Dickenson County herald. [volume] (Clintwood, Va.) 1939-195?, 1944-01-13
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Roger B. Whitman-wNU Features.
FIREPLACE CHIMNEY

Question: One of our three CHM
neys is not in use except for a Frank
lin stove set up in the living room.
Is it possible, without completely re-
building it, to convert this chimney
into fireplace chimney, to give us
a fireplace in the living room? Also,
what can be done to stop "creosote''
from running down the wallpaper on
the chimney in the room on the
third floor?
Answer: A good mason who is
familiar with chimney and fireplace
construction should be able to do
whatever is necessary to give you
fireplace. It may not take as much
rebuilding as you would suppose.
When wood burns, especially
greenwood, saps and gums become
vaporized and start up the chimney
as smoke. II the chimney is warm
to the top, these vapors pass out
without making trouble. On the 9TH
err hand, if the upper part Of the
chimney is cool the vapors condense
and turn into creosote. This may
soak through the brickwork and
come out on the plaster. It may
drip through joints in smoke pipes.
In time it will form hard lining in
the fue. An inside chimney con-
nected to a range or stove in which
there is continual fire will remain
warm. An outside chimney, with
thin walls, and connected with
stove having low fire, or one that
is only lighted occasionally, is the
commonest cause Of creosote trou-
BILE. In building a chimney the fues
should have fire clay Innings to keep
creosote from soaking into the
brickwork, and the walls of the
chimney that are exposed to weather
should be at least eight inches thick.
Coal would be a better fuel than
wood.
Oil Burner Puffs Back
Question: There is a downdraft
In my chimney, and every time I
start my oil burner it will gag and
puff back, shaking the whole house.
To overcome this I have to close
the draft control entirely. How can
I correct this condition?
Answer: There are several rea-
sons why the oil burner puffs back.
A faulty shutoff valve back Of the
nozzle in the burner, an automatic
draft control improperly adjusted or
installed in the wrong place, or too
much battling in the furnace are
some Of the possible causes. Have
an expert oil-burner serviceman
check these and other possibilities
for you. I am, Of course, taking
for granted that the chimney is
large enough and has no obstruc-
tons.
Drafty Kitchen Windows
Question: My kitchen windows
are weatherstripped, but there is a
draft on windy days. Because of
certain conditions T am unable to
place storm windows on the outside.
Could I put storm sash on the in
side?
Answer: Yes; storm sash can be
installed on the inside, and will help
to cut down the draft. You should,
however, have some way to venti-
late the kitchen.
Painting Venetian Blinds
Question: 7 should like to repaint
my venetian blinds. They face the
sun all day. Shall I use indoor or
outdoor paint?
Answer: Use a good quality,
quick-drying synthetic resin enamel.
Apply it according to directions CIV
en- on the can, and see that the sur
faces are clean and dry.
Preserving Eggs
Question: What is the method Of
preserving eggs by the use Of sill
cate Of soda?
Answer: Clean a five gallon
''stone" crock or jar and scald it
thoroughly. Boil nine quarts of wa