New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-22
COMFORT WITH LESS HEAT
Properly Moistened Air Will Reduce High
Coal Bills
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Tho present extreme high price OF
coal emphasizes the folly of wasting so much
Of it as We do in the heating OF our dwellings.
II is the last few degrees Of heat which are
so difficult to obtain. which take 30 much
coal, and which are quite unnecessary. feel
competent TO speak on this question because
my coal consumption for about ten years past
has been rather less than two-thirds of what
il for several years previous, while the
comfort Of my family has been much in
creased.
Contrasting the average June day with the
heat Of our dwellings In winter. We have in
June a temperature spproIimating 50 degrees
to 68 degrees Fahrenheit with relative hu-
midity Of so per cent. and We endure this
without artificial heat and in summer cos
tune, while in winter We are hardly satisfied
with 10 degrees Of heat, and, though dressed
in heavy winter costume, complain Of
drafts. We also complain Of the excessive
dryness Of furnace and steam heat
The difference between the comfort Of a
June day and the discomfort OF December
day indoors is wholly due to the inadequate
moisture of the latter.
Few people realize the considerable quaint
IlcS OF water which lne HIT ~ hDle 10 nOlO,
nor how much more water warm air can hold
than cold air. The outdoor air of winter is
more moist than in June and is about 70 per
cent saturated with moisture. When it is
heated, however, while it loses none of the
moisture which il contains, its capacity for
taking up additional moisture is very much
increased. and to bring 1T up TO 60 per cent.
of saturation, for a moderate house tempera-
ture, may require. even for moderate sized
dwelling. the addition of the equivalent in
water yapor Of several gallons Of water
This quantity is far beyond the capacity Of
house furnaces unless some special arrange
ment is made in the hot air space to furnish
large surface OF water near the hrepot, and,
Of course, in steam heated apartments no
provision whatever is made for moistening
the air unless the occupant of the apartment
takes the trouble to attend TO it himself
The quantity OF water needed properly 10
moisten the air varies greatly with the out
side temperature. Comparatively little is
used when the outside temperature is up to
40 degrees, and for a small dwelling several
gallons a day may be none too much when
the thermometer is near zero.
1t is not at all probable that one will get
the air too moist. This letter is not an argu-
ment for a soggy atmosphere. On the con-
trary it is simply suggestion for the quality
Of air and the same temperature. or slightly
less, that prevails in June. Personally, with
the heavy clothing Of winter find 90 degrees
entirely satisfactory. There is no part of my
house which reaches n higher temperature
than 65 degrees without protest on the part
of my family.
II any one cares TO make a convenient test
Of the effect Of moisture, an unheated bath
co1d dav trili furnish tho
tunity The drawing of little hot water
into the bathtub and the steam from 1t does
not il will be noticed, very much increase
the temperature OF the ROOM but does very
materially increase the sensation of comfort
n the room. OF course, with large quantity
OF hot water and a small air space, it is pos
sible to obtain a great excess of moisture.
Even that, however. is not really uncomfort-
able for a short time.
There is not space to go into the various
advantages OF having the air suitably moist,
but il may be mentioned that it does away
largely with a sensation of drafts, due to
the slight circulation OF the air. IL gives
more uniform temperature throughout the
room without regard TO the source of heat
and equalzes the temperature between the
floor and the ceiling, and it somewhat mini
mizes the tendency to take cold, IN that the
moistness Of the air in the house and outside
of it is not greatly different, whereas with
excessively dry air the air passages of the
lungs are alternately overworked in keeping
them selves moist and then are suddenly de-
prived Of work when one goes into the open.
The increased comfort produced by suit
ably moistening the air is sufficient to justify
considerable expense, il il were necessary,
but inasmuch as the cost is little and the
Il 10 Il
that it should be generally adopted.
OF course, to jewellers in apartment houses
no saving would at first be apparent, but in
the long run the rent bears a distinct relation
10 the cost of operating the house, and if the
steam heat were more moderately used, there
would in time be reflection Of that saving
in the rents CHARLES f. MANIERRE.
New York. Dec. 10. 1915.