In short, the weather strip makes it possible for you to have your say as to the air that comes in and out and makes it possible for your heating and ventilating systems to work as they should. The hit or miss element in the home is again routed by the weatherstrip and anything that does this is worth considering. CHAPTER XV THE PLUMBING IN YOUR KITCHEN Once upon a time there was a business man who, upon buying his first house, bought simultaneously a plumber’s kit. He was sure he could save a lot of money by attending to simple matters himself. One day a simple faucet sprung a simple leak. He confidently used a complicated tool and the result was a vast sea of trouble. Plumbers! Expense! It is not necessary to draw the moral. The plumbing in the house is akin to the alimentary canal in the human body, and is as complicated a system as the alimentary canal. The system of plumbing in the house is a series of pipes which carries water to the house, and eliminates it as it carries with it various forms of waste, connecting the house with the main sources of water, gas and with the sewage system. The best plumbing is that which effects these things with the least deterioration and with the least mixture of sewer gas and foreign matter. Every community has its own plumbing laws and regulations. This is true unless you build in very rural sections where there is no sewage system. However, this article will deal only with conditions in which a sewage system prevails. PLUMBING LAWS As will be seen by the following excerpts from the plumbing laws of New York City, the ordinary housewife need not worry about transgressing the law, as everything, from the material used to the size of it and the laying of it, is controlled. And the plumber is supposed to know these rules before he is licensed. But it is in no way as glorious as poetic license! All the materials must be of the best quality, free from defects, and all work must be executed in a thorough, workmanlike manner. All cast-iron pipes and fittings must be uncoated, sound, cylindrical and smooth, free from cracks, sand holes and other defects, and of uniform thickness, and of the grade known in commerce as “extra heavy.” The size, weight and maker’s name must be cast on each length of pipe. All joints must be made with picked okum and molten lead and be made gas-tight. Twelve ounces of fine, soft pig lead must be used at each joint for each inch in the diameter of the pipe. All wrought iron and steel pipes must be equal in quality to “standard” and must be properly tested by the manufacturer. All pipe must be lap-welded. No plain black or uncoated pipe will be permitted.