The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-22
METHODS OF HOUSE HEATING.
The Open Fireplace. the Stove and tho
Furnacc-Steam and Hot Water.

The Open Fireplace, the Stove and tho
Furnace Steam and Hot Water.
The open fireplace is, on several ac-
counts, to be preferred to any other
means of heating an apartment. 1t
insures. when well constructed, the
removal Of those products of combus-
ton which tend to vitiate the. atmos-
pherc, and at the same time causes u
strong current of air to pass from the
room through the chimney, by which
alone tolerably effective ventilation Is
produced.
But il has certain Objectionable fea-
lures which preclude its employment
when steady and uniform heat is re
quircd and when it is especially de
sirablc 70 avoid irregular currents of
air 1t is therefore not adapted for use
in large rooms, such rs hospital wards,
where many sick persons are present.
The warmth from a fireplace is not
generally difiused throughout the
room. Tho heat is almost entirely
communicated by direct radiation, and
consequently while that part of the
body turned towards the fire is heated
perhaps to excess, the portions not ex-
posed 10 the rays of heat are not sufii-
GENTLY warmed
Stoves not only heat the atmosphere
by radiation. but also by conduction,
and hence any organic matters which
may be suspended in the air arc vola-
tilted On coming in contact with the
heated metal. In an open fireplace a
great portion OF the hc2t, amounting
generally 10 as much as 30 per cent,
Is drawn up the chimney bat that
given of from q stove Is retained IN
the room 10 much greater extent. \
serious objection tO stoves Is that rs
the arr surrounding them becomes
heated and specifically lighter II as
cends TO the ceiling, and therefore Inc
lower strata Of air contained ~ room
heated by stove are never 50 hot as
the upper
Furnace placed a distance from the
apartments to be heated, generally
under them, arc notifications of the
ordinry stove. differing only H. the
fact that air is brought TO the stove
heated bv conduction and then al
lowed To- ascend to the rooms through
pipes or iiues II proper precautions
are taken 10 insure a full supply OF
fresh air from the outside 10 prevent
the mixture Of the gases from the fuel
with the hot air and to provide suili-
cicnt moisture. this method Of warm
ing is not very Objectionable.
The chief disadvantage of steam as
a heating agent consists III the fact
that it is difficult TO regulate the tenn
peraturc The pipes must be kept at
2l2 degs. Fahrenheit or condensation
Of the vapor 1t once takes place and
water is formed. In passing from a
state of vapor TO that of liquid steam
parts with its latent heat and becomes
sensible, and thus the temperature of
the pipes is raised. The latent heat OF
steam being 600 dogs, a great source
of heat is thus It command, but If the
pipes arc allowed to cool again below
2l2 dogs. fresh portion of steam Is
condensed, and 80 on till the whole OF
it has been converted into water and
LES parted with all It's latent heat
Hot water affords another excellent
means for obtaining artificial warmth,
and the principles upon which The
process is conducted DO not differ
essentially from those which govern
the last described. Pipes are arranged
in connection with boiler containing
water. Heat being applied, those
particles of the water nearest to the
source Of the heat fist become warmed
and at the same time specifically
lighter If tins water wcrc allowed "a
escape there would be 2 constant re
ccssity for icplcnishing the boiler; but
after il has lost a portion OF It's heat IT
IS returned 10 the boiler and the pro
cess il repeated. The pipes may he AZ
ranged in coils, contained IN boxes
under the floor communicating with
the external atmosphere. 4 register
In the wall or floor allows thc hot an
10 enter the chamber DR. William y.
Hammond i'm New York World.