ID vs. OD and flare joints

ID vs. OD and flare joints

This article originally posted at: https://www.pmmag.com/articles/104140-dave-yates-id-vs-od-and-flare-joints Don’t over-tighten your flare joints. The fun of being an apprentice starts with a steep learning curve. Being sent to the nearest supply house for two...
Propane tanks and outdoor temperatures

Propane tanks and outdoor temperatures

Another lesson learned in the school of hard knocks. You ever have one of those jobs where nuisance heating system lockouts drove you crazy? The issue was with a propane-fired boiler and, of course, the lockouts were happening when we were swamped with no heat calls...
column: No chimney? No problem!

column: No chimney? No problem!

The tale of an oil hot-water boiler project and a hot head customer. Looking over the new home plans in order to provide the builder with pricing, I noticed there was no chimney included. Way out in the country, where no natural gas was available and the owner had...
Oh, my aching back!

Oh, my aching back!

Considerations for designing and installing radiant snow-melt systems Snow is coming, and my back recoils in fear at the thought. I should have added snow-melting for our driveway, but I was 30 years younger when we built our forever home. Our home is the first of...
Heroes and zeros

Heroes and zeros

Texas PHVAC contractors face unprecedented challenge. BanksPhotos/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images As Texas settled into a deadly-serious Polar Vortex, you could predict the pattern emerging based on your own past experiences with bitter-cold sustained...