We Got Steam Heat!

by Dan Holohan

You a homeowner? Got steam heat? Tired of the uneven heat, the squirting air vents, the high fuel bills, the things that go bump in the night? If so, then this book’s for you! For more than 30 years, I've studied the steam and the work of the “Dead Men” (those are the folks who put all this stuff in). I know these systems inside and out, and I think you'll like my plain-English way of explaining it all to you.

In 172 pages, you’ll learn . . .

* How your steam heating system works (and why it might not)

* What each component is, and what it does (or what it’s supposed to do!)

* Why high pressure in a steam heating system won’t work

* How the choice of fuels can affect your system

* What causes all that noise (and how to get rid of it once and for all)

* Simple ways to lower your fuel bill

* What you can do yourself

* When you should keep your hands in your pockets

* How to find a steam heating pro (and how to avoid the knuckleheads)

* Things that should be in every contract you sign for steam heating work

* The right questions to ask when replacing a boiler

* How to fix, move, clean, paint and/or replace an old radiator

* How to have a hot water zone added to your steam heating system

* How to know if you can have your system converted to hot water heat

* And a whole lot more!

There’s also a bit of history to go along with the mystery of steam heating here – things you probably didn’t know about exploding boilers, Gabriel Fahrenheit, the Spanish Influenza and mechanical mayhem in New York City. I promise you this. You WON'T be bored!

--Dan Holohan

(from publisher website)

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little heavy on the kind of humor that your unfunny uncle can't let go of, but honestly, no one reads this for the prose. There's a wealth of information here, presented clearly and succinctly. A must-have for anyone who has steam heat.

[Jeffrey N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for homeowners who want to understand and maintain their steam heating system

I purchased this book in advance of a major gut renovation of my 1930's house, when I wondered whether I should replace my steam heating system. The book is informative, educational, prescriptive, and even entertaining to read. It taught me that my house's main vent was plugged up by previous owners, and that I had to have my contractor reinstall it. The book helped me understand how to size the new replacement radiators, and what additional parts to purchase without having to get a steam contractor involved. Now I understand how my steam heating system works, and it works very well. I love the radiant warmth of steam heating, and it is much more satisfying than the heat that can be pumped from

[Justin K. Rivers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great primer for steam homeowner. Very accessible with tight writing. Not as detailed as "Lost Art" but good for the homeowner's perspective. Get this if you just bought a house with steam, it will help you.

[Adam Falkenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book - learned a lot about my steam heating system.

[Will G · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book I've ever read about steam heat.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fascinating and I couldn’t put it down! I wish I had read this right before I moved into my house, because it helps you to know what regular maintenance you can do yourself as well as how to identify good and bad service people and what questions to ask when they’re doing an evaluation. It tells you the cause of all the strange noises that your system is making and describes what needs to be done to make those noises stop. No, loud noises are not a fact of life with steam. They are a sign that something is wrong and there is hope to change it!

[mwr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't enough the approachable writing style, but from what I gather most do. Learned quite a bit about the guts of most NYC buildings.

[Anthony Tutko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to learn from and have a good laugh.
Love it.
Enjoy