West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-10-28


Saving Coal On Heating the Home
A problem which reaches into nearly
every home in the United States and
touches the pocketbooks OF several
million householders is discussed Sc
riously in a report issued by the
Bureau OF Mines. Department OF the
Interior. In which the experts OF the
bureau tell the public in detail just
how. In heating their houses this
coming winter, they may save in their
coal bills.
The report, issued at time when
the cooler weather is upon the coun-
try and people are laying in their win
ter supply of coal. intimates that
large savings can be made I'm nearly
| every home and gives specific figures
or the results obtained In one home
In which every effort was made to
consume the coal property. AS the
report was issued solely for the ben
eht OF householders, copies may be
obtained by anyone who addresses
the United States Bureau cf Mircs.
The tests referred to were made I'm
10-room house I'm New Haven. Conn,
which was comfortably heated at a
cost of $4S for the fall and winter, "A
saving over other houses OF the same
size i'm the same locality of from $50
to 800
According to Van II. Manning, di-
rector OF the Bureau OF Mines, similar
results can be attained I'm hundreds OF
thousands OF houses throughout the
country with n consequent saving OF
millions of dollars.
"The report shows not only n low
cost of heating" said Mr.. Manning.
but also an economical use of fuel
and illustrates what savings may be
effected when the problem is given
proper consideration. Systmatic and
regular handling of the fire doubtless
had considerable TO do with the re-
suits obtained. The cost OF heating liz
probably $50 to 500 less than what
Is expended by large number OF
householders who live in the same
locality and have about the same
heating requirements. but use more
expensive coal and give their heating
equipment less attention.
THE value householder gets from
the fuel he burns depends largely on
the character of the heating appara-
tus, the conditions under which IL is
installed, and the manner I'm which
the fire is handled. The authors of
this report, from their experience I'm
firing residence-heating apparatus
and from observing the methods en-
ployed by many who attend TO such
apparatus, keenly appreciate the inn
portance OF proper firing methods and
they have written this report I'm the
belief that some general remarks on
the selection. care and operation OF
residence-heatlng apparatus may
prove of some value to many who are
Interested In burning fuel in the most
economical manner"
The authors are l.. p. Breckenridge.
consulting engineer of the Bureau of
Mines and professor mechanical en-
ginering Sheffield Scientific School.
Yale University, and s. u. Flagg. me-
chanical engineer OF the Bureau OF
Mines.
Among other things, the report
states: MANY furnaces and boilers
are operated I'm a haphazard way
drafts are opened or coal Is put on
when the house becomes cool, tlhen
the fire is allowed to burn rapidly un-
I'll either the rooms are too warm or
the fuel bed is burned down too far
to kindle properly a new charge of
coal.
such firing is always wastefuI
The heater should receive regular at
tention. and IL the demands for heat
are intelligently anticipated. as they
ordinarily can be, the house can be
warmed with minimum trouble and
""Nh NhS IOOIHb DeCOfne 100
warm the fire should be checked by
stopping the admission OF air under
the crate and decreasing the draft
by opening the check damper.' If.
as often done, the ashpit damper or
the ash-pit door be allowed 10 remain
open and the draft reduced by open
ing the fire door, the combustion OF
the fuel continues, although at a slow
er rate, but the cold air entering the
fire door chills the heater so that lit
tie heat Is realized from the coal.
ITO burn a pound OF coal requires
very much more than a pound OF air.
and the volume OF pound Of air at
atmospheric pressure is far greater
than that Of pound Of coal To burn
more coal requires more air. and this
air must be forced into the ash Dit up
through the fuel bed by the difference
between the pressure OF the hot air
and gases over the FIRE pot and that
OF the air entering the ash-pit in
other words, by the draft
--f
should Woman al Fifty Consider