Chimneys that Smoke.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 59

Chimneys that Smoke.

There is no greater nuisance in a house than smoky chimneys, and yet, notwithstanding the advances that household science has made in these days, then* are many even of the new houses that possess chimneys of this unpleasant order. And they are so difficult do cure. Go into a road where for some reason or other the chimneys smoke, and See what a variety of chimney-pots and cowls are there. You have there an object lesson, and also, I take it. a warning to keep from dwellings in that same road. Do these cowls cure the nuisance? Not alwavs, and by no means necessarily. They may ameliorate the trouble, but in some winds there will be smoke and all its attendant troubles. A gas tiro is a complete cure, but I for one much prefer the coal tire, that purifies the air of a room, to the gas fire whirli dries and vitiates it. Be careful, therefore, when taking a house look well for all signs of smoke—und«*r the mantolpieee and over it —and make good inquiry about the habit of the chimneys. The following plan of coaling up a lire may help a little: Before ><m put on the coals, put all the lire to the front of tlie grate, and till up the cavity at the back with cinders or ashes that will be found under the grate. Then put on the coal. The gas evolved in the of Ihe coftl will 1m» absorbed by the cinders, and will render them combustible in an im-reased degree. The *»mokr will thus burnt, and you will have a hut and comparatively smokeless fire.*