HVAC School - For Techs, By Techs
Redux - The Lost Art of Steam Heating w/ Dan Holohan
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- There's a significant gap in steam heating knowledge that needs to be revived.
- Master venting techniques significantly improve the efficiency of steam heating systems.
- Historical understanding of steam systems can lead to better optimization and restoration practices.
- Choosing restoration over replacement can preserve the integrity and efficiency of older systems.
- Hands-on education and dialogue about past systems can empower the next generation of HVAC professionals.
Summary
The Lost Art of Steam Heating
Brian Law welcomes Dan Holohan to discuss the history and importance of steam heating, emphasizing how knowledge of this field is fading. Much of the expertise surrounding steam heating has been lost since the Vietnam War, as many industry veterans have retired or passed away. Dan highlights his mission to revive this knowledge, noting that many older steam heating systems are still functional, especially in historic buildings.
Master Venting and System Optimization
The conversation shifts to practical applications, such as optimizing steam heating systems by removing unnecessary components instead of adding new ones. Dan discusses master venting techniques to improve efficiency, particularly in retrofitted systems where traditional methods have been compromised. The goal is to achieve better performance while keeping older systems operational, emphasizing knowledge as a key asset.
Historical Context and Technical Insights
Dan shares intriguing historical anecdotes about old steam systems, including their design and operational intricacies. They discuss how low-pressure steam tends to move through pipes more quickly compared to high-pressure steam and how this fundamentally changes the approach to maintaining and optimizing steam heating systems. The significance of the Hartford loop in safe boiler operation is addressed, highlighting its role in preventing boiler explosions.
Restoration vs. Replacement Mindset
The dialogue also touches on the philosophical approach to maintaining older systems, emphasizing restoration over replacement. Dan advocates for a focus on education and understanding old systems rather than defaulting to the latest technology, which leads to wasted resources and diminished historical integrity.
Key Lessons and Future of Steam Heating
Towards the end of the episode, the duo discusses the future of steam heating in the face of modernization pressures. They emphasize the need for technicians and engineers to appreciate the older designs' ingenuity and functionality, citing practical examples from Dan's extensive experience. Ultimately, they encourage professionals in the field to seek knowledge and avoid hastily replacing existing systems without understanding their significance.
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Show notes
In today's podcast, Bryan talks with legendary Hydronics author and trainer Dan Holohan about the history of steam heating and some practical applications of old ideas. Recently, Dan has been working on more novels, having published two of them over the past few months.
Steam heating is a "lost art" nowadays; it has become increasingly uncommon and has been disappearing since the Vietnam War. Many people who understood steam heating either retired or died after the Vietnam War. Many elements of steam heating are difficult to understand or surprising. (For example, steam pressure has a surprising relationship with velocity: low-pressure steam moves through piping much more quickly than high-pressure steam.) So, Dan Holohan is on a mission to revive that knowledge and teach the newer generations about the lost art.
There are many older steam heating systems still operating today, especially in the older large buildings in New York. Dan learned a lot about steam heating when working on these old systems and optimizing them. Most of the time, he optimized those systems by removing unnecessary accessories, not by adding components like steam traps.
Many old boilers used coal as a heat source. Nowadays, many old boilers have been fitted with conversion oil burners with thermostats, but they are still piped for coal. Some systems now have multiple risers or massive vents on the main riser to prevent the thermostats from getting too hot too early and satisfying the thermostat too early. We call that master venting, which reduces pressure and allows steam to move very quickly and efficiently.
Dan also discusses:
- The 2-PSI standard
- Transportation metaphors for BTUs in steam
- Harmful renovations for old boilers
- Replacement vs. restoration mindsets
- Gaps in steam boiler education
- Monopolizing the market if you HAVE the education
- Boiler piping and venting
- Two-pipe vs one-pipe steam
Find out more about Dan and hydronic heating at HeatingHelp.com.
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