Plumbing Help

[Irving]

Yes, the drum tap is designed to be opened, just like a pvc pipe end cap that threads on, but likely hasn't been opened since the 1950's. The code changed and use of those traps stopped, supposedly, by the 1970's. I went to home Depot looking for a threaded end cap, but the size is not standard and you won't find one. Instead I bought one of those plastic ones with a rubber band that expands as you tighten the screw. The size that fits inside is too small to get a good seal, and the next size up is too large. I happened to have an extra vacuum cleaner drive belt laying around that perfectly fit around the new plug and gave it just enough material to get a tight fit. Haven't had any issues with leaking in the few years since I did this.