Help locating steam pro in Northern Michigan

Ross_7

Hey Betsy, I'm sorry to hear that! I do quite a bit of steam locally, but I live in Marquette. I wish I could help!
Ross

Betsy_4

Is anyone aware of a reputable steam pro in the Northwest lower Michigan area? No one comes up on the website locator when I put in the 100 mile radius form Petoskey zip. Am working my way through "We Got Steam Heat" and have tons of questions like: we've got two-pipe system so why are there air vents on all of our radiators?; each radiator also has shut-offs on both(why) in and out pipe and many won't turn at all, how do we unstick, am afraid to do much for fear of breaking a pipe. Any names would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Betsy

Steamhead (in transit)

That's a 2-pipe, air-vent system

which was a transitional system from one-pipe to Vapor.

Is that the part of Michigan that contains Detroit?

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S Ebels

Up north Frank

Petosky is about 100 miles northwest of me yet and a good 300 from Detroit. I don't know of anyone up there that I would use the term reputable for. Well, some that are reputable but none that know steam. Lot's of old houses in that area so I'm sure that there has to be someone up there servicing those old systems.

Betsy, can you post some pictures of what you have for rads, a picture of your boiler and some pictures of the piping around it? That will help out a great deal.

Darin(in Michigan)

Where are you

I live in Cheboygan and have family all over the place(Petoskey, Frankfort, Alpena, Etc.) As was stated earlier, pictures would help. Perhaps if I knew where you were I could meet up with you. It's been a while since I got my hands on a steam system but i did alot of it when I worked in Lansing.

Darin

Betsy_4

pictures

Pictures? You're asking a lot from me but with the help of my kids I may be able to do so.

S Ebels

You know the old saying

A picture's worth..........

It's true, expecially when trying to describe something like a steam system.

I can appreciate your hesitation about posting the pictures. I have to call my wiz bang son in law every now and again for tutelage in computereze language. I think it makes him feel good to know he's got a leg up on the old geezer.

If you can't get the digital world to work for you, take some snapshots, get them developed and mail them to me at PO box 28, Falmouth, Michigan 49632. I'll scan 'em and post them up here for a critique. Wish it wasn't this time of year, I'd be happy to help but right now we have jobs going all the way from Sault Ste Marie to St Johns and everywhere inbetween.

BTW, what problems are you having in particular?

Betsy_4

pictures

Took a while but here are some pictures. Most of the radiators look just like this, but we have two that are only one pipe. Also included is a view of piping around the boiler.
For starters we'd like to be able to open or close the shut offs on the radiators, most are stuck and am not sure how to approach that for fear of breaking something. I think we just need a real good check of things, anything that might help bring the bills down a bit.

Betsy_4

Betsy_4

Betsy_4

rad pics

Took a while but here's a few pictures.All of our rads are just like this except for 2 which have only one pipe they look newer so we figure they were changed somewhere along in the past. The shut offs on either side do not turn at all. Some of the air vents seem to be missing the little adjuster on top. Heating bills seem really high. Noticed a lot of rusty gunk in the site glass even after flushing.