Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-12-24
HOW 10 KEEP ManN-


Ehs Virtues and Cost of Hot Air, Hot
6Nfer and Steam for House-Heating.
Once upon a time high temperature
was all that people required from the
systems used in heating their houses,
but good, wholesome air IS now the
main feature. The physicians have edu-
gated the people 20 understand that hot
rooms are not conducive to good health,
and they have caused the mean tempera-
ture of the average dwelling house to
fall several degrees IN the last few
years
Much was expected in the way OF cleo
trieity for heating purposes, but as yet
ithas not justified anticipations. ''Elec-
tricity may become a rival TO steam, hot
air and hot water some day." said an
expert In the heating business, ''but the
day Is not yet in sight. Up to the pres
ent time electricity has been used with
success only in heating trolley cars. \
heating arrangeIfent is placed under
the car seats, fZom which enough heat
radiates to KEEP the car comfortable in
cold weather.. The heater is a simple
thing, egaAiSting only of bars of metal,
whickdKe b dated to high degree by
shsD4g an electric current passed
through thenA The expense to the troll
ley companies lis comparatively small,
because they bak he the electric plant. and
to produce the additional power they
only require a little more fuel, but if
a plant had to be provided to make the
heat, it would be an Expensive luxury"
The real competition in house-heating
lies between hot air, s$eam and hot
water
The hot-air furnace CONTINUES in high
favor, and dealers say that the sales have
been larger this year than ever Before.
The furnaces of the latest patterns are
superior in many respects to any that
have ever been placed on the market,
and expert mechanics are continually
devising new methods to lessen the
objections to the furnace heat ut is
bound to remain the most popular"
dealer said, because it is the least eX-
pensive, and people will overlook lit
tie dust and little bad air once in
awhile if they know they are saving
money"
1t is estimated thata steam plantcosts
about twice as much as hot-air plant,
and that to heat house by hot water,
a plant must be put up which will cost
about 20 per cent. more than the one
for steam The same calculation makes
the fuel for the hot-air plant the most
expensive, that for steam % per cent.
less, and for the hot water system
25 per cent. less than steam.
Large buildings will continue to use
steam until some system less expensive
can be devised, and when it is taken into
consideration that most of the heat in
the large Office buildings and factories
Is furnished by exhaust steam, 1T is
easy to understand that to furnish a
cheaper system is a difficult task.
Many new houses are also being fitted
with steam-heating plants, but where
the cost is not taken into consideration
and where the matter of space does not
play an important part, hot water is
being used. The advocates of the sys-
TEN say that it is less complicated and
that when people know that the fear
of explosions is absolutely groundless,
more houses will be equipped with the
hot-water heating system.
''In speaking of heating, gas should
not be overlooked said the expert.
SIT does not bid for first place, because
it is too dear and because it will not fill
the bill, but the gas log for use in mild
weather to take the chill off the room
and to giTe touch of 'mahe-believe
comfort to a cherries fat has come tc
stay."eN Y. Tribune.