What Is a Pittsburgh Potty? A Guide for Older Altoona Homes

Quick answer: A Pittsburgh potty (or Pittsburgh toilet) is a toilet in the basement with no walls around it, often next to a floor drain, laundry sink or shower. They are common in homes built in western Pennsylvania roughly between 1880 and the 1930s. Because it is the lowest drain in the house, it is often the first place a sewer backup shows up.

If you bought an older home in Altoona or anywhere in Blair County and found a lonely toilet standing in the middle of the basement, you are not alone. Home buyers often ask about them. This guide explains what a Pittsburgh potty is, why it was put there, and what to do if it causes problems.

Why Do Older Homes Have a Pittsburgh Potty?

Nobody knows for sure. There are two popular explanations, and both may be partly true:

• Workers washing up. Steel, mill, mine and railroad workers could come in through the basement, use the toilet and wash up before going upstairs. In a railroad town like Altoona, that story is easy to picture.
• A “sacrificial” toilet. Early sewers backed up often. As the lowest fixture in the house, the basement toilet would overflow first, so sewage did not come out of the fixtures upstairs.

Sources: general histories of the Pittsburgh toilet, including Wikipedia and Angi. The origin has not been proven.

Common Pittsburgh Potty Problems

Problem	What it usually means	What to do
Water or sewage rises in the basement toilet	The main sewer line is blocked somewhere past the house	Stop using water upstairs and call a plumber. See drain & sewer cleaning
Sewer smell in the basement	The toilet trap has dried out because it is rarely used	Flush it or pour a bucket of water into it every few weeks
Toilet rocks or leaks at the base	The wax seal or flange has failed, often on an old cast-iron pipe	Get it reset before water soaks the floor
Constant running or weak flush	Worn parts inside the tank	Usually a cheap fix — replace the fill valve or flapper
Gurgling when upstairs drains run	Partial blockage or venting problem in the main line	Have the main line checked before it becomes a full backup

Your Pittsburgh Potty Is an Early Warning System

Because the basement toilet is the lowest opening in the plumbing, it can warn you about a sewer problem before it gets worse. If you see water rising in it, or it gurgles when the washing machine drains, do not ignore it. The main line may be partly blocked by roots, grease or a broken pipe. Clearing it early is much cheaper than cleaning up a flooded basement.

Not sure who has to fix the sewer line? Read who pays for sewer line repairs in Altoona.

Should You Remove, Keep or Upgrade It?

• Keep it if it works and you like having a basement toilet. Flush it now and then so the trap stays full.
• Upgrade it if you are finishing the basement. Walls, a door, a new toilet and proper venting can turn it into a real half bath. Check with your local code office about permits first.
• Remove it if it leaks or you never use it. A plumber should cap the drain pipe properly so sewer gas cannot come up. Do not just take the toilet off and leave the pipe open.
• Add a backwater valve if your basement has had sewer backups before. It lets waste flow out but helps stop sewage from flowing back in.

Wondering what these jobs cost? See our plumber cost guide for Altoona.

Other Plumbing Quirks in Older Altoona Homes

Homes with a Pittsburgh potty often have other old plumbing too: galvanized steel water pipes that rust inside and lose pressure, cast-iron or clay drain lines, and floor drains tied into the sewer. If your home is older and you are seeing low water pressure, rusty water or slow drains, it may be time for an inspection. If water is getting into the basement, see sump pumps & basement water.

Frequently Asked Questions