38 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
January, 1913 
the piping becomes poisonously foul, and further as there are no 
air inlets to break the suction caused by the flowing water, the 
water is often syphoned out of the traps, thus giving an escape of 
poisonous air into the living-rooms. 
The ventilated system is a development of this same system 
with the exception that the main drain pipe is extended through 
the roof and from the crown of each trap (such as already ex¬ 
plained) there is a vent pipe which connects with one main com¬ 
mon vent at least two feet above the highest fixture. Sometimes 
it is more convenient to carry these pipes separately through the 
roof. Such a system permits air to flow through the piping car¬ 
rying the foul air out into the purifying sunlight. 
* Such a system as outlined is generally accepted with various 
modifications. Sometimes it is spoken of as the revent system, 
in which case the ventilating pipes are distinct from the drainage 
pipe, and in the ground outside the house where the soil pipe 
joins the tile pipe there is an additional trap with a fresh air in¬ 
let. This running trap outside the house prevents all gas from 
the sewer to work through at that point and permits a flow of 
fresh air instead of foul throughout the system; obviously an 
advantage. The extra vent pipe carry¬ 
ing air from the roof to the traps insures 
an even air pressure and makes it impos¬ 
sible for the water seal in the trap to be 
broken and prevents the escape of gases. 
Note the diagram on page 37. Other 
developments of this system have special 
fittings or pipe curves for which ad¬ 
vantage is claimed. One in particular 
makes especial point of a design so ar¬ 
ranged that the working of one fixture 
will not interfere with the drainage from 
another. Besides this, various arrange¬ 
ments are made to relieve the pipes auto¬ 
matically of the accumulation of rust. 
With these points in mind the main re¬ 
quirements of a sanitary plumbing sys¬ 
tem will be apparent. 
The working of the trap, so essential 
to a ventilated system is made clear in 
the diagram. This shows that vent pip¬ 
ing not only preserves the water seal in 
A good type of basin 
full of water which 
ing into the room 
each trap, but also 
maintains a circula¬ 
tion of fresh air 
throughout the sys¬ 
tem by drawing air 
in through the fresh 
air inlet on the house 
side of the house 
trap, passing it 
through all the pip¬ 
ing and finally out 
through the top of 
the vent pipe above 
the roof. 
The house trap 
may be located just 
inside the cellar wall 
in which event the 
fresh air inlet is ex¬ 
tended out through 
Such unsightly pipe arrangements as those 
connecting this basin are the result of 
improper planning « 
the cellar wall above 
the ground level. 
A little care, at the 
time of installation, 
to provide for un¬ 
equal settling be¬ 
tween house and 
surrounding earth 
will often prevent 
breaking the main 
soil pipe together 
with its attendant 
troubles and ex¬ 
pense. If the pipe is 
cemented solid 
where it comes 
through the wall a 
space of an inch or 
two all around it 
should be provided 
It is difficult to clean the dirt and dust 
accumulating beneath this shower receptor. 
It should be flush with the floor 
for a distance of six or eight feet from 
the house, or if it is packed solid in the 
earth then there should be a space be¬ 
tween the pipe and the surrounding wall. 
With respect to all systems, I might 
say that, excepting brass, copper and 
other metals too expensive for considera¬ 
tion, cast iron is the best metal to use 
for large and lead for small waste and 
vent piping, because of their non-cor¬ 
rosive qualities. The joint in cast iron 
waste and vent pipe has always been its 
vulnerable point, but now that universal 
pipe does away with this objection by 
making a perfect joint, iron to iron, with¬ 
out the use of packing of any kind, it 
provides a continuously perfect line of 
piping, adaptable to all waste, vent and 
revent systems of plumbing piping. 
Another precaution against trouble is 
a test of one’s system. After the rough¬ 
ing in has been completed the fixture 
openings should all be temporarily stopped and the entire system 
subjected to at least ten pounds water pressure with the test 
gauge at the highest point in the system, and each joint care¬ 
fully examined while under this pressure, especially the hidden 
sides of those in corners and out-of-the-way places. 
The items which may, and sometimes do, change a perfectly 
sanitary installation into a dangerous one, are: the pipe, joints, 
traps and settling of the building. As already stated, cast iron 
is the best available material for the pipe. The caulked lead 
joint is in general use, and therefore demands attention. Of all 
joints it is most subject to imperfections, because its perfection 
depends upon the integrity of the individual workman as well as 
the materials involved. The entire face of each leaded joint 
must be thoroughly caulked to make it tight. The unscrupulous 
or indifferent workman will sometimes leave the most unobserva¬ 
ble part of the joint poorly caulked or even untouched. Owing 
to the unequal expansion of lead and iron, and to the fact that 
lead after expanding is not elastic enough to resume its original 
shape, the leaded joint will often become leaky after a change of 
seasons although tight when installed. 
trap. The bend remains 
prevents gas from return- 
