DO you remeber your first post?

S Ebels

I will never forget that one post he had that contained the line; "nude, I am no longer in demand".

I thought I was going to pass right clean away I was laughing so hard.

leo g_13

I believe

it was the chap whom Glenn Stanton replaced (was that Jim?) that put me on to this site during a Burnham training session.

I think I introduced myself and mentioned that I was from Canada. One of the best replies I got was from GrandPAH, (Dave Yates) who asked if I could ship down a truckload of regular flush toilets!

(Well Dave, it aint possible anymore, as the low flush scourge has hit my area also)

Anywho, anyone else remember their first run at the Wall?

Leo G

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[Deleted User]

Boy howdy...

I remember a now magazine columnist, who shall remain nameless, cutting loose with a verbal slashing of his former employer. He was taking FULL advantage of Dan's offer to "say what's on your mind."

I'm pretty sure it was the first post Dan ever had to yank. Fairly caustic to say the least:-) I think my first post was in response to his and something to the effect of "WOW, ain't never seen anything that ugly on the internet", or something to that effect.

Shortly thereafter, JJ McGough dropped in and let us have it for the first time. It really was a cross between a college class room and a bar room brawl... Long time past and a few gabazillion key strokes since then eh...

Memories, some good, some not so good, but mostly great comraderies built on this site.

ME

Unknown

This content has been removed.

Leo

Mine

My first post here was an oil burner question on a WM boiler. It was before I found Oil Tech Talk. I have been coming here ever sense. Mark remember when Dan shut the
Wall down?

Leo

JohnNY

My first posts were obnoxious. Dan took away the old Wall slogan: something about it being a cross between a classroom and a biker bar. At the time, I really took the biker bar thing to heart.

Then Dan pulled me aside and asked me not to be such an **** (not his exact words, but the message was clear).

Since then, I've bought a couple of ads and gained a healthy respect for Dan and his efforts put forth here.

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Alan(OnVacationInOregon)Forbes

I remember

that Leo; some guy put some porn on the site and The Wall disappearead for awhile.

We've had some real characters: Ken Secor, Jeff Young, Mike Kraft, Tinman, Chuck Shaw when he was Old Yankee Plumbing & Heating, John Ruhnke, GaryUK, JayC who used to find all the links for us, Tankless, David Van Wickler, Mark Eatherton....

"I'm just a simple hot water plumber roaming the plains of Colorado....looking for potatoes...."

hotrod who lives on Know It All Lane (how are you going to argue with a guy who lives there?), Joe Buchas, jsacks, Mark Hunt and his sweet brother, Mike.

We will have to make some more memories.

Brian (Tankless)

www.DanHolohan.com

as it was then, was THE only place where one could find Heating Help.

I thought a tankless heater & boiler were the same thing

In 1997, I was freshly divorced and in very bad emotional shape. The two Noel's, HB, Sir Alan, Dawn, ME, Dan, DVW, JR, GUK, Ken.C, David B., Cheese, Bill N. and many others, helped me through the worst time of my life. Thanks guys & Girls.

Ken called me "Laddie", Alan bought his 1st Takagi Mobius from me, JJ found a way to put porno on my screen (my Autumn asked many questions after that).

Nine years, seems like yesterday (I feel like a founding member:).

Bedtime for Bonzo in crazyweather Swamplamd.

B. Tice

Olden days

I wonder what ever happened to some of these Guys like JayC?

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Wayco Wayne_2

Wow!

I don't remember my first post, but I remember calling myself Wayco Wayne, because my company name is Wayco. I never thought it would stick. Everybody thought I was from Texas. (I'm from MD) I had been putting in radiant floors for years at the time, and thought I was the S---. Boy did I find out fast how little I knew. Everyone was so helpful it helped me raise my game a tremendous amount. Some guy from Colorado who taught classes sent me a spread sheet to calculate fluid volume for glycol in a system. I still use it today. Thanks Mark. The pictures of the piping and boiler systems made me ashamed of my own piping and I took steps to make them more presentable. I can honestly say the help I received here has been priceless. I remember when the Wall shut down. Dark days of Mordor they was. WW

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David Sutton_6

Memorys.lalala

i remember finding this site just surfing the net, i would come here and read, alot, i loved reading all the great stuff about steam, anything that steamhead would write i read twice to make sure i understood it, a few months latter i finaly got the nerve to post a picture of a steam boiler i did ,and the first responce was from steamhead, i saw the reponce and was scared to death to scroll down to read it, he said that it was a great job and realy liked the 6" drop header( phew was i relived )and that the near boiler piping was neat and right. ....David

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Unknown

Leo

Yes that would have been Jim Roche! A true gentleman indeed and let me tell you that he had some real big shoes to fill.

I remember my first post as shortly afterward I received an e-mail from Dan welcoming me. I also recall him stating in that e-mail that there were some incredibly smart folks hanging out here. I also recall him informing me that this was a good place to establish credibility but on the other side of the coin, an easy place to lose it as well! I've always kept that in mind when I post here and always will!



Glenn Stanton

Burnham Hydronics

DanHolohan

Hard to believe

it's been nine years.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

It was titled, "Where's the Damanage from Condensation".

Kevin O. Pulver

Glad to hear

that I'm not the only one who has gotten in trouble with his content. I feel like I'm in good company. I don't remember my first post, but it would have had to do with some technical aspect of installation. (as most do I guess)
I do remember one post because Dan put it in PM. I had asked if RV antifreeze was OK to use in floors. I got a good answer, lightning fast, and lots of teasing by my wholesaler about being a "published author." I told him anyone willing to show their ignorance is fair game for publication. Thanks for all the help guys. Kevin

Steamhead (in transit)

I think I remember that one, David

bet that customer was real happy with the way it worked! Thanks for the kind words.

I don't remember what I first posted about, but I remembered having to come up with a nickname since there were a bunch of others named Frank who were already here. Since steam heat is my thing, I came up with "Steamhead" and the rest is history.

"Steamhead"

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John Starcher_4

Holy cow!!!!

Did this ever bring back some memories!!!!!!

I remember it all - (well, all except my first post) the epiphany of finding this place (John Barba told us about it in the very first Wirsbo mini-camp I ever attended), the awe I felt reading the posts of so many people who were sooooooooooo much smarter than me, and the feeling of camraderie.

I also remember the dark day when the wall came tumblin' down after the porn postings. One of the saddest days of my life. It did cause the birth, however, of Area51Hvac, and my meeting Tom, the Wiz, and the Cap'n, so some good did come out of it.

One of the best days of my career was the day the wall came back. I felt like I had found home again after being lost in the woods.

Thanks for reminding me of it all.................

Starch

ScottMP

I missed out

on the early stuff, I came around about five years ago and was a lurker for a long time. All I could think was " I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy ".

A young guy who's name I think was Matt (?)or was it Mark, was the first to reach out and say hello. I think he still lurks here once in awhile. Then some how I got caught up with Hunt and Cheese and all the rest.

I have made some long term friendships here that will last my lifetime.

My first post ??? I have NO IDEA

Scott

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Robert O'Connor_12

My first??

Funny I was just at a job were I belive my first post may have been about. We did this building around six?? years ago. Lost the maintenence contract, then I just got it back.

My first Buderus. The "Wall" was a great help to me for I had never even heard of the brand before. I was asked if I could post pic's, but had no camera.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Bill Nye_2

Don't remember exactly

But, we didn't have a computer at home and my wife worked at a public library. I never used a computer and never ever typed a single word. The first site I ever went to was heating help .com , or whatever it was called then. I had my wife look it up for me.

I remember typing with all capital letters, the caps lock was on , I didn't know. I remember typing for 15 to 20 agonizing minutes and losing my post aaaaaaaarrrrrgggghhh!

I quickly got pinned with the "not the science guy" handle. The biggest memory was meeting everyone from the wall for the first time in Providence at the RPA convention.

Then three wetstocks. I have made some very good friendships and have gained a great deal of knowledge here at the wall and at OTT and the old A51.

I almost have learned to type, I have bought several books from Dan's reading list. I would have to say I am a much better person and technician from time spent here at the wall.

I went through withdrawal once when my computer crashed.

Dave Yates (PAH)

What? No 3.5's in CA?

Our youngest is enjoying Spring Break in Canada - as we speak. That'll teach you to keep the border open(G). Gee, I wonder why the allure of Canada and Niagara Falls? Methinks it might just have something to do with the minimum age laws for adult beverages!

First post? At my age I'm lucky to remember what I did yesterday or, for that matter, a few minutes ago!

I remember getting an e-mail from Dan inviting me to visit The Wall when it first opened. I think there were something like four or five posts on The Wall & I jumped in not knowing it would become one of the most addictive things in my life.

The olde saloon slug-fests were something to behold and kept me glued to the screen more than a few times. My family thought I'd gone bonkers and needed to attend an internet counseling service to "get off that damned thing!" I read posts that educated, made me laugh till tears streamed down my cheeks, made me think so hard my head hurt, irritated me, and ones that brought tears of joy or sorrow as we shared life together.

It wasn't unusual to post at 2 or 3 AM and see an instant reply! Insomniac wethead theater? Unfortunately, that much freedom of speech couldn't be handled by a few and one in particular, so The Wall evolved and then died for a bit when one jerk decided to post porn.

The original PAH who signed on as Plumber at Heart to give us wetheads hell for liking hydronics instead of scorched air caused quite a stir. Sadly, he (or she) never returned for the drubbing we were willing to give freely(G). To stir things up when The Wall got slow, I'd sign in as PAH and razz everyone, myself included (to cover my tracks), and we'd have a lively time.

Mike Luttrell would obfusticate from time to time. Ken would go nuts over PEX and Flat Rate.

Occasionally, Sheriff Dan would find it necessary to ban an individual who strayed too far outside decorum box.

The great April Fools Day event when The Wall went completely over to scorched air! I laughed so hard, I ended up with what's called chest wall pain. As far as I know, Tickles the cat remains lost in a duct system. Darn near got me banished from The Wall!

We all got to meet more new old friends than, I think, any of us ever imagined existed. A comforting well of expertise and knowledge from which to draw or give and work to view I find truely humbling. Someday I'll get as good as HB - maybe. Life's triumphs and pitfalls shared and support whenever needed in times of trouble. Life, birth, death and everything in between - all of it sandwiched between hydronic things and wrapped with TLC. A gift.



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John Starcher_4

Ahhhhh.....

....the old April Fools Day prank.

I remember it like it was yesterday, Dave. I don't care what anyone says, that was some funny stuff right there!!!

Starch

JackFre

No...but I know I made one!

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Excuse that typo!

"Where's the Damage from Condensation"!

Finally got the nerve to post after months of lurking. I'd read all of Dan's articles in Old House Journal and somehow found out how to buy his books along with nearly everything else I could find on hydronic systems old and new.

"Condensation in boilers" was a hot topic back then...

Was determined to bring my gravity system into the modern world after seeing a 1900 (yes 1900) system that had proportional control (pneumatic) in every room with extra-special control for baths.

"Discovered" TRVs via Dan's books. Still remember him saying something along the line of "Why don't more people use them?"

Got my TRVs without problem even if I did have to wait months for the special setback versions to be shipped from Denmark.

Could not though find the "simple, inexpensive differential pressure bypass valve". ZERO help locally.

Called the number in one of Dan's books, told the lady who answered (the lovely Maryann?) I was looking for the simple, inexpensive valve and she transferred me to Dan the man. I was shocked! Dan told me they were made by a division of Honeywell named Braukman. Had to find it myself in the supply house books, but got it. At least I didn't have to wait quite as long as the TRVs from Denmark...

Bob Sweet

The Mecca of wet heat and then some.

Still relatively new to the "Wall", about 18 months worth, but from my first post to my latest, the willingness to give knowledge (and spirited debate) from some of the best in the business, is what keeps me coming back. Very much appreciated, Thanks.

jwade55_2

I remember.

I went searching for a place to purchase "Primary Secondary" and found the wall, sometime in the 1999-2000 range. I think my first post had something to do with geothermal, and radiant, I remember that project... If I only knew then...well I guess I don't know much now either;<) All this gushing, sounds the makings of another wetstock?

J

Larry (from OSHA)

wow, so much history

I got on the Wall a few years ago as (can I say this) "a mere homeowner" (humble regards to our friend Constantine) with some questions about improving system efficiency. For me, this site has been not only educational but exceedingly addicting. As a resource that ordinary folks seek out to solve problems or get answers to various questions, this place I believe has no equal. Starting out by not having a clue to what pumping away was to attending the last Wet Stock and having one of the best days I can remember says much of the people who are here and of Dan the visionary creator of this place.

My first post? Doesn't matter. Everything between then and now has added to my life in a positive way. What more could I say.....

Larry

Mike Kraft_2

Remember...........

cant even remember what I had for breakfast this morning!But have made some special friends and learned more.

cheese

S Ebels

Scott

Sorry pal, but you're still not worthy (GRIN!!!)))
Arrrrrggggghhh! Now where's the lobsta?




I have to say that were it not for the Wall, I wouldn't know 25% of what I do today regarding hydronics. No make that 10%. I don't recall my first post but there are many that stick in my mind............ Geepers.........I don't know if I can do this without tearing up............ here goes.

I ran across a Plumbing and Mechanical magazine somewhere and it had a little blurb about Heating Help.com in it. I had just purchased internet service and decided to ping the site and see what was there. Hydronic heat just made so much sense to me from a mechanical efficiency viewpoint but I knew next to nothing about it, let alone how to design and install a system. The state mechanical and boiler tests were just a year or so in my past and I was still wet behind the ears having just gotten into the trade full time in 1997.

I can't believe how ignorant I was about everything and anything to do with hydronics.........

But I lurked and someone mentioned Siggy's book Modern Hydronic Heating. I bought a copy for something like $67.00 and read it through about 6 times. I thought, Holy Crap! this is the stuff a lot of the guys on that website are talking about, and suddenly a lot of pieces started to click together. I became an addict to the knowledge that was freely dispensed here and more than once, my awesome wife has poked her head in the office and said "Can't you shut that thing off and come to bed with me just once this week?" (So far Dan, our marriage has survived, but if she leaves me, it'll be your fault!!)

I remember thinking how cool it was that people freely asked others (strangers) to pray for them.

I remember Dan asking me if he could use a two pipe primary secondary system I had done in an article for P&M magazine. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. No-one had ever recognized anything I did as being worthy of attention and here this guy was going to write an article about my work. Kath had to keep deflating my head so I could get in and out of the house. Truth be known, that was only the 5th or 6th complete install I had done in my life, and it went great because of what I learned here. That system is now 4 or 5 years old and has functioned perfectly. In fact, I just checked it over a couple weeks ago and the Buderus was just purring, the tenants there still don't run out of hot water and it still heats 6,000 sq ft very economically.

I remember my first attempt at a large bore copper job.............what a mess. I had never soldered anything larger than 1 1/4" and I decided to try and help out a local private school by repiping their boiler room. Some Oatey flux that had chemically separated and my total lack of experience with 4" copper led to a complete and total carnage. Wish I had all that scrap copper at today's prices........

Paul Pollets encouraged me to "stop fighting it" (his exact words) after what seemed like my 10th post on the subject of soldering large bore tube. I took his advice and redid the whole job with Vic and steel pipe and have been a believer in mechanical joints ever since. Did I lose my butt on the job? YES! Did I learn something? YES!
Does it all come out in the wash? YES! A year or so later I got a job that required running about 1,400 ft of steel, 2" through 3" and I never would have taken it if not for that learning experience and the help I got from the Wall.

Then there was John Hall. I posted a request for help to gather money and parts for the replacement of a heating system. It was for the widow of a friend who was electrocuted while at work. They had three kids and Sandy was 4 months pregnant. Our church had taken up the responsibilty of remodeling her house. Donations came in from all over the USA, to the tune of around $4,800 if I recall. As Providence would have it, I had just met Jim French at a Buderus meeting out east and he had given me his card, saying to call if I ever needed anything. Long story short, Sandy has a house full of Buderus panel rads, a Buderus boiler and indirect which is all working very nicely. This great system cost her about 10% of what it normally would have thanks to the Wall and the people that live here. John Hall latched onto this story and came up to do an article about it for The News. The rotten begger even contacted the local TV station and had them come out and do an on camera interview with me regarding the project. I'll never forgive you John!!

I just can't believe to this day that I know and have met many of the guys that hang out here. I can't believe that someone like me, from a town of 250 people in the hydronic backwater called Michigan, can call a lot of these guys friends. Oh Brother! I'm starting to get all misty eyed.........

Anyway, before I drown my keyboard, I'd just like to say a simple and heartflet Thank You!, to all that inhabit this wonderful place. Thanks for sharing my struggles as I learned from the ground up. The Wallies are the only source of hydronic instruction I ever had. Thanks to Dan for having the foresight to provide this special place. Thanks to all for putting up with me and my ignorance to this day. Thanks for allowing me to be part of this group. Thanks to those of you who number me on your list of friends. That really feels good.............Gotta go wipe my eyes and finish a quote yet tonight.

Just........ Thanks, from the bottom of my heart.

hr

Back in the day...

I miss some of the early posters. Duncan was always a class act. Remember Sven who could find all types of www info in a millisecond. Bay area Bill Clinton, PaulD @ S8610U, Mr Pex, a few smart Dales. Not to forget colorful Frank from Philly

"What a long strange trip it's been" fun and enlightening to boot

hot rod

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Bill Nye_2

CHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

I miss Cheese , and Felcie, and Sheriff Murph' and Phrank phrom phillie and Ken

ed wallace

1st post

was in 2001 dont remember what my 1st post was about just remembered it helped me out went to wetstock ! meet some great people starting with Dan, mad dog, murph,paul lessard,bill nye,gary wallace who accussed me of stealing his name and many more great people i hope this site is around in another 50 yrs thank you Dan

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Alan(OnVacationInOregon)Forbes

Phrank

That's the guy I was trying to think of; thanks Bill. He was so funny the way he could tell a story. I don't think he was in hydronics, was he?

John R. Hall

Steve

I made you the famous person that you are today. There is no bigger giant in the Cadillac, Michigan area than you, my friend.

I could write a lot of words about the many fine people I've met here but you know who you are. The Wall has been a valuable source of knowledge and friendship for me. You good folks have embraced, err, tolerated an interloper from the scorched air biz and have shown that both industries work well together. All it takes is professionalism and the desire to serve your customers.

Throw in the fact that Wallies care about their families and their friends -- and it doesn't get any better.

Thanks Dan.

Bill Nye_2

Alan

Yes Frank was/is into hydronics and plumbing and he also did electricity.

S Ebels

This is a joke right?

"I made you the famous person that you are today. There is no bigger giant in the Cadillac, Michigan area than you, my friend."

RRrriiiiiiiiiiiight!

I'm about as famous as the rock in my back yard.

Thanks John, I love ya and if your ever up North here, give me jingle. We'll do lunch or something like that.

PS: Remember to fill up

[Deleted User]

Phrank was/is...

a WIZARD on the older electrical systems serving Philly. I've saved some of his posts from different sites over the years. He's still around. I see him pop up every once in a while at Service Round Table.

He just let his Christian beliefs get into the way of his hydronic beliefs. We've all got them, but this isn't the appropriate forum for discussing them, and he didn't understand that.

He had a way with words that caused me to laugh myself into tears on many occasions tho... You could hear the mans voice in his typing:-)

ME

jackchips_2

Not sure of

the year but it was right around Wetstock 1 in Marlborough, MA. To this day I regret not attending as I live only a half hour away. I just wish I had found the site sooner especially where I had attended one of Dan's seminars in Worcester earlier.

My post was a question on my pool heater which was piped through a heat exchanger and after a brief description of the problem I had replies from Pah, hotrod and ME.

Problem solved, pool heated, one happy wife.

Jack

Paul Pollets

Whatever happened to..

Ken Secor??

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John R. Hall

Ken is

wandering the woods of Vermont, last I heard.

Dave Yates (PAH)

Sasquach

Rumor has it sightings are much more numerous following his move!

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