Q. I have recently had a job of plumbing completed here. Have in kitchen a 40-gallon galvanized-iron boiler; the cold supply comes to within twelve inches of bottom of boiler. The connections to water-back have proper slope; the circulation-pipe from second story connects into cold supply from boiler to water-back; the connections from boiler to water-back and entire system of hot water and circulation-pipes are 3/4 -inch pipe.

The range first put in was a portable one, with a small water-front made for 5/8-inch connections. With this we could get water barely warm. This range was then taken out and a larger one substituted, having a large water-front made for 3/4-inch connections. This gives us plenty of warm water, but no hot water. In several houses here the same trouble is complained of. Is there any way to get hot water from a portable range with a portable water-front unless a pipe-coil is put in in addition?

A. The water-back may be too small, or it may be located too low in the range to get the heat from the fire, or it may be covered with ashes and clinkers. There are portable ranges made with water-backs of ample heating capacity to heat the water in a 40-gallon boiler, unless the family use an unusual amount.