118 



The Florists' Review 



Dbcembeb 30, 1920 



Greenhouse Heating 



Subscribers are invited to write the 

 editor of this department with regard to 

 any details of greenhouse heating that 

 are not understood. When information 

 is desired regarding the capacity of boil- 

 ers, or the amount of radiation required 

 for a greenhouse, the needed temperatures 

 should be stated in the inquiry, as well 

 as the amount of glass in the side walls, 

 and the dimensions and general arrange- 

 ment of the greenhouses. It is often help- 

 ful, also, to have a sketch showing the 

 location of the houses. 



STEAM IN HOT WATER SYSTEM. 



I am having trouble with my heating 

 system. I have a Wilks hot water 

 boiler and it is making steam instead of 

 hot water. I just completed the plumb- 

 ing in my new greenhouse and am not 

 getting the desired results. 



The boiler is located at the east end 

 of the greenhouse, with the expansion 

 tank four or five feet higher than the 

 highest hot water point. In the boiler 

 is one 2-inch overhead flow pipe, with 

 ten returns. The flow pipe slopes down- 

 ward, the lower end having a drop of be- 

 tween six and twelve inches. A return 

 of about the same slope goes to the 

 boiler. The air valve is over the boiler 

 at the highest hot water point. What 

 can the trouble be? Have I enough 

 pipe? I should like the temperature 

 between 52 and 70 degrees, but not 

 less than 52 degrees. The greenhouse 

 is 14x100 feet. E. T. O., 111. 



The amount of glass in the ends of 

 the greenhouse is not stated, and we 

 are not sure regarding the size of the 

 return pipes. If the returns are 2-inch, 

 the radiation will be ample for a mini- 

 mum temperature of 52 degrees, even 

 with both gables exposed, in a house 

 14x100 feet. 



If the returns are 1%-inch, a mer- 

 cury generator is needed to maintain 52 

 degrees, except by quite heavy firing, 

 even with only one gable exposed. 



Under any circumstances, it is unwise 

 to attempt to feed ten return pipes, 100 

 feet in length, with one 2-inch overhead 

 flow pipe. If the returns are 1%-inch, 

 we should put. in two more 2-ineh flow 

 pipes, placing one on each plate and the 

 other under the ridge, and supply a coil 

 of four returns with the ridge flow, and 

 three returns with each of the others. 



If the returns are 2-inch, we should 

 remove two of the return pipes and use 

 them as flows, with the same arrange- 

 ment as suggested above, except that 

 there will be three returns in two coils 

 and only two in the middle coil. 



While we should prefer to start at the 

 boiler with a 3-inch flow pipe, it will 

 answer if there is a 214-inch flow port. 

 From this take off flows to run to the 

 plates. Continue it as a 2-ineh pipe to 

 connect with the flow two feet below 

 the ridge. 



Instead of placing an air valve at the 

 highest point in the system, it will be 

 better to run a small pipe from this 

 point and connect it with the pipe lead- 

 ing to the expansion tank. 



INSTALLING A SPENCER BOILER. 



I am sending a chart of our green- 

 houses. Will you tell us the best 

 method of greenhouse heating, as we are 

 -Uanging nur heating system and install- 



"Wishing You 



a Happy New Year" 





|HE spirit of the sea- 

 son prompts us to 

 express to you ap- 

 preciation of our pleasant 

 business relations during 

 the past year and to most 

 heartily wish you health 

 and prosperity for the com- 

 ing year. 



KROESCHELL BROS. CO. 



444 West Erie Street 

 CHICAOO 



