Q. We carry 80-pound pressure, and I have a piece of work of a bath-tub and water-closet. The pipe keeps bursting from water-hammer. I have an air-chamber a foot long connected on top at the bath-tub. The pipe is 5/8-inch strong. Please inform me what is best to do without putting up a tank, as the parties do not want one in the room. The closet is connected from the street.

A. There is no satisfactory way that we are acquainted with to entirely overcome the water-hammer you complain of, with such a pressure as you name, unless a tank is used from which fixtures are supplied. By enlarging your air-chamber and placing a pet-cock on it so that you can replenish the air occasionally, when it is absorbed by the water, you may reduce this hammer somewhat. This, however, will require more attention than people like to give it, and you will have to shut the water off the house every time you desire to admit air. In our opinion, no satisfactory work can be secured when there is a heavy pressure unless a tank is used. The placing of several air-tight rubber balls in an air-chamber has been known to give satisfactory results for a time.