THE ECONOMY OF GOOD PLUMBING

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 4, 29 September 1933, Page 4

THE ECONOMY OF GOOD PLUMBING

Trouble-free Systems: Points to Watch For

IN KITCHEN, BATHROOM, AND LAUNDRY

No phase of "house fitting” calls for greater care in planning and carrying out than the plumbing installation. Good plumbing, which implies economical plumbing, means freedom from endless trouble and expense, and avoids that insidious loss of efficiency which, especially in the case of a hot-water service, is another cause of needless domestic running costs. Plumbing is definitely a matter for the expert. The layman cannot advise, but he may supervise, and the purpose of the. following notes by an English authority is to make possible intelligent supervision by discussing little improvements and suggestions that do not cost much at the onset, but make for lower maintenance costs and greater comfort.

BERHAPS the most objectionable feature found in many new houses is ths open hopper head which receives the waste water of the bath and lavatory basin; the dirty soapy water dries in this / head and the resultant effluvia during hot weather can well be imagined. This waste water is then discharged over a gully, with like unpleasant results, writes Harold Durkin in “The Illustrated Carpenter and Builder.”

The arrangement, bad and insanitary, is not difficult to overcome; the solution being to run a 2in. coated cast-iron waste pipe with branches to the bath, lavatory, and sink, into a proper back-inlet gully with a vent pipe carried up above the level of the eaves.

Trouble is unlikely to be met with by syphonage, but if therfe is a possibility of this there are several effective types of anti-syphon trap on the market which will overcome the difficulty. These are efficient and do away with the necessity for unsightly anti-syphon pipes. Both the waste vent and the soil vent should be fitted with a copper wire balloon, which will

last for a long time and not corrode in a few years like the cheaper galvanised bailooh.

Fall pipes and metal gutters are merely dipped after manufacture, a process that affords little or no protection from ■ corrosion; two coats of good lead paint before, fixing'will add years to their life. Soil and waste pipes that have been treated should also be dealt with to avoid discoloration of the subsequent painting. All soil, waste, and fall pipes should be bobblned to facilitate painting.

Avoid False Economy.

It is .well to bear in mind that in external plumbing cheap material and labour at the onset can become expensive after a few years, and a little thought before accepting the lowest of competitive tenders seems to be worth while.

One of the most important fittings in the house Is the kitchen sink, which should be placed at a suitable height io avoid the strain of constant stooping. A sink on brick pillars is not to be recommended, as it forms a dark corner which becomes a storage place for floorcloths and brushes, and is, moreover, difficult to keep clean. A better method is to have the sink on cantilever brackets, leaving the space beneath clean and open. A lead trap fixed beneath a sink soon becomes damaged by buckets. It is advisable, therefore, to fix a solid drawn brass trap instead. Most kitchen sinks have a tiled surround, and the taps should be of the screwed boss type, so that a new tap can be fitted at any time without disturbing the tiles. Another point is to make sure that the bosses are long enough to throw the head of the tap clear of the tiles, and allow plenty of room for the fingers. Taps over a sink should always be fitted at a height■' sufficient to'clear a large bucket, and it is a good plan to keep the taps well out of the way to avoid damage to crockery as it is lifted out of the sink. Label the Main Stop Tap. A stoptap should be fitted on the rising main at the nearest point to where it enters the house, and it is a good plan to affix a small metal label stating its exact duties; this will be appreciated in times of emergency. The nuisance caused by the running of ball taps can be reduced by fitting a silencer to each, and choosing the right type of ball valve for the water pressure in that area, in particular the ball , valve on the hot water supply tank in the roof space. While dealing with tanks for the hot water supply (and in some districts the cold domestic supply), it is advisable not to place them in a position where they can receive too much daylight, as this tenders to foster the growth of algae, a green water plant that forms rapidly in favourable conditions. A cover should be fitted for this reason and to prevent the water becoming fouled by dirt or birds’ droppings. The lagging of all hot and cold pipes in the roof space is advisable, and if the job is well done should prevent any burst pipes and the inevitable trail of ruin.

Gas points are cheap to Lnstal during the erection of a house, and a connection for a small gas rlna Ju a twl*

room can be useful in case of illness. If a small independent cokefired boiler is installed, a point for a’ gas poker will be welcomed. Another point to remember is; that if these points are put in at the beginning it is often possible to do away with the length of brass pipe which seems to be the main feature of many gas fires. Now let us deal with the bathroom. There is little need to point out that the w.c. should not form part of the fittings if it can possibly be avoided; jn fact, this arrangement is inconvenient and unpleasant. Sheer necessity is the only argument in its favour. The waste outlet should be a good fit into the basin outlet to avoid that dirty ring of dried soap one sometimes sees. If a pedestal basin is preferred one of the better class should be sought; these have a wing-nut arrangement to hold the basin and pedestal firmly together, and also clips, which fit round the shanks of the taps and are fixed to the wall. The devices prevent the wobble seen in cheap basins.

Ordinary enamelled baths with the conical outlet are. to. be preferred to those with the recessed waste outlet, as the sharp angles the latter form

a weak spot from which the enamel can chip easily. In bathrooms it should t>e remembered that, while coloured fittings provide a pleasant change from the cold all-white, black shows every ■ soapmark, and when neglected loses the gleam and polish that were so attractive in the showroom.

If a geyser forms part of the bathroom equipment it should be fitted with a fluepipe and baffle, and of the materials available for this purpose, asbestos-cement seems to be most suitable. The Usefulness W Taps. The provision of a draw-off tap on the boiler is essential, and its cost will be saved ou labour alone the first time the water has to be run off. A second stoptap is advisable on the cold feed to the cylinder, so as to avoid the necessity of emptying the supply tank when any of the hot taps need attention. With ordinary screw-down taps the valve should be fixed to the spindle to prevent them sticking to the seat when the tap is used. A small metal label, similar to that on the main stoptap, can be fitted on each for the benefit of the householder. If a gas-heated boiler is used alone, or in conjunction with the range or independent boiler, it is wise economy to lag the cylinder to prevent heat loss. This suggestion is not always hailed with enthusiasm by women if the cylinder cupboard is used.for airing clothes. Objections can be overcome by providing a small heating coil made from iron tube and controlled by a valve.

Sometimes it' is complained that a large amount of cold water has to be run from the taps before any hot water is drawn (generally in bungalows, where the hot points are a considwable distance from the cylinder). A. this will always be a cause of complaint, it would be well for the contractor to consider running a secondary circulation to the more distant taps at the very beginning.