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Did I just meet a Knucklehead?

Constantin
Member Posts: 3,796
he's located in Watertown, MA and he knows how to make sad steam systems happy.
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Comments
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Did I just meet a Knucklehead?
(Names will be withheld here) I recently purchased an old brownstone that came with one-pipe steam and a relatively new boiler. We thought we'd convert to forced hot air along with cooling, but then I read We Got Steam Heat and I have reconsidered. So I called around to invite a plumber to come look at my system and diagnose it for renovation. (The entire place is being renovated, with new rooms added where there previously weren't any, so I also wanted the size evaluated). During my first call with the company that installed my boiler, I was advised:
(1) Not to insulate basement piping if I thought I might use the basement as a finished room (which I am not)
(2) That main vents aren't necessary because all they do is leak (and that if they did work at my house in the past they probably made a point to remove them)
(3) That radiators should never EVER be pitched because the pipe under the floor will then lose its pitch
(4) That the most common reason for water hammer is dirty water in the boiler, and a good boiler cleaning will do the trick.
Knucklehead or not? Is the book the bible or is it open to interpretation?
Thanks0 -
You sure did
go to the Find a Professional page of this site to locate a real steam man near you.0 -
knucklehead
I m surprized he didnt recommened a conversion to hot water
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"0 -
The Good Book
The book is written in stone. Amazing how easy it is to tell the good from the evil, isn't it?
And you seem to have found your way to heaven, where there are clouds of steam.
Good luck.0 -
Yes he was
At least he was consistent. He said nothing that was correct.
You are lucky that he was not selling wood stoves. He probably would have tried to sell you his 100% efficient one. It is 100% efficient because it is made of WOOD.
Ed
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knucklehead verified
Actually, he DID recommend a conversion to hot water.0 -
Knucklehead is kind
Moron, hack, thief, those are maybe a little less kind but perhaps more fitting. You have reached the elementary and correct conclusion. Find someone else.0 -
Knucklehead
You did. Now get "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" and "EDR". Put them on the table when the next contractor comes over. One of two things will happen either their face will light up with a smile and they will sit down and seriously discuss your options or they will turn white, say they can't help you and leave. Education is a wonderful thing.0 -
definitely keep him away from your system!0 -
i'm sure that you know
more about steam than they did...
To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"gwgillplumbingandheating.com
Serving Cleveland's eastern suburbs from Cleveland Heights down to Cuyahoga Falls.0 -
Dean has it right
If their face lights up when they see the book, at least there is hope0 -
and if you let this guy work on your home
you might get there before you had planned to.0
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