Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/731

 S N ^ N > N  V N  vOW X V ^Vv'^:^.^ Prismatic glass screen for lighting basament rooms supply system, but often this system is defective ; and, unfortunately, it is not pos- sible to determine by a cursory examination whether in any particular house it is efficient or not. The test can only be made with the kitchen fire lighted, and the water supply connected — conditions not easily realis- able in untenanted houses. The hot-water system con- sists of a boiler, set behind the kitchen range, a cylinder or cistern to carry a reserve of heated water, and the necessary piping for dis- tributing the hot water to those points where it is re- quired to be drawn off. The most common defect ^ ^If^p'*^ .. form of is an insufficient cistern or cylinder capacity. The water, say, for the bath gushes out scalding hot for a few seconds, and then rapidly falls off in temperature, making it impossible to fill the bath at the temperature one would like. See, therefore, that the cistern or cylinder is of ample size. This point can always be settled by inspection. outside reflector for lighting basement rooms or rooms that are darkened by the proximity of high walls 703 WOMAN'S HOMB At the same time, examine the piping to sec that it is not too small in diameter. The minimum size consistent with efficiency and safety is i inch diameter internally, meastir-. ing about ig inches externally. In hard-water districts, hot-water piping is subject to incrustation, and the smaller ^ the piping the more rapidly it becomes filled with the limy deposit. At first this interferes , with a free flow of water, but eventually it may block the system completely, and create the danger of explosion. The cylinder system is now fast replacing _ the cistern system, because it ensures a better reserve of hot water, and involves less risk of pipe incrustation, owing to the shorter length of pipe between boiler and reservoir. Note whether the hot-water system is provided with a safety-valve. This, if present, will be found in the piping system somewhere near the range. It should be remembered that danger of explosion may arise not only from the pipes being blocked by incrustation, but also from the temporary effects of frost. The critical time is the thaw following frost, when a rush of cold water released by the thaw enters an empty and over-heated boiler. IThe hot - water system should be carried to all baths, sinks, and lavatory basins, and at least one draw-off tap should be provided on the 1 bedroom floor for filling cans, -S^ etc. I Lighting: V Reference has already been made to the importance of every part of the house receiving a sufficiency of daylight. Dark houses usually are unhealthv houses. Not only does the pernicious germ thrive in the absence of daylight, but dark comers are apt to receive less attention from those responsible for keeping the house clean, and thus the evil becomes exaggerated. In basement houses, and houses from which daylight is excluded in certain rooms by the near presence of high walls, the difficulty may be met by the use of some form of reflector, and the would-be tenant of an otherwise desirable house may well insist on the landlord providing some efficient device for making good the deficiency of light. The sun is not always with us. Hence it is well to judge of the lightness of a given room on an average dull day. Artificial Liirhtinflr Under this heading we need only consider gas and electric light. Oil lamps do not form part of the equipment of the house ; but it may be well to remember that if lighting by oil is contemplated, low ceilings are a disadvantage, as they will inevitably blacken above the place usually occupied by the lamp. -r