214 WATER, HEAT, AIR, AND LIGHT IN THE HOUSE 



gasoline stove we run some of the gasoline into a "cup," 

 and there burn it to heat the vaporizer. When the 

 vaporizer is hot, we allow the liquid gasoline to enter it 

 very slowly; it is there changed to the gaseous form. Air 

 is drawn into the burner by the current of gasoline vapor, 

 and the mixture burns at the top of the burner with a 

 very hot flame, as in the case of gas. 



The use of gasoline is attended with some danger unless the stove is 

 of good construction, and unless great care is taken in handling it. 

 People think of gasoline as a liquid. They should rather think of it as 

 a gas. It boils very low (60 to 70 C.), and what seems to be only a 

 little of the liquid may give a great deal of the vapor. The vapor 

 forms a very explosive mixture with air. Reservoirs should not be 

 filled when fires are anywhere about, and if any gasoline is spilled, 

 the room should be thoroughly aired before a burning body is brought 

 into it. 



Kerosene burns with a smoky flame, and has a high boiling point 

 (150 250 C.; cf. 121); hence burners using it must have hotter 

 vaporizers and a greater air supply than gasoline burners. 



242. Electric Stoves and Heaters. The great advan- 

 tage of electric heating is leading to its use on a con- 

 stantly larger scale (cf. 157). The electric flat-iron 

 (Fig. 194, 223) requires no hot range to heat it, nor any 

 particular room for its use, but may be used wherever 

 there is an electric "outlet." The electric stove needs no 

 flue, and heats without fuel or odor. The electric heating 

 pad is far superior to the hot-water bag, for it does not 

 grow cold. But electric heating appliances, like all others, 

 require care; if overheating occurs in the circuit, there is 

 serious danger of fire (cf. 258). 



243. Hot Water and Steam Heating. The hot-air 

 furnace has been described already (cf. 67). It brings 



