Evening star., 1940-11-09
First Aid
For the
AMng House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.

BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.
@. During heavy rains water leaks
into my cellar, where the concrete
floor meets the cinder block walls.
The builder suggests placing drain
tiles under the floor to carry the
water to the sewer. Would it be
more economical to install the drain
tile inside or outside the walls?
A. Put them inside on level
with the footing, and close to it.
This will call for breaking through
the floor, but with little additional
digging. If you put them outside,
you would need to eXcavate to the
level of the footings, which would
be a much costlier operation.
Starting a Boiler.
@. My boiler has been used for
one winter. How should it be pre-
pared for the next season? Should
the water be drained out? How
about cleaning the hot-water tank?
A. After year of service, a boiler
should have thorough cleaning to
get rid Of dirt that will have drained
into it from the pipes and radia-
tors. This job can best be done
by competent steamfitter. who
will put in compound, and after
few days will give the inside of the
boiler a thorough washing When
the boiler is once clean, and if the
water supply is fairly clean, it may
not be necessary to drain and refill
the boiler for years When you
lay up the boiler next spring, add
water to fill it to the top until it
runs out of the safety valve, which
Is to be propped open. The fol-
lowing fall, let out enough water
to bring the remainder to the proper
level. This, of course, is for steam
boiler. A hot-water heating boiler
and the entire system should be left
completely filled. For your hot
water tank, open the drain at the
bottom every two or three weeks
to let out dirty water. Your heating
coil should be so arranged that by
opening a drain-cock and closing a
valve, 1t can be flushed out with
water under city pressure.
lulnDlIlg question:,
Q. In my tWo-story house, I want
TO replace the old iron pipes with
copper tubing, which I intend to in
stall myself. Is it possible to use
compression fittings on the tubing?
A. Copper tubing was originally
made for compression fittings, and
they can still be had. Before start
ing the job, you must be sure that
your local plumbing code will per-
NIT work of that sort to be done
without a license.
Pounding Tank.
@. I am having a lot of trouble
with my hot-water boiler. When
! start a fire in the heater it soon
goes to cracking and humping, and
cracks so hard that it fairly shakes
the house. Will you please tell me
what you think is the cause and
what can do about it?
A. The pounding in your hot
water system is undoubtedly due to
the formation of steam The pipes
dip down, or otherwise make a trap
that prevents the free escape of the
steam; it collects until there is pres
sure enough to blow through the
water ahead of it, and it is this
that makes the pounding. The
pipes should slope upward from
the heater to the tank, so that the
steam can escape freely. Another
possibility is that the pipes are par
TALLY clogged. which would have
the same effect. You should open
a joint of the pipes, to learn the
condition inside. i
When steam forms in a hot-water
system it is always necessary to put
a relief valve on the hot-water out
let of the tank. Otherwise, there
may be an explosion. These relief
valves can be had from any
plumber.
SCOT From Oil Burner.
@. Does oil-f1red conditioned
heat or any other oil-f1red heat
cause SCOT and grease to gather on
curtains and furnishings?
A An oil burner that functions
efficiently will not give off smoke
or soot It is only when oil is par
tally consumed through poor ad-
justment that heavy SCOT and grease
will discolor curtains, etc.
Cleaning Paintings.
@. How can I clean some oil
paintings? Having an air brush,
could I give them a coat of clear
lacquer after cleaning?
A. Rub lightly with damp cloth
in one corner to learn whether or
not the color is fast If it is, take
the portraits out of their frames,
stand them on edge, and go over
them with a lather of CASTLE or
other pure soap in tepid water. Do