The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
Care And Repair Of The House
Altitude Gage.
The red, or stationary hand, of the dial, or altitude gage, on top of hot-water boilers, is generally set at the proper elevation mark for that particular system, and the black hand should be kept at that point for best results. If the black hand does not cover the red hand when the system is properly filled, the latter, which is merely a marker, may be moved to its proper position by removing the glass face from the dial.
Steam-Heating Boilers.
In steam-heating boilers keep the boiler filled with water to the center of the water gauge glass.
Instruction Card.
A printed instruction card, furnished by the manufacturer of the boiler, should be hung near it, and the instructions should be carefully followed.
2. INSULATING HOT-WATER AND STEAM-HEATING SYSTEMS
Insulating, or covering the boiler and pipes of a heating system, is done to increase the efficiency of the system and to reduce the cost of operation.
It has been found that the heat loss from bare or improperly insulated pipes and boiler may amount to 15 per cent to 25 per cent of the boiler capacity, and that a good covering will save from 80 per cent to 95 per cent of bare surface losses.
The small percentage of heat which escapes through the insulating material, combined with radiation from the doors and other exposed parts of the boiler, will be sufficient in many cases to warm the cellar, especially if it is well constructed and the doors and windows are properly weatherproofed.
Extent of Insulation.
The extent of covering is governed principally by the type of heating system and existing conditions in individual cases. It is generally agreed that, in any case, it is well to cover at least the boiler and the pipes through which water is distributed to the radiators. The advisability of covering the return pipes depends on the type of system and the amount of heat desired in the cellar.
Covering the return pipes of hot-water heating systems is recommended so that the water may be returned to the boiler with a minimum heat loss. In vacuum and vapor steam-heating systems, it is considered better to leave the return pipes bare, to aid in the condensation of any steam which might escape into the returns through defective thermostatic traps.
