1883.] 



AND HORTICULTURIST. 



231 



Greenhouse and House Gardening, 



COMMUNICATIONS. 



REMARKS ON STEAM HEATING. 



BY CHARLES BURLEV, EXETER, N. H. 



I have used steam for two winters in my green- 

 houses, in place of the hot-water system, which had 

 furnished the heat for the previous twelve years ; 

 and if my experience will be a help to those who 

 still doubt, I am disposed to add something to the 

 valuable contributions in your April and May num- 

 bers. 



I adopted the Exeter Machine Co.'s boiler, for 

 the reason that I knew of its value in heating dwell- 

 ings, public buildings, &c., in this region, where it 

 meets with unqualified approbation. I am very 

 glad to see that Mr. Evans and Mr. Simpson have 

 found this boiler and the heating by steam as easily 

 understood and managed as I have done, and I 

 ani free to say that all who adoptthe system of low 

 pressure, with the boiler and plans of piping houses 

 recommended by the experienced workmen of the 

 Exeter Company, will not be disappointed. 



The specially valuable point in the sectional 

 boiler is, as Mr. Simpson says, that more sections 

 can be added in case more heat is wanted. An- 

 other important feature should be mentioned, and 

 that is, in case of accident from improper manage- 

 ment : The sections do not explode, tearing every- 

 thing to pieces ; they simply crack, and you have 

 notice at once by the steam or water oozing out. 

 In such case the cracked section can be removed, 

 the connecting joints plugged, and the heating go 

 on till a new section is ready. With ordinary care, 

 however, such a contingency will not arise, for the 

 sections will never give out if there is sufficient 

 water in the boiler. 



My boiler has twenty-four sections, in two bat- 

 teries of twelve sections each, set over two fire 

 boxes. In moderate weather one fire will make 

 steam fast enough to heat the six houses, equal to 

 12,000 feet of glass. The second fire is lighted 

 when the weather requires it. It will readily be 

 seen that this plan of two fire boxes is specially 

 valuable in case of accident to the boiler. 



Fiv.e pounds pressure has proved in my houses 

 to be sufficient to meet the coldest temperature, 

 even at the extreme ends of the houses. Two or 



three pounds is more often the register of the 

 gauge, and the thermometer in the houses will 

 stand at 60^. I have never been able with hot 

 water pipes to raise the temperature so high in my 

 largest houses at night as with steam at five pounds 

 and less; hence I do not see the need of fifteen to 

 twenty pounds pressure, which appears to be Mr. 

 Bochman's register (see p. 105 of your April issue). 



Some of your correspondents advise the use of 

 large pipes. Under high pressure Mr. Bochman's 

 reasonsmay be good ; but for good resultsin warm, 

 as well as cold winter weather, I would prefer four 

 i-inch or i 14-inch pipes to two 2-inch pipes, the 

 cost of putting up being about the same. I think 

 the large pipes objectionable from the fact that the 

 heat cannot be kept low enough in moderate 

 weather. With four lines, instead of two, the tem- 

 perature is under better control. I have adopted, 

 as a compromise, this plan : A large main of 2-inch 

 pipe runs the entire length of the house, about 

 twelve inches from the ridge, the gradient line be- 

 ing, say ten inches in the hundred feet, downward 

 toward the extreme end, where branches of smaller 

 pipe lead to the coils and manifolds, as shown by 

 Mr. Evans on pages 102-3. (April number, G. M.) 

 These coils have alike gradient downward to the 

 inner end of the house, and hence the return water 

 is flowing freely in all, and finally drops into the 

 main drip and returns to the boiler. 



The entire series of pipes must, of course, at the 

 lowest point be some fifteen inches above the water 

 line in the boiler, thus dispensing with automatic 

 traps, &c. 



Here we have a large pipe heating the ujjper 

 part of the house, and a series of three or more 

 small pipes, which are opened or closed as occa- 

 sion requires, on the sides. The advantage of this 

 system will be apparent to any one who will look 

 into it. I believe the large pipe near the roof does 

 an important part of the heating, and is a test of the 

 idea suggested in the editorial notes of the G. M., 

 page 107. An all-important requisite is good draft. 

 Burning anthracite coal with a sluggish draft is 

 very expensive. We all know that it can be re- 

 duced by dampers ; but we must not be content 

 with anykliing short of a strong upward current 

 when occasion requires. 



