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
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
A Guide for Homeowners: When Should I Replace My Boiler?
Asking when to replace a boiler is a lot like asking when to replace a car. Does it receive proper maintenance with regular oil changes? How many miles is it driven each year? What kind of engine does it have? As with most questions, there’s no simple answer. However, examining the main factors that impact …Read More
High Country Hydronics
By Steve Fernandez Hydronic Country. What comes to mind when you hear that? 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 …Read More
DEPHER: A Promise Fulfilled
Jimmy Anderson has been a boiler technician in Burnley, Lancashire, UK for 26 years. His story is unique. While he’s made appearances in the United States on social media, to my knowledge, his story has never been told among the skilled trade community in North America. I believe it’s worth telling, especially now, during the …Read More
Combi Boilers for Commercial Condos
“Commercial Condos” are gaining popularity nationwide for small businesses in the service industry. These spaces, typically found in large post-frame buildings, offer a workshop atmosphere perfect for a company with a small fleet of vehicles that’s in need of garage bays, storage space and an office. Property developers and managers have seen increased demand for …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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Contractor Case Study: Wilfre Co. Inc.
Improving Air Systems with Hydronics Challenge: Wilfre Co. Inc. in Herbon, MD received a call that a customer’s system wasn’t performing well. The large home had a heat pump system with supplementary heat supplied by hydronic coils in the ductwork. Below 30°F, the system relies on a boiler for space heating. The existing boiler …Read More
Contractor Case Study: Paradigm Plumbing & Mechanical
Radiant Comfort Inside and Hydronic Convenience Outside Challenge: Paradigm Plumbing & Mechanical, Inc., in the greater Detroit area, is known for their meticulous hydronic work. They were hired to install a hydronic heating system and snowmelt system for a large custom residence. Vastly different supply water temperatures were needed, and the snowmelt system would obviously run for …Read More