Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-05
HEATING THE HOUSE.
Problems for the Physicist and SAM
tary Engineer to Solve.


Independent of the question as to
how we shall get enough heat is the
one as to how we shall heat, says.
writer in a magazine, in discussing the
question of the right heating for
houses. Shall it be an attempt 30 to
warm the walls as that these will warm
the air Of the ROOM and so that there
will he but little need Of heating the
air by other methods? Or shall we
merely attempt to heat the air in the
room? If we do this, we are heating
much air that has already been inhaled
or eNhaled. If there is q fireplace, its
draught serves TO draw out so much Of
the expired air and so really draw in
air from without, as to keep in good
average of purity. When, however,
you come to depend on on close
stove it is only heating the air in the
room. If such a room could be made
air tight the fire would smother for
want Of draught. As il is, it generally
manages to get its supply of air, but
too often at the expense of the inmates.
Most stoves, and many outside heaters,
do nothing more than to heat the air
that is in the room, If. however, the
heater is so arranged that it receives
cold air around it, and heats this and
thus causes it to rise into the room
You have the advantage of fresh, warm
air introduced. In this case the in
Quiry is how to introduce it as to have
il diffused equally in all parts of the
room. Formerly the floor register was
the chief resort. Now it is often con
coded that it is better to introduce the
air from the side wall or even toward
the ceiling and allow it TO flow down
along the surface of the walls and
ccquali2e itself through the room.
The old idea that, because warm air is
lighter. ii must he brought in rs near
the floor as possible, is modified ny the
fact that some other considerations in
IluonCc its diffusion, and especially if
the removal for foul air is so arranged
rs to allow 1t in part to escape nearer
the floor.
I'VE think it must he said that
there are no more difficult problems for
the sanitary engineer or physicist to
solve than those which relate to the
purity of air in rooms in winter and
the methods of securing a proper heat
ing and ventilation at the same time.
For the reason that heating the air
already in he room is too much re-
gardless OF its necessary impurtty, the
strong inclination now is somehow to
furnish heat SO that pure air, already
warmed, shall flow into the room, in
stead Of merely by pipes and radiators
which are warmed heating the air as
il Is. For this reason both hot air and
hot water are used rs a means of in
direct heating If air enters Il cham
her below hall, and there is so
brought ! contact with coils heated
ny air, or warm wafer or steam, as
;Aat It, toe, becomes warm. ii has some
of the advantages which the summer
mir has rs it comes in warm from with
out Probably this is the id al o.
ward which we must work How to
avoid dust. to regulate moisture, to
have the inflow and outflow such as
will make no severe draught, and be
eQuahlc and difIusive these are ques-
tons of no small import and of no
little difficulty; but with the needs
clearly in view and the defects of for
! nser methods realized, it is pleasant 10
/ know that We are working toward
] consistent and harmonious plan.