Heating by Steam. S& 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 HEATING BY STEAM. 



The fourth and last system is that of steam. To give 

 all the various methods advocated for steam heating 

 would of itself require a larger volume than this. For 

 this reason only a few general principles can be given, 

 leaving the builder to apply them to any particular 

 system he may choose to adopt. 



First, the boiler should have a power of at least 50 

 per cent, in .excess of what will be demanded of it in 

 all ordinary weather, and more is better. What is true 

 of this, is true of all heat generators. Time and coal 

 are largely economized by having a capacity for heat 

 far in excess of the need. For instance, if you are sat- 

 isfied a boiler costing $300 will do your work with close 

 attention, add $200 more to it and let your fire burn 

 naturally, thus reducing much coal to ashes that other- 

 wise would go out of the stoke hole in the form of coke 

 and charred coal. These rules apply in the main to 

 boilers in which a cheap grade of bituminous coal is 

 used. Having had less experience in burning anthracite 

 I cannot speak intelligently of its requirements. 



It is not uncommon for a boiler, especially if old or 

 second hand, to fail at a time when needed most, and 

 it is mistaken economy to ever set any but those newly 

 made, and in which the best of material has been used. 

 Even in this case, some prefer to insure themselves 

 against loss by setting two, each of them being of suffi- 



