Systems Help Center

Q: What is the difference between solar thermal and solar photovoltaic (PV)? A: Solar thermal panels heat water. Photovoltaic panels convert sunlight to electricity.

Here is an interesting story for you. Jessica Baldwin told me about the reclamation of these old solar panels. Nothing stands in this woman's way.

Here's another interesting thread that appeared on the Wall. Wayco Wayne asks: Where do you draw the line between the two types of solar collectors? How do you decide whi...

This is an interesting thread that appeared on the Wall NRT.Rob asks: What are you guys using for tanks, specifically, if you are trying to do drainback solar WITHOUT pum...

Q: What is a heat pump? A: A heat pump is a piece of air conditioning equipment that has the ability to provide both comfort cooling in the warm summer months as well as ...

Some useful numbers to help get you from here to there: Multiply By To Obtain Atmosphere 29.92 Inches of mercury Atmosphere 33.92 Feet of water Atmosphere 14.7 Pounds per...

Sometimes, you just have to think like air. The house had been sitting on this old Connecticut street for more than 100 years. Children, grown and long gone, had once ski...

Q: How long has gravity hot water heating been around? A: Gravity hot-water heating began quietly in the United States between 1875 and 1885. It was a Canadian import, a ...

Here is a chapter about air valves for heating systems from Alfred King's, Practical Heating and Ventilation, 1928.

This document about Atmospheric Pressure and Vapor Systems is from Audel's Plumber's and Steamfitter's Guide No. 3, which appeared in 1925.