최근 우리는 구조, 프레임, 지붕 등과 같은 여러분 집의 각기 중요한 부분의 역사를 살펴보았다. 그 이유는 단지 여러분을 좀더 해박해지는 것을 도우려는 것을 떠나 당신이 스스로의 거주지를 더욱 효과적으로 평가할 수 있도록 하기 위함이다. 만약 당신이 당신 집의 상태와 각기 다른 개선 가능한 재료를 꿰고 있다면 집 구조 개선은 쉬워질 것이다.

오늘은 배관 시설이 오랜 기간동안 지녀온 여러 과제들을 살펴보자.

우리의 수원이 우물이나 시내였고 위생을 위한 시설이 집 밖에 있었던 시절은 그리 멀지 않다. 여러분은 당연히 이것을 믿기 어렵겠지만 큰 도시 환경에서 그리 멀지 않은 곳에는 아직 오래된 펌프식 우물과 외부 화장실들이 존재한다. 내가 살았던 과거의 집 같은 경우, 커다란 동그라미 모양으로 계속 남아있던 차도의 한 부분이 있었다. 몇 년전 우리는 그부분을 파내었고 거기엔 옛부터 매우 깊었을 것으로 보이는 오래된 벽돌 우물이 있었다. 또한 좀 오래된 집의 지하실에서 수조가 아직 남아있는 것을 보는 것도 흔한 일이다. 여기서 수조는 우수를 모아서 저장하는 탱크를 일컫는다.

Recently, we have been discussing the history of different major areas of your house such as foundations, framing and roofing. The reason for this is not only to make you more knowledgeable, but also for you to be able to more efficiently evaluate your domicile. If you know your home’s condition and the different upgrade materials available, then improving areas should be easier.

Today, let’s review the changing faces of plumbing through the years.

It wasn’t long ago that our water source was a well or stream and our sanitary provision was an “outhouse.” I know you will find this hard to believe, there are occupied homes that are not far from the big city environment that are still using an old-fashioned outside pump well and outhouse. In the historical home where I live, there is a section of the driveway that keeps settling in a shape of a big circle. A few years ago we dug this area out and there was an old brick water well, which must have been pretty deep since it is still settling after all these years. Also, it is not uncommon when inspecting an older house to find a cistern still down in the basement. A cistern is a tank provided for catching and storing rain water.

But, as time went on, we slowly gravitated to the more modern plumbing system of pipes and fixtures for water, gas and sewer systems. The first flush toilet was actually invented in 1596 in England by John Harrington. Thomas Crapper, who is often credited with inventing the toilet, was a plumber in 1800s and did much to increase the popularity of the toilet. Crapper developed important parts, such as valves and the ball cock, but did not invent the toilet itself. The word “crapper” became a slang term synonymous with the toilet and it is attributed to American service men who were stationed in England during WWI, saw the Thomas Crapper name on different parts of the toilet and used it as slang, “I’m going to the Crapper."

[출처: Thetimesherald / 2013년 6월 22일]