Evening star., 1942-08-22
Insulation Aids
In Conservation
Of Home Fuel
Care Of Heating Plant
Also Will Increase
Its Efficiency
BY FRED H. MORHART. Jr.

Though the heat Of summer may
be expected to stay with us for
considerable time. home owners i'm
mediately should begin inspection of
their properties with a view to
proper insulation and conservation
Of fuel.
A number of hints-as we'll as
warnings-are offered today to as
sist the home owner prepare for the
future. With increasing and con-
tinued curtailment of products be-
cause of war diversions, the sooner
attention Is given to living COM
forts OF the winter the more for
tunate the occupants will be.
In addition to proper insulation,
heating plants should be given full
inspection and attention. Tenn
perature OF rooms not in regular
Use should be cut to a minimum.
yet not endanger pipe freezing. All
OF these methods will effect saw
ings and make available more ma
ter1als for war work.
Manufacturers of home insula-
Aon have been advised to send
stocks to critical East Coast areas.
With production so per cent above
last year in several cases. Wharton
Clay. National Mineral Wool Asso-
citation engineer. said "the industry
h In a good position to meet the
emergency"
Credit Restrictions Eased.
He added the association is 'urg-
ing contractors and dealers to make
1t their first order of business to
serve home owners who heat with
oil and are unable to convert to
coal This policy will apply through
out the II Eastern Seaboard States
where oil deliveries have been
halted, and also in Washington and
Oregon"
The Government recently lifted
credit restrictions and Federal
Housing Administration insured
loans are obtainable on SO months
credit extension. A seven-year pc
riod is allowed where improvements
will provide additional living quar-
ters for war workers.
Mr.. Clay declared the Government
has done its part by warning of an
impending fuel shortage and allow
ing long credit for home insu-
lation. 1t Is up to the home owner
to see that his preparations are not
too little"
Meanwhile, David Donald Leven,
petroleum economist and writer.
says both suburban and city home
owners as well as apartment tenants
can conserve fuel by cutting down
on the heating of rooms not in use
or seldom occupied.
50ee Of Heat Wasted.
He said widespread cooperation
IN the plan would be developed if
the average family realized that
about so per cent of its heat supply
is wasted He suggested home
owners learn to conserve their heat
and thus save fuel.
With copper leading the war pri-
ority list, home owners and service
men should flush the copper coils in
water heaters at regular intervals to
free them of sediment thus avoiding
clogging and damage to the heating
plant.
1t is pointed out indirect water
heaters when installed properly have
valves for blowing out scale and
sediment from the copper coils.
Failure to use these valves frequent
ly is the main reason many indirect
water heaters and water-heater
copper coils have to be replaced
often.
Another feature of insulating is
board for interior finishes which can
be obtained in variety OF pre-
designed units. These boards are
produced with beveled edges, beads
and grooves which make it possible
to create a large number of pattern
effects without the necessity of fur
ther decorating, 1t has been pointed
out.
Other suggested ways of prepar-
Ing for the bad weather and in
creased fuel saving are installation
with storm doors and windows and
weather stripping. Also there are
prepared mixtures which may be in
jected into cracks around window
joints to conserve heat.