The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

First Aid For The Ailing Houses

Some plumbing systems are provided with drain outlets for emptying the sections of piping below the lowest fixture. Without these, the supply pipe should be disconnected at the main supply valve and the water allowed to drain out into a container or a sewer drain.

Horizontal pipes of any length should be checked for assurance that they are on a continuous down slant and will drain naturally. When at any point there is an up slant, when a pipe is found formed into a loop to pass under a beam, or when for any reason a section of pipe will not drain, air pressure should be applied to empty it, or the piping at such points should be disconnected. This is one good reason for having an adequate number of cleanout points.

The pressure tank of a pumping system should be emptied, and the pump drained.

All toilet flush tanks should be emptied.

As much water as possible should be removed from toilet bowls by bailing or sponging. With toilets of the syphon jet variety, which are common, a syringe should be used to remove water from the lower passage, the pipe being passed through the syphon hole at the bottom of the bowl. If removing the water is difficult, the bowl may be filled with a nonfreezing liquid.

Traps of all plumbing fixtures and floor drains should be filled with liquid that will not freeze; further, the liquid should not evaporate, for should it do so, sewer gas would be admitted to the house. Kerosene or other oil can be used, or an automobile radiator antifreeze.

Two quarts or so should be poured into each toilet bowl to fill the trap. Other plumbing fixtures will require from 1 to 2 pints each. When all traps have been filled, an additional quart or more should be poured into any one of the fixtures to overflow the trap and fill the house trap in the basement.

Steam or hot-water boilers must be drained, a drain cock for this purpose always being provided at a low point of the boiler. To prevent water from being held in pipes or radiators by air pressure, the air valve should be removed from a top-floor radiator or other opening made to admit air.

An open tank of a hot-water heating system provides for this; with a closed or tank-in-the-basement system, the tank must be drained. When a water tank is present in a hot-air furnace, it must be emptied.

All parts of the house should be inspected for the removal of all bottles or other glass receptacles containing liquids that might freeze. If uncertain about them, stand them in shallow pans.