Guest guest Posted May 23, 2006 Report Share Posted May 23, 2006 Jeff, Here's a book you might be able to find in England. It is extremely rare in the US. (I just finished reading it.) " Dangers to Health-A pictorial guide to domestic sanitary defects, " by T. Pridgin Teale. 1883. This book is one of the best ones I have ever seen on how plumbing and piping defects affected indoor air quality 120 years ago. There are some 60 examples. Almost every story has a picture of the plumbing mistake. (in color! ) The drawings could easily apply to current plumbing defects. You will find the pictures of the english manors especially enjoyable. I would not be surprised if you occasionally finding some of these old problems. Rain water storage tanks hidden under basement floors-butler falls into tank when the floor rots away! The book talks about " black damp " caused by long term plumbing leaks. It also takes about skin rashes, and various illnesses related to improper venting. Building homes on former trash dumps. Ground water from uphill graveyard leaking into a vicarage, Yech! The meat won't keep, the beer turns sour, Sewer vents by bedroom window. Has two pages of how to " smoke test " plumbing piping. -using straw smoke, " Watts " vermin asphyxiator, sulfur smoke, or 15 gallons or oil of mint and sniff out the leak. Also has a section on worker removing " Arsenical wall papers " . The workers were not wearing any PPE! Great reading for any IAQ professional. Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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