Homeowner needs a "steam man" badly.

KC_Jones

I am posting this to bring more attention to the troubles of another homeowner on this site. Please see the following post. Is there anyone close enough to Buffalo to help this person? Or possibly know someone up there that could help? See their latest comment, they just want a pro to fix it. http://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/147914/please-help-with-banging-steam-pipes#latest

Steamhead

Well, I've told him I could come up and consult, but due to licensing issues he'd probably have to have someone local to actually do the work. Surely there's someone in the Buffalo area who can work with black steel pipe?

nicholas bonham-carter

What we need is a rapid response team, driving in a van (driven by Dan, and others) made out of an old boiler, and sponsored by various manufactures of steam boilers, vents, pressuretrols,etc.
In this case the team would go to buffalo, and diagnose the system problems , and get one of the local fitters on the right track.--NBC

nicholas bonham-carter

Naturally, a television show would be incorporated in this.--NBC

KC_Jones

Steamhead said:

Well, I've told him I could come up and consult, but due to licensing issues he'd probably have to have someone local to actually do the work. Surely there's someone in the Buffalo area who can work with black steel pipe?

Just to clarify (I am assuming you have done this before) you would essentially direct the project and have a local contractor turn the pipe? Perhaps that wasn't clear to them? @cbscinta1

KC_Jones

nicholas bonham-carter said:

Naturally, a television show would be incorporated in this.--NBC

I'd watch it....considering all the garbage home improvement shows there are this would be a refreshing change!

KC_Jones

I got curious so I did the find a contractor and Gerry Gill is actually the closest to him, but even he is 3 hours away.

ChicagoCooperator

I'd watch it too!

KC_Jones

I hope they are holding up okay in Buffalo. They are really getting hammered up there! Sending my thoughts and prayers their way.

cbscinta1

Hello, I am the guy in Buffalo that needs a steam man. Incredibly, I still have a system that is not functioning properly. I found and had a great conversation with a nice guy here in Buffalo early in the summer and I thought we'd be working together come September. Unfortunately I'm having a really hard time getting in touch with him. Phone calls and emails have not been answered. NOTE: I'm not blaming him--he just may be too busy to call me back. I'm still interested in speaking with him if he's reading this and has time to call me.

If I can't reach him, it looks like I may be back to square one. For reference, I have had six heating contractors to the house, none of which have been able to help me. They seem to all be forced-air-only types with no knowledge of steam whatsoever. I have several leaks that are now out of control along with loud and consistent water hammer.

I don't know what else to do except to ask again if anybody knows somebody in Buffalo that can help me. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would still be dealing with this four years after buying this house. If I kept a gun in the house I'd probably have turned it on myself by now.

Fred

Get ahold of @Steamhead and arrange for him to come and look the system over and document what needs to be done to correct it. Once you know, from a Pro, what needs to happen, probably a local plumber can take that list and complete the job. It will be well worth the money and time to get this resolved, once and for all.

RobG

Fred said:

Get ahold of @Steamhead and arrange for him to come and look the system over and document what needs to be done to correct it. Once you know, from a Pro, what needs to happen, probably a local plumber can take that list and complete the job. It will be well worth the money and time to get this resolved, once and for all.

If it's a no permits required job he may be able to fix the system as well. It would not be cheap though, but in my opinion would be well worth it. @JStar has been known to travel as well.

cbscinta1

Thanks guys. I would prefer to hire locally. I'm making phone calls as we speak, because I have to believe there is somebody in Western New York with the skill and availability to perform this work. Also, it's a safe bet that I'm not the only person with a steam system or leaking pipes. I'll keep you update on my progress!

cbscinta1

Hey thanks! Glad to make your acquaintance. I'll be in touch via private message and we can make arrangements. Much obliged.

Yes, I was in touch with Steamhead a while back and he was very thorough in his explanation of costs and procedures. It would be a last resort because of the cost, but for simple pipe repairs I'd rather just get it done locally.

Jamie Hall

If it encourages you two Buffalo folks... keep in mind that steam systems are really not rocket science. They do require attention to details, however, and adherence to some basic principles -- particularly in the matters of arranging near boiler piping and such things as pipe sizes, pitch, and venting. And proper sizing and control of the boiler.

Do acquire copies of the Lost Art of Steam Heating, if you haven't. Do read it and understand it. Also keep in mind that the piping shown on the boiler manuals is an absolute minimum for them to work properly. No shortcuts. And realise that there are ways to arrange the piping to make them work better.

And do post here and ask questions!

Fred

ibelieveican said:

Thanks Jamie,
I have all the books, downloaded loads of material from here and elsewhere and have folders full of notes. I found a professional commercial/industrial plumber working after hours that's willing to follow my drawings and I bought American made "Ward" fittings from Supply House. I've had loads of help from folks here on Strictly Steam and I'm looking forward to posting photos when i get done with my new boiler installation. Life is good.

GOOD FOR YOU!!! Do keep us posted.

vaporvac

@cbscinta1, definitely take @ibelieveican up on his offer to look at your system. I did similarly with mine, gleaning everything I could off this site and asking a lot of questions.
You also had an offer from @Enreynolds at one time, although I don't know how serious he was. He lives in Rochester....did you ever get in touch with him? He's sort of another hero of mine in that he used the Burnham Megasteam with a gas conversion burner AND converted his system to a mini-tube system. (He also introduced me to Karen at simplyplumbing.com which is where I got almost everything for my install, except the pipes. I never found them on any search. They're an amazing resource and actually got me things that weren't listed so long as they used that vendor.)

Also, when you say "simple plumbing" it implies it's simple. While joining and turning a pipe does take skill, it's deciding which pipes to use in what manner that determines the strength of the install. Only sometime that knows steam can do that. Have you checked with commercial installers. Many times they will consider a residential install and often know their stuff.

Patrick McGrath

@cbscinta1 I am out in Rochester. Haven't been on this site in some time, as my system now works! I found a guy who knew what he was doing.

PM me if you want. I don't know if he would head out to Buffalo, but you never know.

Shalom

I dunno, Buffalo to Rochester isn't a long trip, maybe an hour... when you live in Western NY, distances seem to shrink as opposed to the New York City area. Back when I lived in Buffalo I thought nothing of driving up to Toronto for pizza (back then the nearest Kosher pizza store was in North York), and there was the time I drove out to Sodus just to ride a train from nowhere to nowhere and back again... but maybe I'm just weird that way...