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Joseph Meehan
 
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toller wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Ray wrote:
I live in an old six-unit apartment building which is heated by
oil-burning furnace.

For most of the time on cold days, we can see a fair amount of steam
coming out of the chimney.

Obviously some heat is being lost. The question is whether this is
normal. I don't recall seeing this steam coming out of other older
buldings in our area.


Is it steam or is it a cloud - smoke. Steam is 212º or hotter.
:-)

It can't be steam, since steam is invisible, like any other gas.


Good catch.


I suspect it is just condensing water vapor. You burn
hydrocarbons and you get H²O and CO and CO² plus heat. When this
mix hits the cold air it condenses the H²O.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math