Any steam guys in Milwaukee?

Nick S

Hey guys, just curious if there are any residential steam guys in Milwaukee, WI. I have a customer with a steamer serving the second floor of his home. It works, but the wiring is a basket case, and the controls and piping do not look right to me. This is the first steam boiler I have come across in a residence, and I really don't know enough about it to mess with it. Thanks.

nicholas bonham-carter

dairyland steamer

maybe someone will have a contact for you, but in the meantime, why not post some pictures of the boiler, and piping, with make, and model.

if anyfault in the piping sticks out, we will see it. symptoms would be useful as well.--nbc

Nick S

Sorry no pics

Sorry, I never think to take pictures until I'm gone. The boiler is a newer Burnham natural gas unit. I say newer because it has a smart valve in it, but it is probably over 15 years old. The piping is copper off the top which I always heard is not right. The glass tube on the side is really nasty and you can't really see water in it, so I have to think the rest of the boiler is pretty fouled. While I was there, the owner started manually adding water because the water level was not visible in the site glass. By the time the water was visible, water was pouring out in to the burners! I have to assume that isn't right. My guess is there is a hole in the top of the heat exchanger, but I didn't know if there was a device to keep you from overfilling the boiler. If there is a hole, steam would be going up the chimney, right?

Ross_7

Darn! I wish I was down there!

I'm in Marquette,MI. I wish that I was in your area! Maybe you could post some pics in the near future. Is this one pipe or two pipe?

The Steam Whisperer (Formerly Boilerpro)

I'm probably the closest

and I serve Chicago metro.    Milwaukee would be about 2.25 hours one way from me.    It sure does sound like you have a hole in that boiler, though, and it will need replacement.

Nick S

Important detail

Duh, I forgot to mention one important detail. The house was frozen at some point. The first floor was served by a hot water system that was replaced with a forced air system (not by me) due to cracked radiators and boiler. Apparently steam boilers don't like to freeze either. Thanks Guys.