
sizes of screw drivers and two
wrenches-one monkey wrench"
and the other "Stillson wrench"
for round pipes-a small saw, fold
ing ruler, and a generous assert
ment of nails, screws, tacks and
wire, together with household CO.
ment and other inexpensive sun
dries, which will make her indepen-
dent of Sending for the plumber"
or calling up an expensive electri-
clan to come over for a simple To-
minutes job.
One of the most common Of
home happenings is "leaky
faucet" always annoying and
often a serious waste where there
is water tax or water scarcity.
T, remedy it is easy and rapid.
The faucet "drips" because its
washer" has worn out. therefore,
a new one must be inserted.
To do this, first shut off the
whole house water supply so as To
work on an empty pipe; next, Us
ing a wrench, unscrew the cap
which holds the inner spindle" In
place, when the spindle can be
lifted out of the faucet; turn 1t
upside down and you will find
rubber or leather disk (the washer)
fixed to the spindle by means of a
screw passing through the middle;
take off the old and defective
washer by carefully removing the
central screw; have ready new
washer of the right size, made of
hard rubber composition, which is
suitable for either hot or cold
water; place the washer on the
spindle, fasten It with the screw,
replace the spindle in the faucet
and tightly screw on the cap. The
faucet will cease to "drip" from
that moment.
Another common occurance is
stopped-up waste pipe or trap.
Here the first thing Is to try the
help of the invaluable small force
pump" which has bell OF flexible
rubber mounted on a short handle,
and which should always be in
cluded in the householder's repair
kit.
By placing the pump over the
sink drain and pressing down and
up, hard several times, it is often
possible to dislodge small masses
of waste, hair, towel lint, etc, from
beneath the opening.
If, however, this method fails,
then the next attempt should be
made with the ever-useful "Still-
son" wrench; whose jaws are adj
Unstable to every size of pire.
There is generally screw-cap on
the bottom or lower side of the S
or U-pipe or trap leading away
from sinks, wash basins, etc. And
it is in the curve Of this pipe
that the waste usually collects. 1t
is, however, usually simple mat
ter to remove this cap and clean
out the bend.
Using the "Stillson" wrench,
carefully unscrew the cap, first
taking precaution to place bucket
underneath the opening to catch
the waste. Use a stout wire, one
bent at the end, and push it up
and down in the pipe to dislodge
the waste.
Then have ready a kettle of
hot water, sprinkle into the drain
a few spoons of washing soda crys-
tails or I've and carefully pour the
boiling water over and down the
drain. These combined measures
should be successful in clearing the
trap, after which the screw trap
should be replaced.
Such stoppage often happens in
the drain of a washing machine
where lint collects, or where cou-
pie of buttons or small safety pin
will clog up the opening. Here
again use the "Stillson" to remove
the cap or nut on the waste pipe
of the machine or on the pipe con-
Meeting the machine with the house
drain. Pry the outlet with bent
wire, since frequently the object
can be seen when the cap is thus
unscrewed.
Also, try the , OF I've treatment.
always rinsing down well with
clear hot water. 1t may be re-
marked here that it is more salts
factory to have wrenches of two
sizes, thus from eight inches to
fourteen inches for the Stillson !
and from six inches to twelve
inches for the monkey wrench. Or
ten-inch size is a good all-around |
tool and comfortable for a woman
to handle.
In using the "Stillson," or pipe |
wrench, as it is sometimes called. |
ran1an,her that II orins only when |