Evening star., 1944-01-28
Coal burning Fireplace

With our normally abundant
natural resources stretched to the
limit to meet vital abnormal war
time conditions, 1t Is essential that
every ton Of coal-like every unit
Of many other odities-be util-
tied with maximum effectiveness.
Each home can stretch It's anthra-
cite supply by keeping the heating
plant clean and in good repair, by
learning how to fire and bank cor
rectly, and by maintaining lower
temperatures than in the past.
The last does not mean that we
need be cold and uncomfortable, or
that we must jeopardize our health.
For, If the house has fireplace and
a suitable crate, one room can be
kept snug and cozy at all times,
while the furnace or boiler is banked
and the rest of the household held
at lower temperatures.
The coal savings possible with
coal fireplace CRATE also will be ap-
parent during the "in-between"
weather of early spring. Then, when
days are often warm and nights cool,
the heating plant can be shut down
and the house kept comfortable with
the fashioned family hearth.
To many, the words hearth" and
fireplace" conjure up picture Of a
roaring wood fire at Thanksgiving,
Christmas, New Year and on other
more or less special occasions. AL
though such fires undoubtedly are
picturesque and need only pair Of
andirons in the fireplace, they not
only are inefficient but also require
almost constant attention If they
are maintained for any length of
time.
Other fuels - charcoal. camel
coal or ahthracite-to be burned
successfully in a fireplace must be
placed in special CRATE.
There are two principal types of
fireplace CRATES for coal-the basket
and the vertical. Basket CRATES, the
original and commonest type, are
made of cast iron (now difficult to
find), scrap iron, ceramics. glass,
cast concrete and combinations OF
those materials. Many of these war
time models, which are reaching the
market in ever-increasing quantl-
ties, are sturdy and will give excel
lent service. They are sold by de-
partment, furniture and hardware
stores, heating and ventilating shops
and some coal dealers, and range in
price from about S. to $50. Before
buying a basket CRATE, be sure to
measure the width of your fireplace,
so that, If possible, you will get one
that extends from wall to wall
about which, more later.
A second type of fireplace CRATE,
comparatively new IN this country,
but based on principle used in
England for several years, Is the
vertical model. Built of cast iron,
1t has an open grille front, while
the other three sides are made OF
friedrich set in the CRATE frame. 1t
Is 81 inches high, "a inches wide
and 6 inches deep and is fitted with
movable CRATES at the bottom
through which the ashes are re-
moved by shaking.
Regardless OF the type of fireplace
crate finally selected, there are sew
eral important steps which must be
taken to insure that it gives maxi
mum performance and satisfaction.
Perhaps the most important item,
and one that seems to give trouble
to many householders, is the matter
Of draft. AS mentioned previously,
If it is at all possible to obtain one,
the CRATE should extend from wall
to wall of the fireplace and fit it
snugly. In that way, and provided
It Is set against the back wall, most
of the air will be directed through
the bottom of the CRATE and the fire
will start easily and quickly.
Next, look to the chimney and
chimney damper. II, as is true in
most modern homes, there are sep
arate f1ues for the heating plant
and for the fireplace, when starting
a fire in the fireplace CRATE you
should open the chimney damper
wide. Then, holding sheets of burn
ing newspaper like torches, insert
them in the chimney flue to preheat
the chimney and remove the column
of cold air-you can tell when that
has been accomplished by the way
the paper burns. If your heating !
plant and fireplace have a common !
flue, and there is fire in the former,
it will not be necessary to preheat {
the chimney, as it already is warm. .
However, fireplace results with a
common flue are not as satisfactory ,
as when the fues are separate.
With the fireplace CRATE in posi-
ton and the chimney damper open
wide, you now are ready to start the
fire. Practically fill the CRATE with