The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-01-28
Keep Furnace Clean and Remove the
Ashes is Burden Of Advice Given
by Expert Who Is
in Iowa.
HOW ONE CAN SAVE COAL
Proper Heating, Shutting OF Un-
used Rooms is Idea OF Those
Who Have Made Study
Of Situation.

Keep your furnace Clean ana see
that the ashes are removed from the
pit every morning. This is the ad-
vice of Royal Holbrook Of Cedar
Rapids, fuel expert of the Iowa State
colelec II Amss and REPRESENTATIVE:
of the IederaI 1ueI ADMINISTRATION,
who is in Iowa this week. After the
furnace has been cleaned and the
ashes removed, the next important
step is to understand the various
drafts and see that they are oper-
49, !: the proper manner, NJ R"l-
brook also urged each lndist1s!..- 10
study his particular furnace in order
to become familiar with 1t. BY I'M
Outstanding the furnace and firing
1t in the proper manner he declared
a large amount of coal could be con-
served.
Mr.. Holbrook gave this advice:
Never cover a live fire entirely
with coal Always leave an opening
toward the back of the fire pot The
fire should never be below the level
of the fire door. These were other
important points which were brought
out by the expert.
The fresh charge Of coal should be
placed in front so that small area
of red coal Is left uncovered at the
back Of the fire pot. The gases from
the fresh charge, in passing over the
red hot coal at the back will be
burned If enough air Is admitted into
the furnace. In order to admit the
air required right after firing, the
fire door should be left open for a
short time. The damper in the fire
door should also be left open, but
only long enough, however, to burn
the gasses. This damper should be
closed especially at night when the
entire furnace should be shut of.
The ash pit damper and the check
damper should not be open at the
same time or closed at the same
time. If one is open the other should
be closed The check damper should
be opened and the ash pit damper
closed after the coal has started to
burn When putting in fresh charge
of coal close the check damper and
open the ash pit damper.
Should Have Stack Damper.
Mr. Holbrook declared that every
furnace should have stack damper.
This damper should be nearly closed
on a windy day and should be regu-
lated in accordance with the draft.
On a furnace not provided with a
stack damper he declared a large per
cent Of the heat was bound to go
out Of the chimney.
The thickness OF the fire should be
varied according to weather. On a
mild day ashes should be allowed to
accumulate in the CRATES, but not in
the ash pit On cold day there
should not be many ashes in the
CRATES. The fire should always, re-
CARELESS Of whether it is mild or
cold day, be at least level with the
fire door.
Proper Heating.
Other hints on proper heating
which are Endorsed by Mr.. Holbrook,
are as follows:
If the house is not occupied during
a large part Of the day, arrange If
possible, to allow it to remain cool
during that period.
Keep SCOT cleaned from furnace
and chimneys. SCOT is a non-con-
ductor Of heat.
Always carry deep or high fire.
In mild weather have from four to
six inches of ashes on the CRATE.
This lessons the draft through the
fire and causes lower fuel con-
Don't shake or poke the
fire too much. just enough to make
room for the adding of enough fresh
coal to keep the CRATE clear Of ashes,
so there will be a steady draft
the fire. This means heat.
Before retiring for the night, give
the fire careful attention.
Spray the ashes and ash pit with
a hose. II keeps down the dust, and
a damp pit means more heat.
Do not clean fire from the top.
Large clinkers should occur seldom,
where the drafts are given proper
attention and water Is kept in the
ash pit. They should be removed
preferably through the clinker door
or by shaking and dumping the
CRATE, but, if necessary, through the
feed door The fire should then be
properly leveled.
Dampen the air by keeping water
on the stove or in the furnace.
Do not dump fresh coal on old
coal in the bin, or spontaneous COM
bustion may be the result.