The Case For Heating Space By Coal Air Over Heaters

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31657, 18 April 1968, Page 19

The Case For Heating Space By Coal

Air Over Heaters

Heating experts argue that the coalburning space-heater gives the cheapest heat of any single-heating appliance on P’? market. Coal burns slowly. In some models the smoke is burnt too. The cosy and cheerful coal fire can be seen through a heat-proof glass window. The space-heater sends currents of warm air to the farthest corners of the room. It is the safest form of heating where there are old people and children. The fire can burn over-

night and unattended for 10 hours. A boiler installed behind a space-heater can supply hot water for a central heating system and provide a domestic hot water service. The space-heater is available in many different, attractive models that fit into the traditional or contemporary home with equal success. A continuous-burning space-heater or an open fire can be installed with a back boiler to provide domestic hot water. The householder then has the happy feeling that he is getting hot water at no extra

cost. But as the fire must be kept burning brightly to maintain a good supply of hot water it is usual for a fire with a boiler to use slightly more fuel. Even so, the cost of such a hot-water system is still extremely economical. And, of course, the same boiler may also provide enough hot water to heat radiators in other rooms of the house. Kitchen Boiler The other method of heating water is to install an individual boiler or water heater in the kitchen. New Zealand manufacturers are making smart and attractive boilers, well insii-

ing smart and attractive boilers, well insu-

lated and finished off in water heating for your gleaming white vitreous home consider these enamel. The kitchen questions. Will the sysboiler will keep a kit- tern provide j r ou with chen warm in winter, enough hot water for keep an airing cupboard your household ? Can it dry and provide the be combined with a cenhousewife a handy way tral heating system? of burning scraps along Will it be economical to with the coal. run? A coal-burning When considering hot appliance can usually

answer all these questions very happily. But, remember, if you want your coal fire or spaceheater to provide hot water as well you may have to buy a slightly larger appliance than would be necessary if the fire was for roomheating only.

In the United States and Canada central heating and air conditioning systems are taken for granted. When you buy a new home over there you do not consider whether to in-

before it reaches rooms, this polyurethane ducting keeps heat losses to a mere 4 per cent. The average installed cost of this heating system, complete with motor, fan, heating elements, ducting, wiring, control panel and outlet grills is $720. The manutacturer has produced an even simpler version which costs $356. This simplified ver-

carries a three-year guarantee and is readily accessable through the lower intake grill. This is how it works. The unit itself is around 6ft high. It has an intake grill down by the skirting boards and an outlet grill high up on the wall. Air is drawn through the lower grill and heated, it then flows by convection up and out through the top grill into the room.

stall central heating. You simply decide which make or model. Just as you would your refrigerator, stove or washing machine.

One heating system •—the Rolls Domestic Central Heating System —has a main unit with an electrically powered fan that draws in air from inside the house, sizes it with 10 per cent fresh air, passes it over heating elements, then blows it through ducts all around the house. It is simple but highly effective. The motor unit fits under the house whereever there is 2ft clearance, in a cupboard, or even in the eeiling. The main thing is, it fits out of sight, out of the way of children, out of hearing and, because it’s maintenance-free and self-regulating, out of mind. The warm air is carried through polyurethane ducts to adjustable grills set in the floor of every room you wish to heat. The average insulation has eight outlets. Heating costs for each room work out at about one cent an hour. This system uses polyurethane ducting. Whereas ordinary metal ducting loses up to 25 per cent of the heat generated

sion uses the same power and heating unit but instead of ducting the warm air all round the house it distributes it on either side of a central wall—usually the one between the lounge and hall. This way the main room is easily kept warm and the rest of the warm air is free to circulate through the hall to all the other rooms in the house. Like the first system it can also circulate cool, fresh air in summer and be fitted with a refrigerating unit to provide a complete airconditioning system. There is another system called the Rolls Domestic Convection Heating System. With this system individual heating units are fitted in every room, in the walls. They have to be fitted when the house is being built or renovated. But once they’re in you can forget about them. They are completely safe and approved by all fire, insurance, and electrical authorities. The only thing that could possibly go wrong—the element—

Incidentally this outlet grill can be papered or painted to match the wall so that you hardly notice it. You could reasonably expect the wall where the heater is to get warm with all that heat being generated behind it. But it does not happen that way. The manufacturer has cleverly built a second ducting system around the first. This traps any heat escaping from the main duct and carries it out through the top grill with the main flow. This way every unit of heat generated gets carried into the room and it warms up faster and more economically. This system, like all the others, qualifies for a special discount of 10 per cent from most power boards if it is permanently connected to the “ripple” system (the same system that controls your water heater). Heating costs will again be about one cent an hour a room. The cost of these Rolls Convection Heating Units is just $46 each. Five would cost $225. .