A message to Dan

Jacob Myron_13

Hi Dan:

The thread you ran about distric heating in Russia turned out some the finest commentary about district heating I have seen in a long time.

What I liked best was the comparison of hot water and steam.

The attempt to show the economy between both mediums was interesting.

The one item that was not addressed was the cost of electric to operate the massive pumps that would need to be used to move the tens of thousands of tons of water in the distric hot water heting system.

Briefly in my experiance in heating systems which you well know is summed up in this small dissertation.

Fuel costs which include electricity is different in all locations in this world.

Being from originally from N.Y.C. I found that steam heating overall is more economical to instal and operate than a water heating system.

Need to qualify that. In very large buildings.

Again, I can only refer to properly maintained heating systems.

Comparing water heating to Dunhams Vari Vac System (MEPCO) A 2 H.P. On a vacuum/condensate pumps set will do the work of a 25 H.P. Pump on a water heating system.

The problem today is the people that service much of the equipment used in both heating mediums. Most service people are equipment changers with limited diagnostic skils, this is no fault of theirs, it is the fault of the customers that need service, they call it the bottom line.

These customers want instant service for as little cash spent as possible. Bussiness owners cannot supply the best services when the customer does not want to pay.

Heating and air conditioning requires hundres of hours of school type training over the carrer of a service person, if the boss does have the income from the customers he or she cannot have the highkly trained people needed to do the proper maintenance and trouble shooting.

In this environment we can wind up like Russia and have systems that are one day away from doomsday.


Jake

P.S. Do this kind of thread again, it was great.

J.C.A._3

Thanks Jacob.

Your post is INVALUABLE. For all the bosses out there, take note. TRAINING is of the utmost importance!!!!

Having a parts changer doesn't go over well with you, or customers. The resources available are unlimited, and many come at the right price.(check out Timmies Monday night training room at Oil Tech Talk).Some of the courses offered are at reduced rates,(see Dan's post on one in Upstate N.Y., and some of the gasnetwork training seminars)

The more you KNOW, the more your worth. Bottom line! If your not running the company, tell your boss about it. If you are running the company, think about training as an investment. The more your people know, the better the numbers will be.

Need I say more? Great post Jacob!! Chris