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Heating, Lighting, and Refrigeration: Chimneys-To
The first chimney in Rome was built in 1368. Chimneys did not come into general use in Europe until the seventeenth century. Formerly-and to this day in many parts of the world-fires were built on stone or earthen hearths in the center of the room, the products of combustion being allowed to escape through a hole in the middle of the roof.
The draught produced by a chimney depends upon its height and proportions. The higher the chimney, the better the draught. The flue should be about one fifth or one sixth the area of the grate.
Chimneys are the best of ventilators, hence there should be one or more extending from the bottom of the cellar and opening by means or suitable flues and fireplaces into every living room in the house.
To Prevent Dampness in Chimneys. -Let the chimney start from the bottom of the cellar, or, if built at the side of the house, from the foundation wall, and rest on a flat stone laid in water cement. This will prevent the bricks from absorbing moisture. A chimney resting on a foundation in the upper part of the house may accumulate water during a rain storm, which will saturate the bricks and communicate dampness to adjacent walls.
Chimneys-To Prevent Soot.-Mix salt freely with the mortar in which the bricks on the inside of a chimney are laid. This will cause them to attract moisture in damp weather, which will loosen the soot and cause it to fall. It will also prevent the chimney from becoming infested with chimney swallows.
To Ventilate Chimneys.-An open fireplace communicating with the chimney is an ideal ventilator; or a chimney may be built double, having two columns side by side or one within the other, one being reserved for ventilation and communicating with each room through an opening in the ceiling.
Or a double chimney may have one column within the other, the air space between the two being connected with the rooms by ventilators.