Hot-Water Supply

Fig. 61 is a combination of several possible systems, and should be studied carefully, as it embodies almost everything that the plumber will be required to place in the average instal lations. By leaving out the attic tank, and con necting pipes D and C, the regulation closed system of soft-water supply by means of a water-lift is shown. A 30-gallon tank is sus pended from the basement ceiling, on substantial hangers; and into it the discharge from the soft water cylinder of the water-lift enters through a bent pipe which throws the incoming water to the bottom of the tank, this action having a tendency to prevent any sounds in the piping which might be caused by the action of the lift. It is good practice to place an air-chamber on the city water supply to the lift, to take up the jar that is caused by the lift cutting off at the end of the strokes.

The cold-water supply to the fixtures is taken from the bottom of the tank, thus getting the full benefit of the compressed air which is stored in the top of the tank, and thus insuring a steady flow of water at the fixtures, which will not be obtained without the use of the tank.

Where the soft water is pumped directly to the attic tank, the city water waste from the lift can be carried to the kitchen sink; and when any city water is used at the sink, the lift will oper ate and discharge a certain quantity of water into the tank. A ball-cock at the attic tank

should not be used if this is done.

Another method is to run a separate riser to the attic tank, and provide a ball-cock as shown. This does away with the air-tank; and in case the soft-water supply gives out, the open ing of a valve in the cross-connection between the city water and the soft-water riser to the tank will allow the city water to enter the riser to the tank; and the cold water branches to the fixtures can be taken either from the riser to the tank, or from the cold-water supply to the range-boiler. The latter method is preferable, as the full benefit of the water in the tank will be obtained in the entire piping system, which would not be possible if the branches were taken from the riser to the tank.

Any one of these installations is really sim pler than would seem to be the case from the description; and a careful study of the above will enable the reader to cope with any hot-water heating problem that is likely to arise in ordinary practice.