What's Not In Stock?
I asked a bunch of heating contractor friends what was missing from their wholesaler’s stock and how they felt about that. They had some interesting things to say and I t...
Systems Help Center
Our comprehensive HVAC Systems Help Center covers a wide range of HVAC-related topics, including air conditioning and heat pumps, geothermal, hot-water heating, thermostats and controls, solar, steam heating, and warm air. We also have a section of informative and entertaining articles to help you sharpen your HVAC business skills. And our Heating Museum is a captivating journey through the evolution of HVAC technologies.
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Recent Articles
Your Body Is A Radiator
Ever been to Ocean City, Maryland? It’s a summertime wonderland, and I was lucky enough years ago to get hired to do a seminar on hydronic radiant heating for a group of ...
NIRA Window Seat Radiator (1916)
This excerpt about the NIRA Window Seat Radiator for Steam and Hot Water Heating is from Facts for Fitters, a 1916 catalog from The Hunting Co.
Thank you to Frank "Steam...
Arco Window Radiators (1922)
Here is an excerpt from the 1920 and 1922 Ideal Fitter books from American Radiator Company about their Arco Window Radiators.
Thank you to Frank "Steamhead" Wilsey of A...
Wizard Valve Fitting (1911)
This excerpt from Heating and Ventilating Magazine, 1911, shows J. J. Wilson's wizard valve fitting for steam heating systems.
J.J. Wilson Fitting for Steam Radiators (1909)
This is the patent for J.J. Wilson's Fitting for Steam Radiators from September 14, 1909.
What Is Heat?
Before I retired in 2016, I’d get a lot of calls from lawyers who wanted to hire me to be an expert witness at a trial. They were almost always representing a building ow...
How Frank and John Taught Me To See
In 1989, when I was thinking about writing a book called, “The Lost Art of Steam Heating,” I went to see a young engineer named Frank Gerety. He had written a small book ...
How To Get The Best From One-Pipe Steam
How To Get The Best From One-Pipe Steam
A Practical Manual for Heating System and Boiler Optimization, Maintenance, Loss Prevention, Replacement, and Installation
By Fr...
Trane Mercury Seal Ad (1901)
This document contain an ad from Domestic Engineering (circa 1901) featuring the Trane Mercury Seal which was attached to an old steam heating system or to an old vapor p...