Last week, we did a simple oil to gas steam boiler replacement. The customer (Mike) has been a family friend of my parents for more than 60 years. Mike’s grandfather built the house back in the 1920s. The home is currently occupied by Mike’s daughter and her two teenage grandchildren.

Junkyards are one of those forgotten places we in the heating business must visit on occasion.

Last fall, we assessed a boiler replacement project for a town hall. Three out of four existing rare condensing cast iron boilers were inoperable within two years, and seven out of eight boilers failed within 10 years. During our visit, we meticulously examined various aspects to identify any potential issues.

We occasionally receive requests from commercial customers located over 30 minutes away to replace heating systems. For commercial repairs, we may extend our service area. However, for residential heating systems, it's generally not cost-effective for us to travel more than 30 minutes for a repair call. There are exceptions to these rules, and one recently came up.

Most of the employees we hired on a full-time basis worked out quite well. Unfortunately, a few of them did not.

Since the 1980s, my father's business has focused on wet heating systems, particularly hot water and steam. We still specialize in this area today, but occasionally encounter tasks that require expertise beyond our specialty.

Not many homes in our area have radiant heat. We mostly retrofit older homes and commercial buildings. Majority of new constructions in our area are apartment houses that use warm air for heating.

This month, I will share some of the history of the company I run. I suspect many of you will have similar stories.

In the 1980s, defective parts were occasionally received in the heating industry. Warranty issues were not too common back then and problems were quickly resolved by dealing with the supply house. No questions or paperwork were needed.

I try to be on time for appointments and call ahead if I'll be late. I pay attention to my surroundings and take notes on important details. It's important to silence your phone during meetings. Door widths and route planning are important when removing or installing equipment.