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Archive for August, 2016

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How to Become a Better Troubleshooter

Avoid "Auto" Conclusions Don't try to solve the problem while you’re still in your truck. Some technicians make up their minds before looking around, and then they set ou...

Published on 08/31/2016 12:16 PM by Dan Holohan
Posted in The HVAC Business
How to Fix a Leaky Cast-iron Radiator

J-B Weld Company of Sulfur Springs, TX (903-885-7696) told me that the City of Dallas, Texas used their product to repair a cracked Caterpillar engine block. That sure go...

Published on 08/31/2016 12:11 PM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Steam Heating
water on tail pipe
Watch the Tailpipe

Start your car on a cold morning and walk around to the tailpipe. See that water dripping? That’s the way a high-efficiency, condensing boiler works.

Published on 08/31/2016 12:06 PM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Hot-Water Heating
frozen food aisle radiant heating
Grocery Store Radiant

The grocery store is a great place to understand radiant heating (or to explain it to your customer). Stop first in the gadget aisle and pick up a thermometer. It will pr...

Published on 08/31/2016 11:59 AM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Hot-Water Heating
Why Closely Spaced Tees?

Primary-secondary piping systems call for the tees that go off to the secondary circuit to be close together, ideally not more than six inches apart. Think like water and...

Published on 08/31/2016 11:51 AM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Hot-Water Heating
boiler feed pump
How to Size a Boiler-Feed Pump

When it comes to boiler-feed pumps, the two important variables are the amount of water in the operating range of the boiler, and the steam-to-condensate time lag across ...

Published on 08/30/2016 4:39 PM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Steam Heating
water hammer
Discovering Water Hammer

Discovering that water hammer has moved into any hydronic system, be it steam or hot water is never fun, but finding the cause of it sure can be. Hey, you get to be a det...

Published on 08/30/2016 4:27 PM by Dan Holohan
Posted in Steam Heating
Brewing Beer with Steam Boilers
Steam Boilers for Breweries

Here are some excerpts from my new book, Lessons Learned: Brewing with Steam. I wrote it to help you design, install, and maintain steam systems used in the craft brewing...

Published on 08/29/2016 11:15 AM by Ray Wohlfarth
Posted in Steam Heating