10 OCTOBER 1931, Page 30

The Modern Home

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Heating—III

BY G. M. BOUM:FUREY.

THE cheapest form of central heating to instal is the " Pipe- less " system. This consists of a furnace in the basement

or on the ground-floor level and a single grating, probably in the floor of the hall, through which the hot air (humidified and purified if necessary) rises and circulates throughout the house. Since the circulation is conditioned by the general form of the building and depends largely on open doors for its efficiency, it is obviously not suited to every house. Where it is, it can be recommended as economical and satisfactory. The Warni Air system amplifies the preceding by the provision of ducts leading to gratings in each room. In cold weather the effect may he increased by using a fan to increase the cir- culation. Steam heating is not generally favoured for dwelling houses in this country. It is quick in action, but apt to make unpleasant hissing and hammering noises. It is also too hot for the most comfortable results. By far the most usual method of central heating is by hot water and radiators. These last should more properly be "called convectors," since most of the heat they produce is not radiant but convected. There is no need for their preseacato disfigure a room or take up valuable space. They can be masked behind a grating ; but they can also be obtained as flat panels which are actually built into the wall, plastered over, and then decorated so as to be completely. unnoticeable. This method is rather less efficient than with the radiators expUsed, since some of the heat is directly absorbed by the wall ; but many will think the gain in neatness justifies the extra cost.

In small houses some economy in installation can be made by using the " single pipe" system ; but, if more than three or four radiators are required, those farther away from the boiler will have to be much larger—since they will get cooler water—than those served first. In small houses, again, the system can be heated by the kitchen range or by special sitting-room grates which have a boiler at the back. But this may mean tepid water in the early mornings, unless anthracite or coke ranges, such as the " Ideal Cookanheat," which burn throughout the night, are installed. For larger houses a separate boiler is usually employed—although the " Aquaheat ' range will heat up to twenty radiators in addition to cooking and hot water. It can be said at once that coke is, at first sight, the cheapest _way of. firing these, gas at 10d; a therm costing 11 times, and electricity at 1d. 2/ times more. But first sight is not always best sight. There is the labOur cost and dust of solid fuels to be considered. Then, with coke, it is usual to bank up the furnace last thing at night—just when doors and most windows are shut and less he-at is needed. In the morning much of this heat is wasted when the house is aired. With gas and electricity, on the other hand, auto- matic time-switches and thermostats can be used to control the heat exactly, and to reduce it or cut it off entirely during certain periods. This last point is of the utmost importance where electricity is concerned, since most electric supply companies will quote extremely low rates for " power " which is only to be used at " off-peak " times—i.e., when they want to get rid of electricity to balance their output. It will be seen from these considerations that one cannot take the relative figures of coke, gas and electricity as being any true guide to the actual costs. The only thing to do is to get really expert advice from a heating specialist—and not from the village plumber. The means of hot water supply to taps is often the same as that for the central heating, or.it may be run from the kitchen range. The " Kooksjoie ' range will give an ample supply of hot water for domestic use. Many independent boilers offer a certain immint of cooking surface which may be of service in a small kitchen. -The new -" storage heaters," gas or electric, which are thermostatically controlled and heavily insulated to prevent loss of heat, are extremely economical. I have had personal experience of one, the Sunhot," and find that in a house of three people, with gas at 9d. a therm, it ....costs little . more than 4d. a day. This figure would be increased enormously if one attempted to -run even - a towel-rail or airing-'cupboard off it • but the lack can easily be met by a low-temperature electric heater of tubular form, such as the " Genii." Even. if this be left switched on permanently iwhich would be unnecessary), the cost would not exceed £2 a quarter with electricity at d. Care should be used in the piping-for storage heaters in order to get the most direct run ; but -this only bears out what I would make my strongest point : that any heating problem is very definitely one for the expert, and not for the bandy man.