Why this site is great for a Homeowner

Bob C

I have been reading this site for about a year now and I have been very impressed with all the help I have received. With the help of SteamHead, Dan's book, and many others, I have turned my steam system from a "mystery" to a system I understand and enjoy.

Since I have "tuned" my system to work so well, everyone we know with steam calls me to look at their system. Anyway, I always recommend things I have learned from this site (Insulation, Turn Pressure down, ect).

I think the biggest payoff of this site came this weekend and it didn't even happen to me. We stopped by my wife's cousin house a while ago and they asked me to look at their system. They have had many "professionals" look and "fix" their system but they where still cold and unhappy.

From my untrained eye, I knew there was problems, but I just told them to insulate the mains and look at this site and find a pro. I ended up looking for a professional for them and found Ed Wallace from reading some of his posts on this site and sent them Ed's information. Sure enough, last week, the Boiler cracked. They gave Ed a call and he came out and installed the correct size boiler and they are now very happy and warm.

This site is a very powerful tool for a homeowner, thank you for making it so valuable.

Bob

Brad Burns-Howard

Amen To That

Couldn't have said it better myself. Similar situation and results. Thanks to Dan and all of the Wall pros.

Geno_15

interesting

for me, as I don't believe in giving away info that would take my job away but do believe in helping others, from what you gents say it would seem that more tech's need to get their heads out of their butts and read some if not all of Dans books.

Some techs walk in to a home, look at a steam system and say you need to switch to hot water baseboard.

It would seem that some homeowners know more about steam than some of the tech's.

michael_15

my policy for diy vs. using pros

I'll replace a main vent or a radiator vent if the hole is already there. if I need a pipe wrench, I'm hiring somebody. If I can't unscrew the main vent easily, then I'll become afraid of breaking pipes and I hire sombody for that, too. In short, if I could break something, I hire somebody. Pipe insulation I do myself, but how can you really break something doing this?

However, I won't take a pro's advice without question when he/she recommends changes. I'd take it here first and get extra opinions. I've read and re-read "The Lost Art of Steam Heating," which doesn't mean I actually do anything, it just means I show a lot of contractors the door when they start saying stuff that makes no sense ("why is this pressure so low?!", "well of course it's not heating the pressure is too low").

-Michael

ed wallace

Bob C.

thank you for the compliment bob glad they are happy with thier new system

eburke_32

Ditto!
The people that help out on this site our top notch. They take the time to help others with their knowledge. Kudos to all of you. ed

Steamhead

Glad to help

that's why we're here.

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

Mike T., Swampeast MO

If the pros here truly thought they were giving away info that would take their job away, they wouldn't be giving advice.

Bill M.

Gentlemen-


I'm a frequent reader here but haven't posted before. I thought it would be worthwhile to chime in on this conversation since I'm the one with the cracked boiler that both Bob C. and Ed Wallace bailed out.
Bob was kind enough to take a look at my system when he was visiting one day. Don't let him fool you with that "I'm only a homeowner" stuff, he knows enough to be dangerous and very nicely gave me Ed Wallace's contact info.
While I had every intention of calling Ed to have him come in to look at the system- I intended to do it in the spring when he wouldn't be as busy and we wouldn't be so dependent on heat.
Long story short, within a week of getting Ed's info. my boiler cracked and we were left without heat in a week of consistent 19 degree weather.
I called Ed that morning and he was at my house within an hour. He had a new boiler delivered early that afternoon (I'll let him tell the horror story about the delivery) and after two arduous days in my basement, he had the new system up and running (the challenges were many and he overcame them all).
I can't say enough about Ed's work. He was a pleasure to deal with and has made me a customer for life.
Having read Dan's book it was amazing to actually experience the difference between a knucklehead and a steam professional. While the knuckleheads asked if the old sytem was "overworked" on the coldest day of the year to determine what size boiler was needed, Ed walked around the entire house, took measurements, conducted heat loss calcs., etc. and told us what size boiler we needed and how the piping needed to be re-done. The end result is a system that works better than ever.
Dan's book and this website are an invaluable resource that I just recently put to use more than I ever expected. Thanks for your help.

Bill

Bob C

Bill M

Glad to see you made it to the wall, I told you these guys where top notch. I was very Happy when Mary told me that you guys are now warm. Now I may come over and visit more!!!!

ed wallace

happy customers

Bob i am very glad to hear you are happy with the heat was great working for an understanding customer may the boiler last you 30 years and thank you for allowing me to replace your boiler the delivery driver is doing ok he is fully recovered

John R. Hall

Make a window sticker

I think about the sticker on the door which informs firefighters or rescue workers that there are pets in the home. Maybe people with steam heat should have a sticker that says "Have Read Dan's Book."

Dean_7

books

Make that: Have read Dan's books. All of them! Or just leave them on the kitchen table when the heating person walks in.

Geno_15

how'bout

a DO NOT DISTURB tag that says

SSHHHHHHHHhh DO NOT DISTURB!

READING ONE OF DANS BOOKS!

Steven Todd

books on table

Yep, I've done that (leave Dan's AOS book on the kitchen table) for the visting pro / maybe-not-a-pro to see. It helps the conversation.