Evening star., 1940-06-15
First Aid
For the
AHing House
By ROGER b. WHITMAN

BY ROGER Is. WHITMAN.
@. We recently stripped varnish
from window sills and sashes, put or
enamel undercoater, and final coat
OF enamel. Paint on the lower sash
near the panes has begun to crack
and peel. Why? What is remedy?
A. The cause is dampness in the
wood. Very likely the outside putty
around the panes has developed fine
cracks through which water is max
ing its way and is soaking into the
wood. If the putty is at all loose
you should replace it, first giving the
wood coat of paint. II the putty is
firm paint will close the hairline
cracks through which the water is
making its way.
Noisy Water Pipes.
Q. We had new water pipe in
stalled. There seems to be air in it.
for when water is run we hear a
noise. How can this be stopped?
A. If the noise comes when a fau-
Get Is shut off suddenly, it is from
what is called water hammer
This can be stopped by putting in an
air cushion, which is an extension
OF the pipe for feet or more above
the highest faucet. The end of the
pipe should be tightly capped. Air
that is confined in this length of
pipe Will act as cushion and will
absorb the noise An air cushion
could also be attached to the pipe
In the cellar. Your plumber should
know exactly what to do.
Worn Carpets.
Q. In many rooms in our hotel
there are worn spots on the carpets
In the center of rooms and at the
wash basins. Could they be touched
up with paint or dye?
A. II the carpets are more or less
solid color, you can use dye of kind
to be had at drug store. After
cleaning a worn place dampen it
with water, and put on a light coat
OF the dye, which should be boiling
hot. Use broad brush. Do not
use enough water or dye to soak the
carpet, for the floor underneath
might be stained, and the CARPET
might be harmed by slow drying
After the carpet has dried put on
another light coat of the dye, with
out preliminary dampening. Con-
tinue with light coats of the dye
until you arrive at the right tint.
Damp Walls.
Q, live in a house that is one of
row, and the front part of the
basement is underground. The base
ment wall is always damp in spots.
What can I put on the brick to keep
the dampnesS out?
A. Most probably the damp spots
are from condensation, and not from
leakage. The walls are kept cool by
contact with the earth outside. and
when air is chilled by them they are
dampened by the water that is con-
densed, No kind of paint or other
finish will stop condensation. One
remedy would be to cover the walls
with sheets of insulating board to
keep the air away from the cool
masonry.
Sweating or Leakage
@. My cellar walls are damp. I
asked a friend about it and he said
that it might be either from leak
age or from swea ting, but he could
not say which. How can + tell
which it is?
A. Stick a piece of aluminium foil
on the wall in the middle of a damp
spot; foil from around a cigarette
package will do, but larger piece
will be better. After a time. when
the foil has come to the same tenn
perature as the masonry, note
whether or not drops of water show
on it. If they do the trouble is from
sweating. If the foil remains dry
the dampness of the wall is from
seepage, for water could not pass
through the foil.
Sanitary Systems.
In answering a recent question on
selection of septic tank I referred
to Government pamphlet to be
obtained through the superintend-
ent of documents, Washington.
This was noted by the health COM
missioner of Montgomery County,
Ohio, who informed me that his
office has a sanitary engineer who
renders this service to residents of
his county without charge He
added that private sewage systems
in Montgomery County could be in
stalled only after plans had been
approved and permit obtained
from his Office, no charge being
made.
A similar system exists in other
parts of the country, but only to a
very limited extent The safeguard
ing of health is of such vital i'm
portance that it is to be hoped
that other sections will give them
selves similar protection.
Refinishing Woodwork.
@. How can dark woodwork be