Brian Balboni’s father, Tom, founded Balboni Plumbing & Heating in 1970. He ran the business in Wellesley, MA, for 37 years before giving away all of his work and retiring. He didn’t know Brian would start the family business back up again some 11 years later. Joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 2008, Brian spent …Read More
Executive Order: Unleashing American Energy
President Trump seems to be exercising his powers at blistering speed, signing more executive orders on the first day of his second term than any president in history. It is a fluid situation, so keep in mind what follows in this article could change in a matter of hours. Among the orders signed by 47th …Read More
New Mexico’s Radiant Renaissance
This is a tale of two radiant heating professionals in New Mexico: the first a pioneer, the second a perfectionist. Their efforts are separated by roughly three decades. What the first radiant professional (who we’ll refer to as John Doe) started, the second, Keefer Rader, is dramatically improving. But Rader isn’t just improving New Mexico’s …Read More
The Celebrated, Legendary Career of Dave Yates
F.W. Behler Inc., in York, PA, is one of the oldest continuously operating mechanical firms in the United States. Founded in 1887 by Franklin Washington Behler, the company was passed down through three generations. Dave Yates began working for the Behlers as an apprentice 1972. In 1985, Yates purchased the business. He and his wife …Read More
What it Takes in 2023
The Right Components for Small Shop Success The past few years have been good for contracting businesses, barring component availability and skilled labor woes. For anyone in the trades, operating a plumbing and mechanical company profitably looks different today than it did 20 years ago, but there are still plenty of similarities. Joe Tull, 36, …Read More
Deciphering the Infrastructure Bill and the Effects on Small Business Contractors
By: Allie Perez Over the last few months, the term “infrastructure” has been thrown around by politicians and the media. By definition, infrastructure means the “basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed for operation of a society or enterprise.” Most can agree that the United States needs to invest in our roads, buildings and …Read More
USB-Connect, A Deeper Dive!
by Tom Secondino Based on the response generated by our article on the USB-Connect and the influx of questions we’ve received, we felt it appropriate to provide a deeper look into the connected service tool. This month we will look at USB-Connect from a technician’s perspective. Let’s lead off with set up. First, download the …Read More
Brooklyn Big Steam
There are few places in the world with a higher concentration of steam boilers than Brooklyn, NY. So it stands to reason that the borough – with roughly 3 million residents – has quite a demand for steam technicians. As the Boomer generation retires, many of the remaining tradesmen and women have become quite specialized. …Read More
One Tech’s Take on the New Citadel Condensing Boiler
by Rich Zalepa I’ve been in this industry for a while and I’ve installed boilers large and small in almost every scenario where water needs to be heated. It’s a rare occurrence when a new product comes along that really changes how you do your job, or even how effectively you can conduct your …Read More
Discovery Hill
Colorado Custom At 9,600 feet above sea level and only 75 miles from Denver, Breckenridge, CO, provides some of the best skiing in the US. The cool climate also means that most homes – even the big ones, and there are plenty of those – aren’t air conditioned. The town’s official population is 5,000, but …Read More
24 hour Tech Support in a Box!
USB-Connect Tool-Features, Benefits and Application by Tom Secondino,Technical Sales Support Specialist This month’s article will cover the benefits and usage of our new USB-Connect app and Bluetooth adapter. What does USB-Connect do for you? Enhanced diagnostics? Got it. Step by step tutorials including illustrations on everything from fuel conversion to troubleshooting? Yep! Missing a manual …Read More
Women in Energy Grows, Expands Learning Opportunities
In the six years since its inception, Women in Energy (WE) has grown rapidly, providing women a variety of opportunities to strengthen their skillset and knowledge base as it relates to their careers in the energy, heating and cooling industries. The organization now has 500 nationwide members and is on a steady growth trajectory. It’s …Read More
USB-Connect Service Tool-Application, Usage and Benefits
As our industry grows more complex, the role of the service technician becomes more challenging. After having a career as a service technician, contractor, and now as a member of the Heating Solutions Sales tech team, I appreciate the struggle a field tech can have when faced with multiple manufacturers offering a wide variety of …Read More
A Mountain Man Plumbing
Young and Ambitious The number of remote, full-time workers in the US has grown from pre-pandemic levels of 17 percent to 44 percent today. Densely populated and traditionally high-paying areas – think: New York City and Los Angeles – have experienced a population decrease while many office workers, with newfound freedom, have left for greener …Read More
HVAC Tactical Movement Sparks Industry Mindset Change
HVAC Tactical Movement Sparks Industry Mindset Change By Dan Vastyan When Ben Poole founded HVAC Tactical in 2018, he quickly found himself defending or explaining the brand’s name to curious trade pros who’d found him on social media. People started seeing the hats, T-shits and stickers he’d created with the heating and cooling trade in …Read More
U.S. Boiler Company Introduces Condensing Boiler App for Installation and Service
Lancaster, PA. U.S. Boiler Company has introduced the new USB-Connect smartphone application to expedite and streamline installation, service and troubleshooting of all its current and recent condensing and combi boilers. The app, which interfaces with all models of Alta, Aspen, Alpine and K2 boilers through a Bluetooth adapter, allows technicians to access the boiler control …Read More
What is a Combination Boiler, and which is the Best in 2022?
A combination boiler, often called a “combi boiler,” providess both space heating and domestic hot water (DHW) in one package to save space, and in a lot of cases, money. Modern, high efficiency combi units like U.S. Boiler Company’s Alta Combi, are stainless steel condensing boilers with the addition of a built-in secondary heat exchanger …Read More
Alta Product Line Expands with Larger Combi & Heat-only Boiler Models!
U.S. Boiler Company has significantly expanded its line of condensing, gas-adaptive boilers with a larger combi size and several heat-only models. Introduced last spring, the high efficiency Alta Combi boiler (136 MBH DHW / 120 heating) grew rapidly in popularity, and the trade anticipated a wider size range and heat-only options. The stainless steel Alta …Read More
Griffiths Mechanical Expedite Hydronic Installations with the Alta Boiler
Ryan and Eric Griffiths took over Griffiths Mechanical Inc. in 2019. Their father, John Griffiths, founded the commercial refrigeration company in 1981. Since then, the brothers have been on a constant growth trajectory. “We could always use more employees, but we have the best guys in the surrounding counties, hands down,” said Ryan, president of …Read More
Gas Adaptive Combustion: Advanced Technology for Condensing Boilers
By Jerry King, Technical Sales Support Specialist for Heating Solutions Sales Company (HSSC), representing U.S. Boiler Company A Brief History Gas adaptive combustion was developed in Europe. In 2001, the first condensing boiler with a gas adaptive valve was introduced. This technology was developed to address the widely different BTU content of the fuel supply …Read More
The Profitability of PR in the Trades
By Tom Soukup, Principal of Patriot Water Heater Co. and Patriot Pool Heating Company Public relations (PR) is a term you don’t often hear associated with small HVAC businesses. But think about it in its simplest form. Anything you do to interact with or improve your relations with the public is, in fact, PR. Some …Read More
Does a New Boiler Qualify for an Efficiency Rebate or Tax Credit?
If you’re considering a boiler upgrade in your home or business, you should know that many ENERGY STAR rated boiler models qualify for efficiency rebates and tax incentives, depending on where you live. The ENERGY STAR label is given to products that meets strict energy efficiency guidelines. U.S. Boiler Company is pleased to provide you …Read More
AHR Show Returns, Stoking Industry Excitement
The HVAC/R industry’s largest trade show made a solid comeback after a one-year, COVID-induced hiatus. Las Vegas hosted the 2022 AHR trade show January 31-February 2. The city, which depends heavily on conventions, seemed thrilled to have heating and cooling professionals back to visit and exhibit. There was widespread, cautious optimism concerning turnout at the event, given …Read More
Comfortable, Quiet Steam Boiler Heat in NYC
New York City still runs on steam heat. From the countless Brownstones that line its streets to the high-rises and universities served by Con Edison’s steam utility, vaporized water reigns king in the Five Boroughs. Saying that David and John Cataneo Jr. cut their teeth on cast iron steam boilers wouldn’t be a stretch. They …Read More
Customer Boiler Rebates Made Easy with U.S. Boiler’s Rebates Center
Keeping track of every boiler efficiency rebate and incentive available to your customer base is a job in and of itself. It requires tedious research to find every reimbursement program available in different zip codes and specific to each boiler model you install. U.S. Boiler has just made this task effortless, helping you to sell …Read More
Boiler Servicing: Safety Considerations for the New Year
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company Welcome to another edition of US Boiler Report Tech Tips. We’re glad you’re here to join us. After closing out 2021, 2022 seems ready to offer no shortage of challenges. In this Tech Tip article, our goal is to help you avoid or eliminate practices …Read More
Navigating Supply Chain Challenges in the HVAC Industry
By: Allie Perez If you are looking for good news about the state of the supply chain, look elsewhere. The consequences of the supply chain shortages and delays are felt daily by HVAC business owners and contractors. The cold hard truth is that the supply chain issues, not to mention inflation, are showing no signs …Read More
Building Comfort at the Outlaw Mechanical Residence
Keefer and Dorian Rader, owners of Outlaw Mechanical (with tagline “The Boiler Experts”) could reasonably change their motto to “The Home Improvement Experts.” After all, they’re licensed mechanical contractors as well as licensed general contractors. Outlaw Mechanical has served the greater Albuquerque, NM, area for 12 years. The Rader’s purchased their home four years ago, in …Read More
Hydronic Snowmelt Systems 101
By Jason Ridgeway We installed our first hydronic snowmelt system in 1995. It’s not a huge part of our business, but the projects are typically large, and we do half a dozen or so per year in the greater Chicago area. The largest we’ve installed is 55,000 square feet. Six per year doesn’t sound like …Read More
A Power Quality Primer for Service Technicians (Part 2 – Everything Else)
By Dana Lilly, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company A Power Quality Primer for Service Technicians Part 1 was a brief discussion of the most damaging and most common power quality issue, the voltage transient or spike. At the risk of oversimplification, part 2 will lump together all the other potential power quality …Read More
Recruit and Retain Tradeswomen Through Inclusivity
By: Allie Perez Inclusivity, a multi-syllabic word inundating the vernacular of today’s culture. The word implies including those who would otherwise be outcast or marginalized. Tradeswomen are no stranger to being marginalized in their non-traditional occupations. Being an inclusive employer is more than just being willing to hire women. Inclusivity is a cultural shift in …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Central Comfort Perfects Oil-to-Gas Heating Retrofits
Challenge: Northern New Jersey is ripe for cast iron boiler replacements. The challenge in New Jersey is conducting the retrofits fast enough to keep pace with demand. Central Comfort, a do-it-all mechanical firm in Dover, NJ, has perfected the process. Owner Willy Faust has been installing U.S. Boiler Company cast iron boilers for 35 years. …Read More
Is Installing a Hydronic Snowmelt System a Good Investment?
Whether or not you should invest in and install a snowmelt system on your property is entirely a matter of personal choice. Understand that the snowmelt systems being discussed here are hydronic snowmelt systems. This means that tubing to carry warm (not hot) water are buried under the concrete that is to be free of …Read More
Introducing the NEW SteamMax Gas-Fired Steam Boiler
We are proud to announce the release of SteamMax; a new benchmark for longevity, efficiency, and flexibility in cast iron, gas-fired, steam boilers! The all-new SteamMax boiler is offered as a solution to the widely-recognized simultaneous challenges presented by poor water quality and steam boiler design necessitated by efficiency standards. The new boiler has been …Read More
Making the SteamMax – A Steam Boiler for Modern Challenges
By Ed Johann, Senior Engineering Advisor, U.S. Boiler Company – Aka Dinosaur Emeritus My email signature concludes with a tongue-in-cheek job title of “Dinosaur Emeritus,” accompanied by a graphic of a dying Tyrannosaurus Rex. It’s funny but true; I’ve been in this industry a very long time. Not quite as long as steam heating systems have …Read More
Avoid Mad Max and Make Max Boiler Steam!
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company We hope you all are as excited as we are about the release of the new SteamMax boiler! As with all our products, we strive to assist contractors before, during and after the installation. This month’s tech tip is a brief synopsis of the information …Read More
Nature of the New Steam Beast
By Dan Vastyan Steam systems are not what they used to be, or at least so it would seem to some homeowners. The fact of the matter is that many retrofit steam boilers are not lasting as long as their predecessors under certain conditions – especially those built after 1992. Naturally, it begs the question, …Read More
How do I make my boiler last as long as possible? Ensure it has fresh intake air!
How do I make my boiler last as long as possible? That’s not a rare question for homeowners to ask heating contractors. Once a boiler has been installed properly, there are three main factors that determine how “healthy” that boiler will remain over its service life: Proper service: Is the unit inspected and cleaned on …Read More
Contractor Case Study: MacCo Energy Improves Heating Costs at Concord Academy
Challenge: MacCo Energy, a division of the much larger MacCormack Plumbing, in Billerica, Massachusetts, has handled HVAC service and replacement work at the nearby Concord Academy preparatory school for several years. Like other buildings on the campus, the Headmaster’s House was in need of an oil-to-gas conversion. The 12,000 square-foot, 150-year-old building was heated by …Read More
Mastering the Art of Multi-boiler Systems
For residential-only contractors, multi-family heating projects have a unique set of challenges. These jobs progress like commercial projects and need to be designed as such. Of course, they’re still residential in nature, but for the most part, it’s commercial work. J.A.M. Plumbing & Heating, Inc. has built an interesting space in the skilled workforce of …Read More
A Power Quality Primer for Service Technicians (Part 1: The Transient)
By Dana Lilly, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company As a qualified service technician, you are no doubt familiar with basic electrical circuitry and the testing of voltage, continuity, or amperage draw. Generally speaking, that’s all you’ll need to know 98% of the time. So why go into a discussion about power quality? …Read More
The Grim Outlook for Plastics, Parts and Polymers
By: Allie Perez Contractors are no strangers to adversity. The pandemic started a snowball effect that still has HVAC and plumbing professionals reeling. Just as COVID restrictions loosened, Mother Nature went into full attack mode. Winter storms and the blockage of the Suez Canal took no time to rear their ugly head. The summer ushered …Read More
Prefabrication Raises the Bar
By: Tom Soukup I’ve been in this trade for 20 years. Much has changed in that time, but two things in particular are very different from when I lit my first standing pilot. First, equipment has gone from “dumb” to “intelligent.” That includes boilers, controls, T-stats, tools and even utility vans. Second, society wants instant …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Mialek Mechanical, a Product-Specific Installer in Hoboken, NJ
Since Mia and her husband, Rich Szymanski, started Mialek Mechanical in Hoboken, NJ, they have turned down plenty of jobs simply because the homeowner wanted something that would not work. “I just don’t want the company’s name on a job that’s not going to live up to its potential,” Rich explained. New construction is rare …Read More
The Importance of Clean Combustion/Intake Air
By Jerry King, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company Just like our bodies need an adequate source of clean air to function properly, so does a boiler. Its peak performance depends on clean fresh air that is free from chemicals and pollutants. A boiler requires oxygen to burn the fuel it uses to …Read More
Hydronics = Affordable Fresh Air
By Rich Medairos, Director of Engineered Products & Systems Training, Taco Comfort Solutions The scientific community now has a preliminary grasp on how large a threat the novel COVID-19 virus poses. What’s yet unknown – among building design professionals and the skilled trades – is the impact that the virus will have on commercial building …Read More
TBros: 119 Years and Counting
Trethewey Brothers opened its door in 1902 on Washington Street in Roslindale, Massachusetts. Now, four generations later, it’s still family owned, but by two families. “I became a partner in 2010, but I’ve been with the company for 35 years,” said Mike Flanagan. “Bob Trethewey, whose uncle George retired about 11 years ago, is also a …Read More
Chilled Beams: The Ideal Commercial HVAC Response to COVID-19
Hydronic chilled beam systems offer one of the best, most efficient means of heating and cooling interior commercial spaces. Currently, with broad concerns about improving indoor air quality (IAQ) in response to COVID-19, active chilled beams are enjoying a resurgence of interest among professionals in the commercial building industry. Key advantages of hydronic chilled beams …Read More
The Most Efficient Heating System for New Home Construction
In a previous blog, we discussed selecting the correct boiler in a replacement situation. Similarly, how do you select the most efficient heating system for a new home? There are many heating systems to choose from. The best solution depends on a variety of factors. Fortunately, many of the factors depend on things that you …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Husmann Plumbing Cuts School’s Operating Costs in Half
The boiler problems plaguing the Sierra Grande K-12 school in Fort Garland, CO were well known to more than a few people in the area, Matt Husmann included. He’s co-owner of Husmann Plumbing and Heating, in nearby Alamosa, CO, but one of his children also attended the school. The units were using a great deal …Read More
Introducing the NEW Alta Gas-Adaptive Combi Boiler
We are excited to announce the introduction of our NEW Alta Combi boiler, the industry’s FIRST AND ONLY gas-adaptive combi boiler with 10:1 turndown! Gas-adaptive Technology The Alta Combi high efficiency condensing boiler offers best in class, next-generation gas adaptive technology that provides the shortest installation time and lowest operating costs. The powerful gas-adaptive technology offers …Read More
Windy City Custom
Reliable. Forward thinking. Solution oriented. This is how people describe B&D Heating & Cooling. Those traits, along with a powerful work ethic, were brought to the U.S. by Vasile Totorovici and Emilian Moldovan from Romania before they founded the company. Vasile immigrated to the States in 1995 and learned the HVAC trade. Emilian, or Emi, …Read More
Choosing the Right Size Circulator for the Job
By Rick Johnson, Applications Engineer for U.S. Boiler Company Remember when installing a boiler was easy? You put the boiler in place, hooked up some pipes, put a couple of circulators in place and turn on the switch. Not so much anymore. There are several variables to be mindful of when installing a hydronic system. Today …Read More
Stating the (not so) Obvious – Label Your Drain Valves
By Mike Holmes, owner of Holmes Heating & Air Conditioning in Denver Colorado. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right? Let me share a lesson I learned the hard way. I had recently completed a radiant heating system in a new construction home. It consisted of an Aspen condensing boiler, buffer tank, ECM …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Phinncraft Provides Heat to the Wilds of Alaska
Tundra tradesman Dan Phinney serves a unique market. He owns Phinncraft, an unusual heating company. As far as he knows, he’s the only heating professional serving the wilds of southwestern Alaska. His commute typically involves a bush plane, miles of barren tundra, and a rough landing outside an Eskimo village. “From my shop in Dillingham, …Read More
Snowmelt Solves a Challenge at Sight & Sound
Live Christian entertainment made a quantum leap in 1998, with Sight & Sound Theatre’s construction of the Millennium Theatre in Lancaster, PA. The original theatre, built ten years earlier, was lost to a fire. When Sight & Sounds rebuilt, they did it to accommodate a larger crowd and grander performances. The 330,000 square-foot Millennium Theatre, …Read More
It Ain’t What You Don’t Know – Boiler Water Quality Review
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company Two young fish were swimming along one day and happened across a much older fish swimming towards them. As they passed, the older fish smiled and said, “Hey boys, how’s the water?” The two younger fish glanced at each other and swam past. A …Read More
Fact or Fiction: Staple-Up Radiant Doesn’t Work
By Rocky DiTommasso, Northeastern Supply There is some debate that different methods of installing in-floor radiant systems provide varying levels of responsiveness, comfort and efficiency. Some purist installers think that the only way to make radiant work is to pour a slab over the tubing, whether that be a concrete slab on grade or a …Read More
DOE-2021: What to Expect and how U.S. Boiler Company has Responded
As Earth begins another trip around the sun, the Department of Energy’s new boiler efficiency minimum standards take effect. The 2021 DOE regulations apply to residential boilers less than 300 MBH in capacity and are effective for boilers manufactured on or after 1/15/2021. The 2021 DOE Regulations: Gas-fired water boilers – must …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Holmes Heating & Air Delivers Warmth for the Holidays
Mike Holmes founded Holmes Heating & Air, in Denver, CO, after nearly 20 years in the trade. He has intentionally kept the business small with tremendous attention to detail. In October of last year, Holmes took a call from a local real estate office. The agent was selling a spectacular property just outside the city …Read More
What does boiler turndown ratio mean?
If you’ve been shopping for a new, high efficiency, condensing gas boiler, you may have seen “turndown ratio” mentioned in product literature. This can also be referred to as “firing ratio,” or simply “turndown.” So, what is the turndown ratio of a boiler? To understand the term, we first have to cover how a …Read More
Boiler by Rail
The mid-1960s were the beginning of the end for many of the passenger railroads that spider webbed across the Mid-Atlantic. By that time, the personal automobile had been eroding the railroad business for decades, along with growing truck fleets that carried cargo more safely and efficiently than ever before. In 1965, a number of train …Read More
The Ins and Outs of Antifreeze in Hydronic Applications
By: Richard Zalepa Using antifreeze in hydronic systems is a necessary evil, when the application calls for it. Our company, Patriot Pool Heating Co., uses antifreeze more often than most heating contractors, and we’ve learned a thing or two along the way. Contrary to what the company name suggests, we’re actually a full-service HVAC contracting …Read More
Introducing the Series X-PV Gas Boiler
The Series X-PV gas-fired water boiler combines the best attributes of U.S. Boiler Company’s ESC and PVG boiler product lines. This new power or direct vent cast iron boiler is the perfect solution for installations with absent or unusable chimneys. At 85% AFUE, the Series X-PV meets the 2021 DOE boiler efficiency minimum standards. The …Read More
The Skilled Trades are Essentially Essential
By: Allie Perez The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought new words into the average American vernacular. One such word, thrown around at every press conference or piece of proposed legislation; “essential.” On March 16, 2020, President Trump outlined specifically which industries fall under “essential.” Classified under the jurisdiction of the Cybersecurity and infrastructure Security Agency …Read More
Spooky Mansion Retrofit
Contractor Case Study: Kelleher Heating and Cooling “We’ve uncovered skeletons in the basement here, and there’s an old graveyard in the woods,” said the caretaker of the historic Brook Hill estate, just north of Richmond, VA. Dating back to the 1700s, the old family plantation has been home to dozens of Virginia dignitaries, and …Read More
How Social Media is Changing the Trade With Eric Aune
Eric Aune and John Mesenbrink co-founded Mechanical-Hub.com in 2011. Their concept was to create an online-only news resource for tradesmen and women in the HVAC, plumbing and refrigeration industries. They wanted the flexibility to publish instantly and often, instead of being limited to a monthly or bi-weekly publication. From the beginning, their goal for website …Read More
Uber for HVAC Parts
Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber and Lyft all have something in common, despite the fact that the first two companies move food and the latter two move people. These new(ish) services provide custom local transportation, and they do it fast. Sure, taxi cabs and pizza delivery services have accomplished the same tasks for decades. The tides are …Read More
Moving to the Mountains
As you read this, thousands of American families are considering a move to less densely populated areas. Towns and cities within the Rocky Mountain States – Idaho, Montana and Wyoming specifically – are seeing unprecedented population growth. The idea of living in rural and suburban areas is gaining a lot of interest among residents of …Read More
Primary/Secondary Piping of Cast Iron Boilers: Should We Do It?
By Rick Johnson, Applications Engineer for U.S. Boiler Company As the condensing boiler market continues to grow, contractors are becoming more familiar with the requirement of primary/secondary piping. They are also starting to understand why and how p/s piping works. There is one reason… protecting the boiler! Condensing boilers have very low water content, which makes …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Modern Heating and Air Completes an Oil-To-Gas Conversion
Challenge: For Modern Heating and Air, in Milford, CT, the overarching theme is to strive for 110 percent customer satisfaction. This particular customer’s home was built in the 1920s. It’s about 2,200 square feet in size with low ceilings and tight doorways. The home’s oil-fired hydronic system was in need of a new boiler and …Read More
Should I Replace my Boiler with a Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump?
Mini-split heat pumps, also called ductless heat pumps, are becoming more common in North America. Under the right conditions, these systems offer a variety of advantages to homeowners, but those advantages should be carefully weighed against the drawbacks to determine whether or not these systems are a good option for your home. An example of …Read More
LP Conversion Fixes Comfort and Efficiency
Quarryville, PA, is home to a true hydronic savant. Tom Soukup, owner of Patriot Water Heater, Co., used to do general plumbing and a variety of HVAC work. However, over the past few years, he has transitioned to a sole focus on hydronic work. “Hydronic heating – and cooling for that matter – is a …Read More
Filling the Skilled Labor Gap with the Unemployed
By: Allie Perez Indisputably, the United States finds itself in the midst of a skilled labor shortage. Baby boomers continue to retire and leave skilled labor jobs unfilled. High school students flock to colleges leaving skilled labor jobs unfilled. Unable to fill existing jobs limits a company’s ability to attract new business with not enough …Read More
Oil’s well that ends well! Oil system servicing and diagnostics.
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company We will open this month’s article by saying “ALWAYS CHECK FOR LEAKS ON ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE!!” Having said that, while oil burner technology has certainly advanced since the introduction of the power oil burner, some of the basic premises which are critical to clean …Read More
The Very Real Dangers of Heat Stroke
July of last year brought near-record high temperatures for half of the nation. That month, two HVAC technicians in the U.S. died from heat stroke. Both bodies were found in attics, after the men had succumbed to the dangers that exposure to high heat and exertion can present. U.S. Boiler Company spoke with a technician …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Around The Clock Heating & Cooling
Brothers John and Andy Montz own Around The Clock Heating & Cooling, Inc., and run the operation with a number of other family members in New Haven, CT. The area is home to many rental apartments that typically house students at Yale University. A property owner called Around The Clock about the ailing hydronic systems …Read More
What is Outdoor Reset Control?
So, your heating contractor suggests adding an “outdoor reset control” to your boiler and hydronic heating system. Would this be a good investment? Outdoor reset controls are relatively simple devices that provide ample energy savings and a higher level of indoor comfort during the heating season. In fact, boilers equipped with outdoor reset can save …Read More
High Efficiency Solutions Utilizes K2 Combi Boiler
The circa-1900 brick mansionettes that line the streets of Landisville, PA, are a remnant of the area’s early prosperity. At the turn of the century, Landisville was an industrial center surrounded by rich farmland. Grain mills, coal mills, cigar factories, tobacco warehouses and machine shops thrived along a railroad network that connected them to the …Read More
Strainers for Hydronic Applications
By Rick Johnson, Applications Engineer for U.S. Boiler Company I’ve never used a strainer before… why do I need one now? It’s a good question and one that most technicians have asked themselves at one time or another. Just because you haven’t used one in the past does not mean you did not need one. Have …Read More
Your COVID-19 Response Counts: Tips for Employee and Customer Safety
The COVID-19 virus is still spreading across the US as you read this, and the extent of its damage won’t be known for a long time. Suffice to say, this is not business as usual. Individuals, businesses and government agencies are all pondering the same question. How do we weigh the risk of exposure against …Read More
Corona Consequences: The Virus’ Effect on the Skilled Trades
By: Allie Perez The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected every business and industry in the world. Whether business is considered “essential” or “non-essential,” all businesses have had to cope with changes to employment, safety and financial stability. Within the construction industry, divides between critical business for infrastructure versus new industrial construction sites have fueled …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Michael Long Plumbing & Heating
Challenge: Michael Long, owner of Michael Long Plumbing & Heating, in Whitehall, PA, was building his own “forever home.” Having grown up in a house with hydronic heat, he knew the comfort level that hydronics could provide. He also wanted a large, multi-head shower similar to the ones he has installed in the homes of …Read More
Emergency HVAC Service While Social Distancing
If there’s any good news associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic, it may come in the form of the virus’ timing. We can be glad that it didn’t arrive here in earnest during the heart of winter. A mid-winter outbreak would have likely forced the issue of close contact between HVAC and plumbing professionals and …Read More
Tips for a Successful High Efficiency, Condensing Boiler Installation
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company A successful high efficiency, condensing boiler installation starts with proper planning and proper boiler sizing. Yes, this means you must complete a thorough heat loss calculation. I often ask in training seminars, “Is it more important to properly size a cast …Read More
A Man for All Seasons
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company Good morning, this is Tom. How can I help you? “Yeah, I got one of your boilers here we would like some help with.” Sure, what model are you working on? “It’s an old P205.” Thanks. And the serial number? “653729xx” What’s going on? …Read More
Domestic Hot Water Recirculation
By Anthony Tosco, owner of Avanti Plumbing and Heating, Inc Step aside gold. Move along, crude oil. The most valuable resource on earth is… water. Or at least that’s what a growing number of scientists and environmentalists believe, and likely with some level of truth. Some go as far as to say that many of …Read More
Local For-Profit Companies Improve Life at Nonprofit Women’s Shelter
At Clare House, a non-profit transitional home dedicated to serving homeless women and their families in Lancaster, PA, it’s a typical day. Mothers are getting ready for work while simultaneously preparing kids for school or daycare. The phone rings frequently while the families are out for the day. Maryanne O’Neill, Clare House Executive Director, answers questions …Read More
Trending Now: In-Law Quarters
The Boomer generation is retiring rapidly, outpaced only by the increasing cost of healthcare and retirement communities. Add to that, life expectancy is longer now than ever before. Amidst what many would call the current housing bubble, it leaves a lot of families considering the option of living with adult family members. Multi-generational living has …Read More
U.S. Boiler Company’s COVID-19 Response
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closure of non-essential businesses for a minimum of two weeks (starting March 17). U.S. Boiler Company is designated as an essential business and will remain open during this time. For the safety and well-being of its employees and community, we have implemented a …Read More
COVID-19 Update
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf ordered the closure of non-essential businesses for a minimum of two weeks (starting 3/17/2020). U.S. Boiler Company is designated as an essential business and will remain open during this time. For the safety and well-being of our employees and community, the company has implemented a …Read More
Looking for a High Efficiency Oil Boiler?
Need to replace your old oil boiler? If that’s the case, you are probably hoping to find a high efficiency oil boiler that will last you a long time and use as little oil as possible in the process. If you would like, you can utilize our convenient boiler selection tool. You will be prompted …Read More
Educate Homeowners Prior to Installation
By Tom Secondino, Technical Sales Support Specialist for U.S. Boiler Company Homeowner – “I wish I never bought this boiler!” Contractor – “I wish I never took this job!” How could a perfectly engineered job conclude with this conversation? Sadly, this conversation takes place much more often than it should. The worst part is that a …Read More
High Country Hydronics
Hydronic Country. What comes to mind? New England? New York? Maybe even the northern Mid-West, but likely not the New Mexico-Colorado border. You might be more surprised to learn that southern Colorado is full of steam systems. Steam showed up here in force just a few scant decades after the Colorado Territory became the Centennial …Read More
The History of Apprenticeship and What We Risk Losing
By Allie Perez Apprentices may not affect daily life directly, but they are a pivotal component of the skilled trades industry and its future. Famous painter Leonardo Davinci reflected, “Poor is the pupil who does not surpass their master.” As an artist, Davinci lived as an apprentice before success and fame. Once he owned his …Read More
Maximizing the Labor Hour in 2020
The workforce shortage is and has been a hot topic for all skilled labor industries, and that’s not likely to change much in 2020. The bulk of the Boomer generation will retire over the next decade, taking a huge chunk of the existing skilled workforce with it. Hopefully the trades gain more interest among high school …Read More
How much does a boiler replacement cost in 2020?
How much does a boiler replacement cost in 2020? Like all questions with answers that can quickly get technical and may include a lot of variables, this answer depends on a lot of factors. Factors that impact boiler cost: Factors that impact the price of a boiler replacement, or “retrofit” as people in the …Read More
High Altitude Boiler Bliss
Contractor Case Study: IDS Plumbing & Heating LLC Challenge: Central Colorado heating contractor Nick Valenti owns IDS Plumbing & Heating LLC. He received a call that a home in Fairplay, CO needed a new high efficiency boiler for an existing radiant system. But Fairplay lies at 9,953 feet above sea level. Nearly anything that …Read More
Hiring Green: Part 2
Last month, the US Boiler Report covered Dustin Ebersole’s concept of hiring green employees and training them to become the technicians he needs to grow his company. Ebersole owns High Efficiency Solutions, a small mechanical company, and he believes that green hires, as opposed to hiring trained and experienced techs, might be the key to building …Read More
Controlling Multiple High Efficiency Boilers with Energy Management Systems
By Ron Beck, Outside Technical Advisor and Manager of Training for U.S. Boiler Company As many of you are aware, we can operate up to 8 high efficiency boilers in a lead/lag system with just a boiler enable to the master boiler and a handful of Cat-5 cables. There is much more to this story. …Read More