The Loneliest Place, my new article for PHC News magazine.

RayWohlfarth

This is my first article for PHC news and Im looking forward to many more. In this article, I talk about how it feels to be a service tech on a no heat call on a Friday evening. There's no one to call and the pressure is intense; lots are at stake. I would love knowing your thoughts and you similar experiences. Loneliest place

hot_rod

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/202853/the-loneliest-place-my-new-article-for-phc-news-magazine

you crank out a lot of content, keep sharing your knowledge.☺️

RayWohlfarth

Thanks @hot_rod Hope you and the family are doing well

Intplm.

Well written and very relatable. Looking forward to reading your future articles.

retiredguy

Another great article on the world of a service tech. Actually, the worst night call is on Christmas Eve on a cold and snowy night in the 1980's and 1990's when there were no gas stations or convenience stores open 24 hours. At least now you can buy some coffee and snacks in the places that never close. to help keep you awake for the 2-4 hour drive home. Our normal coverage area was from Pittsburgh, Pa to State College and even beyond. When you get to those no heat calls for a school, hospital, nursing home or industrial complex you better have everything you will need to get the boilers to fire. Remember we worked on almost every fuel source. That is when you are totally alone. (but I sure do miss it.)

Larry Weingarten

Ray, Nice work! This line really resonated… "The hardest skill to teach isn’t wiring diagrams or flame signals, it’s patience." Thanks!

Yours, Larry

JohnNY

This is fantastic, Ray. Congratulations!

Mad Dog_2

Ray-Ray....you are a Tidal Wave of great content. Looking foward to reading your articles now too! Mad Dog

RayWohlfarth

Thanks @Intplm. I appreciate the feedback

Wow @retiredguy you have seen a lot I did drive home with the windows open to stay awake

@Larry Weingarten Thanks If you dont have patience when you start you get it after a bit. I confess the prepare still seems like an hour sometimes

@JohnNY Thanks It is a lonely job sometimes

@Mad Dog_2 Thank you my friend

DanHolohan

I’m so proud of you, Ray.

RayWohlfarth

Thank you Daniel!

EBEBRATT-Ed

I had some beauties in my time. Do I miss it? yes and NO. There is something challenging about it though.

1. I stuffed an oil fired boiler full of wood and newspaper and lit it with a match when their LP tank for the gas pilot was empty. Pulled the flame scammer out to fake out the control till it lit main flame.

2. Primed an oil pump with orange juice when I had to get the heat on.

3. Stripped all the 1" blowdown pipe off 3 boilers from the MM 51s and 150s and coupled them all together to make a temp oil suction line to get a burner running out of a 55 gallon drum to keep a building from freezing. Their underground tank had got filled with water and melted snow.

4.Pumped out a burner that was in a pit with the water over the top of the burner. Dried things out, tossed the primary control and put a bunch of jumpers on the subbase to get a burner to fire.

RayWohlfarth

@EBEBRATT-Ed wow a real life macguyver im impressed

EBEBRATT-Ed

@RayWohlfarth

It's why I have anxiety issues LOL

Jamie Hall

Keep 'em coming, @RayWohlfarth . Will you notify us when you post a new one? I'm not subscribed to that jounal…

And, slightly off topicc: same principle applies in a lot of other things, but I learned it decades ago when becoming a pilot — patience. Something goes wrong… STOP. Don't react right away (if it's that bad, you won't have time to anyway). Then patiently figure out what to do…

RayWohlfarth

@EBEBRATT-Ed this industry can do that

@Jamie Hall thanks and will do

HeatingHelp.com

Well done, Ray! We're looking forward to reading more of your articles. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

RayWohlfarth

Thanks Erin I appreciate it

Peregrine

thank you thank you thank you

RayWohlfarth

@Peregrine Youre welcome Im taking it you have been on similar calls.