Evening star., 1941-01-04
First Aid
For the
AHing House
BY ROGER B. WHITMAN.

venient chimney, and, as the cheap
est substitute, he proposes to carry
off the vapors through a line of g.
inch clay sewer pipe, supported on
concrete blocks and inClosed in
wood frame covered with asbestos
shingles to simulate a chimney. The
inside of this false chimney would
be lined with asbestos He asks
whether or not this would be prac-
tIcal.
A. The joints between the sections
of pipe could not be made perma-
nently tight, and there would be
other likely sources of trouble. That
arrangement would get YOU into
trouble with the fire department.
and would undoubtedly cancel your
fire insurance. In built-up sections
there are ordinances and fire laws
governing the construction of CHM
neys. and YOU should follow them.
You can get information at any fire.
house.
Cracked Laundry Tub.
@. How can I mend a crack in
soapstone laundry tub?
A. Widen the crack with a screw
driver, or the handle end of a file,
to make a groove into which a patch
can be forced. Pack the groove with
soft cotton string Smeared with
white lead paste Allow several days
for drying before using the tub.
This Will work for tubs made of
concrete slabs and other materials,
as we'll as for soapstone.
Rock Wool
@. am putting rock wool bats
q inches thick and Is inches wide
in my attic floor Instructions are
to pack the bats tightly against the
Jolsts, but If I do this the thickness
Is reduced to 2i2 inches or less.
Does this cut down the insulating
effect?
A. Yes. The insulating effect of
rock wool depends on its thickness,
and packing the bats reduces it.
Instead OF this pack the spaces be-
tween the bats and the joists with
rock wool torn from an extra bait.
No Cold Water.
Q. I live on the top floor of an
apartment. When cold water is be-
ing used downstairs We get only
scaldlng hot water, which makes it
impossible to use our shower. What .
can be done about it?
A. That IS certainly a matter to
be taken up with the owners. The |
pipes throughout the house may be |
too small or they may be partly |
clogged with sediment. You have
every right to complain and to de-
mand that the condition be COR
reCted.
Steaming Windows.
@. In cold weather there is steam
and frost on my storm windows. !
which disappears only when l open
the inside windows. The storm
windows are tight. What can I do?
A. Warm and damp air from your
house finds its way around the edges ,
of your inside windows, and con- |
denses on the storm windows. This !
Will probably end when your house .
is dried out by artificial heat. Open |
ing the storm windows for half .
hour or so Will get rid of the steam
and frost.
Sticky Paint.
O. Two years ago the trim of my
cement house was painted dark
brown. The paint cid not dry hard,
but has a slight taCky feeling. My
painter says that this is because too
much pigment was used for the
quantity of lead. Do YOU think this
was the case?
A think it more likely that an
excess of oils vas used This can .
be overcome by Wiping the tacky
paint with turpentine, which Will /
have a hardening effect. Follow |
with one more coat Of the brown |
paint mixed exactly according to .
the instructions Of the white lead .
manufacturers.
Room in Attic.
G. 7 plan to build room in my
unfinished attic and want it insu-
lated against summer heat and
winter cold What do you recon- !
mend?
A. You can get good results by |
putting aluminium foil or blanket in
sllation between the rafters and .
building the walls and ceiling of the .
new room Of insulating board on
framework of 2X4s.
Attic Floor.
O. My attic now has rough board /
floor. Before putting down llnoleum, .
should We install a finished floor? /
We would like the floor to be sound |
proof.
A. You cannot make the floor |
entirely sound-proof. for some Of the /
sounds will be carried through the |
framework of the house. You can |
get good results by covering the |
present floor with half-inch insu- /
lating board, putting quarter-inch
plvwood on top. and finishing with /
linoleum. Do not use nails for any
Of this work, for they will carry |
sound. The insulating board should |
be stuck to the floor and the ply
wood stuck to the insulating board /
with asphalt cement. Linoleum |
should be cemented on top in the |
usual way.
Hot Cellar.
g. We do not get adequate heat |
from our furnace. Upstairs is cold |
while the basement is uncomfortably |
hot. What would YOU suggest?
A. If you heat by steam or hot
water you should put heavy coat |
of insulation on the boiler as we'll as /
~
heat you are not getting a proper |
flow of air through the jacket. This
may be because of distractions in
side or because the cool-air inlet is
too small Have the furnace in |
spected by competent heating man.
Editors Note: Mr.. Whitman
1rtl dnSUer as mann letters as
possible through this column. He