Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-01-30

the humldlty ID Dy the actual tntroduc-
ton Of moisture into the house.
My husband felt that a. Humidity OF
so per cent in our living rooms was
the correct standard to be striven for,
SO, when two years later, we built
modern, eight-room house, he had that
In mind In planning the heating APP
paratus. We put in a regular hot air
furnace, but when 1t was being set
up ne had one large galvanized iron
pan and one smaller cast iron pan fitted
around the frepot, inside Of the Jacket
OF the furnace and under the radiator
go that the moisture eyaporated went
directly into the hot air pipes and then
into the living rooms. These are In
addition to the one furnished by tho
furnace maker and the three pans, all
told, hold ss22 quarts of water
In severe winter weather, when there
Is hot fire in the furnace, we evap-
crate from 20 to "a quarts OF water in
"a hours. Ordinarily. when the Their
mometer Is from 90 to SO degrees out
doors, we cvaporate from IL to 15
quarts per day, and raise the humidity
In the house up to IS or 40 per cent
IL we evaporated more than that, the
extra moisture in the air would con-
dense on the windows, forming steam
or frost and would be a nuisance in
many ways
In laundry, with the washing GO
Ing on, the humidity is probably over
80 per cent, and we know how wet
and steamy the walls and ceilings are,
as we'll as the windows. If, however,
all the windows in the house were
equipped with storm windows, we could
keep the humidity at so per cent with
out any Inconvenience. as the air space
between the double windows acts as q
nohconductor Of cold, keeping the inner
window warm and thus the moisture
would not cOndenSe upon It,
To summarize. we find that evaporat-
ing II to l5 quarts of water daily, dur
ing average winter weather. is about
the right amount for a house like ours.
only partially equipped with storm,
windows This keeps the humidity at
S5 to 40 per cent, which is certainly
big improvement over the humidity in
the average house, which is probably
below % per cent. In steam or hot
water heated houses. some definite plan
could be arranged for to evaporates
water into the living rooms
l wish might say that the raising
OF the humidity in living rooms is
saving of fuel. One naturally thinks
that since one feels the warmth more
in moist atmosphere. it would not be
necessary to keep the temperature SO
high and therefore less coal would be
required. But it requires coal to evap-
crate water: to evaporate 20 quarts of
water requires $4,000 thermal units. or
approximately three and one-h;,lf
,, pounds of anthracite coal This mum
her of heat units would be sufficient to-
! raise the actual temperature in dwell
ing house, containing $4,000 cubic feet.
2 degrees; thus it takes as much fuel
keep house at 68 degrees temperature
and 40 per cent humidity as at 70 de-
grees temperature and 30 per cent hui
midity However. the lower tempera-
tlre is We'll as the higher humidity in
| crease our comfort and health because
the change to. outside conditions is not
quite SO great
We find the results well worth all the
trouble and effort they cost Our fArnili
9tufe does not become cracked, split or
checked: the boards in the floors do
not shrink and leave unsightiy cracks;
the woodwork keeps its form and posi-
ton; our piano remains in tune very
much longer; our ferns and palms
grow luxuriantly 1--WE do not have
towering plants. because we use gas
for lighting. but that's another story.')
our skin feels moist and comfort
able. though sometimes If my husband
forgets to fill the pans and they get
nearly empty am IN great distress
With feeling of dryness in the palms
OF my hands. lips and nostrils, and /
hasten to apply glycerin cold cream
or something of the sort till the pans
are IN working order again. think
we all have better compilations. (Every
one knows how the moist air of Ire
land and England tends to make their
women have lovely conplexions): I
know the condition Of our hair is bet
ter than 1t has ever been; we have
fewer colds, almost none in fact:
nerves are practically unknown with
us, and we are all remarkably good
sleepers.
Our friends notice the difference In
our house when they come to visit us
and speak of "the mildness of our eli
mate. !" the soft, gentle heat. the
"restful and soothing atmosphere. the
pleasant feel to the air" the sense
OF comfort and well being, etc Many
their own homes less like deserts be-
cause of our example.