226 



The Country House 



where are also the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, etc., the house drain is practically 

 non-existing in many cases. It has the same arrangement in its connections, ex- 

 cepting that each branch waste taps the soil main independently. This soil 

 pipe is carried through the peak of an attic dormer and then hooded, both to pro- 

 tect it from the weather and to hide its ugly length of painted iron. 



This system has a strong advocate in Mr. William Paul Gerhard, C.E., who 

 believes in the simplicity of plumbing and considers the back-vent system a needless 



waste of money and 

 incurring of new 

 risks. In his inter- 

 esting pamphlet, 

 "Plumbing Simpli- 

 fied," he says: 

 "Branch pipe ven- 

 tilation is carried 

 much too far; that 

 instead of giving 

 positive security, "it 

 creates new and 

 sometimes serious 

 dangers. ... It 

 increases the num- 

 ber of pipe joints 

 and there- 

 fore increases the 

 danger of leakage 

 at the joints. . . . 

 Trap vents attached 

 to the horns of por- 

 celain fixtures, such as water closets, often lead, in case of settlement of the build- 

 ing, to the leakage of the horns, thus opening up a dangerous inlet for sewer gas, the 

 crack often remaining unnoticed for years. . . The trap-venting system affords 

 increased opportunities for by-passes in case of careless or ignorant workmen." 



He also offers several points to be observed in the installation of the 

 simpler system, viz.: "(0- Always avoid those conditions which form 

 syphonage. (2) Do not make soil pipes too small. (3) Never join small 

 branch wastes together, but give each an independent outlet into the larger 

 waste or soil pipe. (4) Avoid all long dead ends. (5) Use traps or trap 

 devices which maintain a water seal under all ordinary conditions." 



Mr. Gerhard is not the only advocate of this system; the manufacturers and 

 even the plumber admit its good working qualities. As on any other question 

 there are two sides, we find those for and those against it, and we regret to say 

 that many of the latter have nests to feather. 



The whole thing, however, seems to hinge on the non-syphoning trap; some 

 affirm, others deny, its existence. When the owner is left any choice between 

 the two systems, and is in doubt, we can only advise that he convince himself one 



An enamelled kitchen sink with hot and cold water and trapped waste. The overflow or waste 

 which empties into it is after the manner of the ice-chest waste 



