The Washington times., 1926-10-30
Heat Leak Is Factor
In Winter Housing


name swinging out. The most int
| portant fact to bear in mind In re-
gard to storm windows is that their
value lies not in the extra thick
ness of a pane Of glass but in the
dead air space that is created be-
tween the two panes. If both win
dows are not tightly sealed around
their frames, the air between the
two will circulate and the real pro-
lection will be lost.
Radiators are nearly always
placed near windows, which means
that there is a great deal of heat
transmission at this point. Putting
reflectors behind each is one way
to stop this leakage. Another and
more slightly method is to saw
pieces of the insulating lumber TO
fit behind the radiators. This con-
serves more heat for making the
room comfortable and does not de-
tract from the general appearance
of the room. When the room Is
next decorated, the same type OF
finish-wall paper. paint or plaster
can be applied right over the ln-
sulating lumber.
The. next line of defense is the
floor of the first story. Everyone
knows the worried look that comes
over a persons face as he says.
1T seems to me there's draft
coming from somewhere" and gazcs
helpIessly about the room as If
expecting to see the culprit skulk-
ing behind some piece of furniture.
The draft is probably not from
the outer doors or windows, IL these
have been properly weather-stripp
and calked. It Is the cold that
arises from the basement and makes
the floor above too cold for conf
fort and dangerous for the children
to play on. Where the house is
OF the one-story type, this means
that every room suffers in the
same way. The effect of such
drafts is not limited to slight
physical discomfort or even to an
attack of 1.-THE snuffles." Flu,
pneumonia, rheuma tism and similar
Affections might often be traced to
this same source of danger.
JOISTS SHOULD BE SEALED
The remedy is the same as that
for the attic-seal the joists Of the
basement with the same insulating
lumber. so that the cold, damp Tair
will not creep up through the floor
above. One point must be kept in
mind in turning the house that is
already built into a thoroughly
insulated dwelling. It does not
mean having hot, stuffy rooms.
Years ago, when people nailed up.
their windows for the winter, they
got in fresh air whether they
wanted it or not, through the rat
Ting windows and poorly fitted
doors, but these are now recognized
as danger points for drafts and
heat leakage.
The correct way to change the
air, is to open the window slightly
at the top and bottom every few
from the top while the pure air
comes in below. This will cause
only a slight drop In temperature,
which can be quickly regained be-
cause it is easier to heat a room
in which the air is fresh than
when Il is stale and overbreathed.
Another winter health precaution
is to build q simple storage room
in which to house an ample supply
of fresh vegetables and apples.
There are essential to a proper
diet but are very expensive il
bought out of season or IN small
quantities. Very little labor. or
expense is involved in making
suitable store room in the base
ment
The more efficient ones heating
plant, the less heat will escape into
the basement, making it decidedly
cooler than the rest of the house.
It will still, however, be too warm
for the proper storage OF these food
supplies. A small storage room
built on all sides and ceiling of the