Evening star., 1940-01-20
First Aid
For the
|AIing House
BY ROGER b. WHITMAN.

BY ROGER d. WHITMAN.
Question: I intend to waterproof
the outside brick Of my house. ! am
told to use . waterproof cement In
pointing the bricks and then paint
them with tung oil. Is this correct?
How do mix the cement?
Answer-It Is correct, but instead
OF the tung oil I should prefer one
OF the prepared colorless waterproof
coatings. The mortar for repointing
consists Of one part Portland cement
and three parts clean sand. The
addition Of lime, Of about 10 per cent
Of the cement, will prevent the NOR
tar from contracting while 1t Is set
ting.
One-Pipe Vacuum.
Question: VIII there be any ad-
vantage in changing from plain air
valves to vacuum valves on . one
pipe steam system?
Answer-Putting on vacuum air
valves Is only . part Of converting
the whole system to vacuum; the
change In the valves alone would
have no effect. The vacuumizing
Of a one-pipe steam system has dis
advantages that to my mind balance
any possible advantages. Having
experimental with the change In my
own house, I have gone back to the
plain system. for could see no dif-
ference.
Storm Windows.
Question: How much fuel should
I save II I put storm windows and
doors on my house. which Is de-
tached? Windows are metal wealth.
er-stripped.
Answer-The saving should be
somewhere in the neighborhood Of
IS per cent, and beside that you will
find that the rooms will be more
evenly heated. In my own house I
have storm windows all over, except
for the south.
Closing . House.
Question: In closing q house for
the winter, what is the proper way
to care for the plumbing? We have
steam heat. How should the piano
be pr otected?
Answer-All water should be
drained from the plumbing pipes
and fixtures, and also from the
steam boiler. This Is q Job for q
plumber, and for one who knows
what he Is about. You should also
remove all bottles and containers
holding liquids that might freeze.
If the piano is valuable, send it to a
warehouse for storage; otherwise,
cover 1t with heavy blankets. 1t
would be well to put few moth
crystals inside to protect the felts
against insect attack.
Covering Heat Pipes.
Question: have a finished cellar
and heat pipes run along the ceiling,
the entire length Of the recreation
room. I want to cover these pipes
with asbestos. I want some heat In
the recreation room, and was told
that II I cover the pipes, 1t will be
very cold downstairs, and I would
get more heat upstairs. Would COW
ering these pipes shut out the heat
from the cellar room completely?
Answer-Covering the pipes with
insulation will reduce the amount OF
heat in your cellar. and it will Ger
tainly give you more heat to the
rooms upstairs. You win do well tc
cover the pipes with insulation, theu
install q ceiling type Of radiator tc
furnish the necessary amount Of
heat needed for the recreation room
Fumigation.
Question: win fumigation Of q
house kill all insects living in iti
Should the furniture be moved out;
Would the tenants in the other hall
Of our double house have to vacate;
Answer-In cities it Is almost al.
ways the case that fumigatior
is only permitted by experienced
people who are licensed to do tn,
job. Whe whole building must b,
vacated, but furniture and othel
possessions can remain for the ga