Steam Professionals In/around Grand Rapids Michigan

Dayton_Dude

Since I have gotten such great help on this board I figured I would try my luck. My mother has a house with 2 pipe steam (lucky her). She got swindled by some pesky plumbers trying to fix a radiator (you can tell there work based on the blue monster pipe dope). Just curious who the good guys are up there.

Jamie Hall

That area seems to be a black hole for steam people. Don't know why.

You are probably the nearest expert in residence...

Lard

As a fellow Ohioan (properties in Bellefontaine and Lima/Findlay), I consider the whole of Michigan one giant pothole, not just a black hole! 

Joking aside, the further north you go, the harder it is to find anyone unless you go east towards Cleveland. Even in Bellefontaine, the local contractors all said to switch to hot water rather than keep the steam (ignoring that all but 4 of the 40 radiators are steam only...)

Dayton_Dude

I was hopeful the university (state or otherwise) would mint some kind of steam person. This isnt entirely surprising... but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. 

WMno57

While surfing Craigslist I found this

Radiators floor heat registers for boiler - $50 (se grand rapids)

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/d/grand-rapids-radiators-floor-heat/7234282659.html

In the text of the ad:
"They were in use up until recently when renovations took place and heating was upgraded to forced air."

Call the ad, lowball him $20 for his "obsolete" radiators, and go visit Mom.

Ask Seller for Name of Contractor who did the "upgrade". It's a safe bet they would not be right for your Mom's steam system.

Dayton_Dude

Holy Toledo batman. I am ok on rads atm... but geez

Lard

WMno57 said:

While surfing Craigslist I found this Radiators floor heat registers for boiler - $50 (se grand rapids) https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/for/d/grand-rapids-radiators-floor-heat/7234282659.html In the text of the ad: "They were in use up until recently when renovations took place and heating was upgraded to forced air." Call the ad, lowball him $20 for his "obsolete" radiators, and go visit Mom. Ask Seller for Name of Contractor who did the "upgrade". It's a safe bet they would not be right for your Mom's steam system.

Heh.  “Upgraded” to forced air. “Heat registers”

I could use a few more radiators about that size at the church, but not so sure my old beater one-tonner truck would make it that far (if it did, 8mpg hurts...) Everything I have found locally is a bit small for my ideas... there is a 2600 sq ft room that is severely lacking in heat and big radiation is called for. 

Dreams....

Steamhead

@Lard , fly up there and rent a U-Haul to take them back.

Dayton_Dude

Flights are cheap... also the guy "upgraded" to forced air. 

mattmia2

You could make a hot water loop off of the steam boiler for the addition.

Maybe @motoguy128 knows of steam people in GR. institutions have their own internal people that maintain their steam, might have commercial contractors that understand steam.

kevinj_4

Dayton_Dude said:

Since I have gotten such great help on this board I figured I would try my luck. My mother has a house with 2 pipe steam (lucky her). She got swindled by some pesky plumbers trying to fix a radiator (you can tell there work based on the blue monster pipe dope). Just curious who the good guys are up there.

Please contact me. I know a very good steam guy in Grand Rapids.

WMno57

I was a Michigander. Don't know of a steam guy in GR, but here is an interesting link:

District Steam Heating in Grand Rapids
http://www.historygrandrapids.org/article/2334/brief-history-of-the-grand-rap

Instead of wet steam how about a wet burrito? Very tasty!
https://beltlinebar.com/

kevinj_4

I have worked on that system and dined at the Beltline!!!

ethicalpaul

Me too...well the Beltline part haha

I lived in Kalamazoo for 26 years. I wish I were still there so I could lend a hand.

Dayton_Dude

I think we are set. backed by popular demand its find the problem

Dayton_Dude

Though I have yet to try beltline bar. Their other places are pretty good