Thrift in the Use of Fuel

Department of HOUSEHOLD ENGINEERING

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE

Mildred Maddocks, Director

Thrift in the Use of Fuel

All the Appliances Illustrated Have Been Tested by Us

WE do not wish to dwell on the need for more thrift in the use of fuel, because this situation was carefully surveyed for you in an article entitled "Conserve Your Fuel," which appeared last month in Good Housekeeping. It suffices at this time merely to say that greater economy is needed.

Having told you that you should not waste your fuel, we now wish to make you familiar with some appliances and devices we have found efficient in the use of fuel. You will notice the similarity in these fuel-saving devices. They are all designed with either temperature controls, or clock controls, or both. It is an interesting fact that the saving of fuel, time, and labor seems to go hand in hand with accurate cooking, which in turn produces uniform results and a saving of foodstuffs.

It is possible to control cooking and heating temperatures without the aid of automatic helps, but it is not quite so easy nor so dependable. Therefore, we advocate strongly the use of a thermometer for all cooking, for only by this means are you sure that you are not getting too high a temperature, which will mean a waste of fuel, to say nothing of poor cooking results. Even if your range has a thermometer in the door, it is well to use one inside the oven, because the temperature in the center of the oven will be higher than that registered on the door thermometer.

No doubt, cooking appliances are most important in connection with this fuel situation. There are various types of both gas and electric automatic ranges, some of which are shown on these pages. One type of gas range is supplied with a thermostatic control attached to the oven, which maintains any given temperature. When the temperature rises above a certain point, the gas supply is cut down and the temperature reduced. There are other types of gas ranges known as "fireless ranges," so called because they are constructed on the fireless cooker principle and permit of cooking on retained heat. All types of fireless ovens are very well insulated, and some have soapstones or heat retention plates in the bottom, so that after the gas is turned off, cooking will continue on the stored-up heat. The soapstone is usually covered by a baffle plate which distributes the heat evenly. Some ranges of this type have clock devices which automatically turn off the heat at any predetermined time.

In another type of gas range, there are top stove burners, provided with heavily insulated hoods which are cylindrical in shape and fit over the burners. In using this type of arrangement, the cooking is started on the burner, the gas is then turned off, the cylindrical cover is lowered, and the food continues to cook on the heat which has been put into it and is held there by the insulated cover.

Electric ranges, too, have made great strides ahead in incorporating automatic and thermostatic devices in their design in addition to well-insulated ovens. The illustration on the lower section of the opposite page to the right is part of an electric range, which shows both the automatic and thermostat controls. The disc may be set so that the current will automatically turn on by itself and will also shut off at any predetermined time. Just below the disc you will notice a scale of temperatures. It is here that the small indicator is set at any desired temperature which the oven will then maintain. When it goes above this temperature, the thermostat shuts the current off, and as soon as the temperature drops below, the electricity goes on again.

The range at the top of the page is one which is a happy combination of both gas and electricity. Both ovens are electric, while the top stove burners utilize gas. Ranges of this type may also be purchased with electric top elements instead of gas burners. The operation of the oven may be entirely automatic. The alarm hand of the clock which you see on top turns on the current, while a circuit breaker shuts it off when desired. One of these ovens is designed for broiling and baking, and the other for boiling. With any type of range it is more efficient to use the oven to the fullest—cooking whole meals in it whenever possible. But our Department of Cookery will tell you more about this in an article which will appear next month.

Where an appliance is motor-driven there is not so much danger of current wastage, because the hum of the motor is the tell-tale. But with a heating appliance there is great danger of the appliance being forgotten; and repeated over-heating results in the burning out of the heating element, thus injuring the appliance, to say little of the wastage of fuel. A signal of some sort should be provided. Tiny signal lights to be attached to the cord plug may be purchased for just this purpose. Then, too, there are special wall plates with a push button switch, a ruby light, and a socket for your heating devices.

A furnace now is not complete without an electric regulator, which not only minimizes steps to the cellar, but also minimizes the waste of fuel. Drafts are automatically opened and closed, and the coal is burned to a fine ash instead of producing clinkers which come as the result of rushing a fire. The small photograph on the lower part of this page to the left shows the clock and enclosed thermostat mechanism. This is installed in any convenient place, which in most homes would be the living-room. It is connected with a chain attached to the firebox door draft and check draft. The thermostat is set at the temperature desired by means of the arced dial just under the thermometer. The temperature setting for the night should be about ten degrees lower than the day for the purpose of conserving fuel; it is necessary, therefore, to change the dial in the morning to the day setting, and this is done by means of the alarm on the clock. The alarm hand should be set for a time about an hour before the family is to arise, so as to give the house a chance to heat up. The clock then affects only the temperature setting while the thermostat regulates the dampers.

A water heater which is automatically controlled overcomes the possibility of thoughtlessly allowing the gas to burn unnecessarily. You will notice one type of water heater control above the box on the opposite page. This is a thermostatic control which is attached to a water heater and acts as a fuel saver in that it maintains the water in the boiler at a definite temperature. A pilot light must be kept burning all the time so that when cold water entering the boiler lowers the temperature, the gas valve is released, and the gas ignites and continues to burn until the water reaches a definite temperature, when the gas valve then automatically closes. Thus, this device becomes a fuel saver because it is never permitted to burn the gas needlessly unless, of course, the water is wasted.

So that we may get a better idea of the relative values of different types of water heaters under various home conditions and in turn be better able to help you, we are asking you to answer these questions for us.

1. What is the size of your family?
2. How many bathrooms, showers, and faucets have you?
3. If you have a gas water heater, what increase in your gas bills after installation of the heater would indicate the cost of operation?
4. If you have a coal water heater, have you ever estimated the amount of coal required for water heating?
5. If you have a kerosene heater, have you ever estimated the cost of operation?
6. If you have a water-back in your kitchen range, can you bake on wash day?
7. Do you use a furnace attachment? If so, do you have difficulty in heating the house on cold days?