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What A Stand-Alone Toilet In The Basement Of An Old Home Means
By EMILY MENDEZ
Homes built from 1880 to 1910 in the northeast didn’t feature lone toilets in the basement for steelworkers, as many locals thought, but instead were used to prevent sewage backup.
The first underground sewer systems in cities were flawed, so when they became clogged, the backed-up wastewater would bubble up through a home’s showers, sinks, and toilets.
Subsequently, toilets were placed in unfinished basements to redirect backed-up sewer waste away from the fixtures the homeowners used and into an area that was easy to clean.
If your home features one of these toilets, you can transform it into a half-bath by installing walls, a door, cabinets, and a sink. Just make sure the plumbing still works first.