The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Care And Repair Of The House
Plumbing And Water System
1. GENERAL COMMENTS ON PLUMBING
The plumbing of a building includes the pipes for distributing the water supply, the fixtures for using water, and the drainage pipes for removing waste water and sewage, together with fittings and appurtenances of various kinds, all within or adjacent to the building.
To many, the plumbing system appears to be a very complicated part of the household equipment and they hesitate to undertake even the simplest repairs.
Although it is not to be expected that the average householder will be able to perform all of the work of an experienced plumber, it is possible for him, in cases of emergency, to make the simpler repairs that are frequently necessary. Trouble and expense may be averted by prompt repairs to a leaky faucet, or by the cleaning out of a fixture drain at the first signs of clogging. Occasionally some difficulty involving the pipes may arise, and then, unless it is comparatively simple to adjust, a plumber should be called in to do the work.
Each part of a plumbing system is designed for a specific purpose and must be used for that purpose alone, if the system is to function properly. Grease or refuse should not be thrown into closet bowls, sinks, or lavatories; faucets should be tightly closed when not in use; and waste pipes should be flushed frequently with hot water to keep them in good working order.
2. WHERE AND HOW TO SHUT OFF THE WATER
The flow of water in a house is controlled by means of stopcocks, or shut-off valves, in the pipes. To shut off the main supply as it enters the house, it is necessary to close a valve which is usually in the main pipe in the cellar. The valve may have a handle, or a. wrench may be required to turn it.
This valve may be of the ground-key type with a small hole bored in its side for draining the pipes after the water is shut off, or it may be a compression stop with a cap nut covering the drain opening. In either case, this opening should be closed when the water is turned off, for unless this is done, a stream of water will shoot from the hole with considerable force.
Where no means have been provided for shutting off a drain opening, a small wooden peg may be driven into it temporarily, until the pressure is relieved by draining the pipes through the faucets.
