HELP!

PC

A couple of heating seasons ago I asked for help to look for someone who knew steam in our area and was familiar with old systems. Had a contractor out from a mechanical company who does some large installations but, I'm still searching for someone who KNOWS old steam and can help me get things right. I won't go into the story of what's happened so far to save time... I can fill someone in if they're curious.

I'm in Michigan located 1/2 hour northwest of Ann Arbor... 45 minutes east of Lansing.

It's an old US Radiator retro-fitted with a Budco gas burner one-pipe steam system in an 1850 historical home.

Many thanks in advance for advice

nicholas bonham-carter

1850 steam

first, do you have a copy of "the lost art of steam heating" to show any contractor you may meet?

maybe someone at the plumbing supply houses listed below, or the union hall, knows of a retired steam pro who could assist?



if i were in your shoes, i would first buy a good low pressure gauge [gaugestore.com 0-3 PSI], and have it installed with a new brass pigtail, all together with whatever pressure control you now have [leaving room for for the inevitable future vaporstat installation]. as many problems arise from over-pressure, you would then be able to see what pressure you have.

why not list the symptoms you experience anyway, and the suggestions here may point even a knucklehead in the right direction. pictures of the boiler and piping are worth a thousand words!--nbc

when i did a search on the peerless boiler website, i found the following:

[u][color=#810081]http://www.peerlessboilers.com/Default.aspx?TabId=171[/color][/u]

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18536 Plainview

Detroit, MI 48219

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LA RIDDLE

119 JACKSON INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

ANN ARBOR, MI 48103

Washtenaw County P:               734-995-3500         734-995-3500

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Contact this Distributor for a Peerless installer in your area.19.3 milesHARRISON PIPING SUPPLY



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DAWN BANNASCH

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DETROIT, MI 48227

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DONALD HOULAHAN

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JACKSON, MI 49202

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AMBER SHEEHAN

32571 STEPHENSON HIGHWAY

MADISON HEIGHTS, MI 48071

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MAUMEE, OH 43537

Lucas County P:               419-893-1043         419-893-1043

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Lucas County P:               419-482-0733         419-482-0733

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Unknown

Steam Heating in Michigan

Hi-

    First of all you might want to put you posts in the "Strictly Steam" section as they are more likely to be seen by steam people who come on this site

.  Finding a steam pro in Michigan maybe a bit of a problem. There was someone from Detroit in the "Strictly Steam" section recently who was looking for a steam pro and so far wasn't having much luck.  You might want to ask Gerry Gill in Clevland, (look under "Find a Professional" above) as he might know someone in your area.  Also you might want to check will hydronic heating  suppliers in your area and they maybe able to recommend someone who knows steam heating.



Actually the best approach is to learn about steam heating yourself. It's fairly easy to learn. Do you have Dan's books on steam heating? If you don't, I would strongly suggest that reading them is a very good place to start. I'd read "We Got Steam Heat" first  and then read "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" . You can get them as a package "The Steamy Deal"  Here's the link:

http://www.heatinghelp.com/products/Super-Deals/14/129/A-Steamy-Deal

They're easy reading, humorous, written for the homeowner, and will tell you all you need to know about residential steam heating systems. Dan explains things very well and includes lots of illustrations and pictures.



I'm a homeowner myself and have an old (1757) house (1 pipe steam) in Maine. Here there are good plumbers and good "burner men" but very few "steam pros" and none close by.  I went through several years of  different local guys trying to straighten out my steam system with no luck.  in frustration I decided to learn about steam myself and luckily found this site and Dan's books.  I was able to do most of the fixing myself and for the heavier work got a good plumber who would work under my direction. One of the big benefits of reading the books is that you now have the knowledge to quickly determine whether the person you are talking to actually understands steam and that helps you sort out the incompetent.

Between the book reading and the helpful pros on this board, who will answer any questions you have, you should be able to quickly get your steam system straightened out.

- Rod



Edit:  NBC brought up a really good suggestion for finding a steam pro, that rather than the hydronics supplier, try through the boiler manufacturer. I'd still read "The Books" first as I've run across a few of the "recommended" installers (of another boiler manufacturer)  and wasn't overly impressed with their knowledge about steam.

Jamie Hall

Totally agree

with Rod.  Your best bet may be to find a really good (probably older, but not at all necessarily) plumber who is willing to learn, and get yourself the complete set of Dan's books (A Steamy Deal) and learn about steam and your system.  That's what I did (I'm a building superintendent, caring for a National Register house/museum with a vapour steam system) about 6 years ago, and it has worked out very well indeed.  When questions come up, the folks here on the Wall are very very helpful -- particularly if you have done your own homework.  Steam is not hard!  Most of it is really common sense.

If you can get in touch with Gerry Gill, he's one of the best around -- but I'm afraid Cleveland may be a little far...