The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-10

Coal Saved and Comfort Increased
by Simple Method.

4 sSHeioH VI the PUBIC mas OIten been
called to the Importance OF securing 4
proper amount Of moisture in the air o.
heated rooms in winter. Hitherto little
attention seems to have been paid to this
subject by most persons. The fact that
the water costs substantially nothing
and that with its use 1t is possible to
save some rs per cent OF the coal other
wise necessary for heating purposes did
not seem to be an inducement to make
the little effort required to secure the
desirable result.
| IL is not proposed to raise the room
humidity to point even equal 10 that
prevailing In the outside air. The aver
age temperature In New York city be-
tween October and April is "A degrees
Fahrenheit, and the average humidity
70 per cent For healthful conditions
IN that period the house temperature
should range from Go to IS degrees with
humidity OF approximately 60 degrees.
For a dwelling house OF moderate size
this needs the addition to the air OF from
two to four gallons Of water in the
form of vapor in each twenty -four hours,
and in exceptionally cold weather as
much as nine gallons
No one can well take exception to the
recommended temperature limits and
house humidity. for they are precisely
| the same as those of mild day in May
or June. This ought to be sufficient
answer to those who suggest that a
soggy atmosphere is being advocated
When the temperature outside drops
below SO degrees the heating OF the out
door air to a temperature of approx
| mately ~ degrees reduces the humidity
to less than 30 per cent. This does not
mean that there is less water in the
air. 1t merely means that at temper
allure of y degrees the air is capable
of holding much more water.
1t ought to be evident without argu.
ment that it is trying to the air pas
sages of the lungs to pass constantly
from humidity OF less than 80 per
cent. to one approximately 70 per cent.
There is another advantage in having
moisture in the house air In that it does
away with the sensation of draft, Civ
ing a more uniform temperature to all
parts of room, and with moderate
degree of heat giving sensation Of
greater warmth.
In very cold weather it Is unnecessary,
to force the heating apparatus to its
utmost capacity, which is waste of
time and coal.
In furnace heated houses sufficient
supply of water must be brought near
enough to the frepot to evaporatc the
needed amount. 1t Is worth while to
run an outlet from the water supply
into the hot air space. and this may. IL
1t lis desired. be arranged to supply the
water automatically. However, there 10
little trouble In turning It on by hand
whenever coal Is added to the furnace.
In many cases the problem would he
that Of a tenant in steam heated
building in single room or apartment
under his control Water containers can
be had which fit closely to the pipes OF
radiators or moistened cloths placed on
the radiator will quickly supply the
moisture necessary.
In very cold weather the hotel dwe!er
having a room and bath can quickly
make livable room which Is a little
too cold for comfort by drawing rev
inches of hot water into the bathtub.
The change of temperature viii be neg
ligblc, but the difference in comfort
will be amazing.
One test Of whether the al: of q build
ing is properly moistened is whether
delicate plants will grow satisfactorily
without being kept under glass An
other test Is whether the windows tend
to frost in frosty weather. II they do
not the air is too dry.
In private dwellings, it Is customary
to leave the care Of furnace wholly
xxFlA i- t,,far
vals y Is impossible for such a man
to know what the effect of his work IL.
as he Is never upstairs, and having
number OF such furnaces to attenl to
his work is necessarily wastefui Of coal.
A close supervision, with directions from
time to time by the householder. ID
absolutely necessary for satisfactory and
economical results.
SO far as the amount of moisture in
the air is concerned 1t Is safe To say
that II is unlikely that too much will
be secured. For house temperatures the
difference between wet and dry bulb
thermometer should be about degrees
Fahrenheit not less than degrees nor
more than 10 degrees. However, one
may trust ones own sensations in the
matter and IL the home has the feeling
or fine June day one may assume
that both the temperature and the hui
midity are about right.
1t is sometimes suggested that heat
is absorbed in the changing of water
into vapor. This is Of course true, but
the amount of heat used in that way Is
negligible compared with the saving of
coal in the lower temperature permitted
by proper amount OF moisture.
CHARLES L. MANlERRE.
NEW YORK, September O.