Boiler Question

[Savoy]

Recently I have been seeing a large amount of business in an old coal mining town. I have yet to see a Forced Air Furnace in this town. Most of the heat is supplied by older coal boilers that served a steam system but have been converted over to gas and hot water. Occasionally I see a newer boiler system in this area.

Many times when I look at these monster boilers and there set up and wonder what I am looking at. Even the newer ones I feel inadequate and wonder if I am doing my client justice on the heating system. I have made arrangements to ride with a older boiler specialist who I have been told is very good but still works in a mine and does boiler repair only periodically.

My question for the forum is do any of you know of a good book that is out there on hot water boilers? One that any inspector who sees a boiler should read and have in their library?

I just ordered a book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" by Dan Holohan but I don't believe it covers much on Hot Water and boilers.

Thanks

Jon

From Forced Air Country

[Rob Amaral]

You are on the right page with Mr. Holahan (and his website by the way). You sound like you may be a bit confused about steam and 'hot water'. Steam systems 'stay' steam.....what you may be seeing is old 'gravity' 'hot water systems' that are now 'forced' hot water systems.

There are fine points to know about both steam and old gravity-now-forced systems.

Keep on keepin on...

R

[kurt]

Originally posted by Savoy

Recently I have been seeing a large amount of business in an old coal mining town. I have yet to see a Forced Air Furnace in this town. Most of the heat is supplied by older coal boilers that served a steam system but have been converted over to gas and hot water. Occasionally I see a newer boiler system in this area.

Many times when I look at these monster boilers and there set up and wonder what I am looking at. Even the newer ones I feel inadequate and wonder if I am doing my client justice on the heating system. I have made arrangements to ride with a older boiler specialist who I have been told is very good but still works in a mine and does boiler repair only periodically.

My question for the forum is do any of you know of a good book that is out there on hot water boilers? One that any inspector who sees a boiler should read and have in their library?

I just ordered a book "The Lost Art of Steam Heating" by Dan Holohan but I don't believe it covers much on Hot Water and boilers.

Thanks

Jon

From Forced Air Country

Stick w/ Holahan, both the book & website. I pick up most of my steam knowledge from a couple of techs' here in Chicago. They really aren't all that complicated; in fact, I'd much rather look @ an old steam system than a forced air system anyday. There is much too much said about steam & hot water that makes it appear like one has to be a magician to figure it out. Not true. Read the Holahan book, take two aspirin, & call me in the morning.