Same guy. New Business. Complete System Evaluations and Consulting (JohnNY)

JohnNY

After many years in the family business, and a prolonged recuperation from some knee surgery, I’ve made the decision to make my living as a consultant working with steam and hydronic heating systems. I am willing to travel outside of the NYC area when necessary.

For those of you who know me, I am a Master Plumber licensed in 2000 and have been working in the family’s plumbing and heating business for something like 30 years.

Since my first heating course with the Institute of Boilers and Radiation in 1987, my focus has always been on better heating using water-based systems, including boilers for creating steam and circulating hot water.

As a service advertised by my business, I’ve performed hundreds of “Heating System Evaluations” over the years and saved lots of people a great deal of money and sleepless nights. I'm proud of that track record.
Many systems I evaluate are hot water (hydronic), but overwhelmingly, it is the oft-misunderstood steam heating system on which I am called to work.

As a steam heating expert, local to NYC, I have typically offered a comprehensive walkthrough of any building and gathered information toward how to resolve those annoying noises and the imbalance and high fuel bills people have been living with for years.

I use a mix of old charts and graphs along with new technology like thermal imaging and ultrasonic trap testing equipment.

I find the source of any excessive noise in the piping or radiators and give detailed instructions on how to make it a thing of the past.

I've also performed and specified equipment for hundreds of oil-to-gas conversions in the last 5 years alone.
I determine the proper boiler size for the home or building and compare it to what is currently there. Very often boilers are replaced throughout the years with grossly-oversized units which consistently waste fuel and cost much too much money to run.

Replacing a boiler without having all the building’s information will likely lead to a poor installation resulting in a 20-30 year commitment to inefficiency and a problematic system.

I make sure that doesn’t happen.

Upon receipt of payment, evaluations are emailed to the client as a Word or pdf. document. My client can use the information given to make an informed decision about how best to make repairs or other alterations to their heating system.

This should also help choose a contractor for the specified repairs or alterations.

The cost of the Evaluation depends on several factors such as the size of the building, number of units, type of system, etc. This service takes about an hour in a typical single-family or townhouse or several hours in a larger multi-family or commercial building and access is sometimes needed to all units and all visible portions of the system.

As a member of the HeatingHelp community for much of my 30-plus-year career, my Rolodex is brimming with contacts spanning a vast array of manufacturers, trades and skill sets. If I don’t immediately have your answer, I’ll get it quickly.

Please consider me at your service if you think I may be able to help you. For the time being I can be reached at JohnCataneoNYC@gmail.com

Best to all,
John (JohnNY) Cataneo

DanHolohan

I've been on many jobs with John. He is masterful at troubleshooting and solving problems once and for all.

Mad Dog_2

Good luck, brother....a new journey begins...Mad dog

RobG

As Dan is stepping down, maybe you could do some educational seminars for the (unfortunately few) young bucks as well as continuing education for others.

STEAM DOCTOR

Best of luck. Do yourself a HUGE favor. Get yourself an advertising specialist. S/he will help help refine your message and your key selling points. You need whats called a unique selling proposition and whats called an elevator pitch(basically a concise sales pitch that you can deliver in the course of an elevator ride). You need to be able to get across your message in a very concise and pointed matter. Most of of us on this site have enough understanding of steam and hot water heating to appreciate the value and uniqueness of your services . Most of your target base does not. Most of us on this site have the interest and intellectual curiosity to read and think about long explanations about steam etc..... Most of your client base does not.
An advertising specialist is not a website designer or a graphic designer. S/he is someone who will help you refine your message. Also, do your own homework in this regard and in marketing techniques.
All the best

Mad Dog_2

Me thinks Dan can help him there...Dan's an advertising SAGE......M.D

Robert O'Brien

Best of luck in the new endeavor!

JohnNY

Thank you, everyone. Your support is much appreciated. Believe me, it is.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Yes, go for it. You like doing it and will put in the effort it takes to be successful.

I have thought about doing something similar in the past but never made the jump. To old to change now, too near the end.

Best of luck!!

nicholas bonham-carter

Good luck, and keep contributing to this site.
When people do a search for your name, the possibility of seeing lots of well-worded diagnostics, and advice, from you will give them confidence in your advice.
If you are using your picture as an avatar, don't wear shades!
For everyone else, pay attention to your avatar, and realize that something symbolic may be better than some old picture of you, no matter how coiffed you think you look.
Let your words speak instead of your picture.--NBC

Tim McElwain

Good luck. You will do well. I hope to see you for class in August or September. I can surely pass on some good tips on the consulting side of this business as I have been doing it (consulting) since 1994.

Mad Dog_2

Johnny NY will KILL it.....got complete faith in his skills and integrity. MD

Jack

Johnny, good luck in the new venture! Tim, has it really been that long. I remember when you were still at Prov Gas and were going through the "unexpected change of careers". You pulled it off and not an easy task.
Johnny, I'd suggest that you have a sit down with all the Reps in your area , both factory and independents, explaining what your service will look like. You might get "start-up"business with them. As well, try to get to the head of technical/engineering at each factory. When their world is turning upside down having a go to guy is...invaluable.

RobG

Jack said:

Johnny, good luck in the new venture! Tim, has it really been that long. I remember when you were still at Prov Gas and were going through the "unexpected change of careers". You pulled it off and not an easy task.
Johnny, I'd suggest that you have a sit down with all the Reps in your area , both factory and independents, explaining what your service will look like. You might get "start-up"business with them. As well, try to get to the head of technical/engineering at each factory. When their world is turning upside down having a go to guy is...invaluable.

Just to ad to what Jack said. You should also contact engineering firms in your locale to let them know that you are now consulting. You as well as most of us know that most engineers only know theory and not practicality and their bosses just keep stacking them up with more work and they just want to clear out the pile. Typically rep's are helpful to a point, but when it gets beyond their skillset they will need an expert.

If you know auto-cad that would be helpful as well