Systems Help Center

Our comprehensive HVAC Systems Help Center covers a wide range of HVAC-related topics, including air conditioning and heat pumps, geothermal, hot-water heating, thermostats and controls, solar, steam heating, and warm air. We also have a section of informative and entertaining articles to help you sharpen your HVAC business skills. And our Heating Museum is a captivating journey through the evolution of HVAC technologies. 

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Recent Articles

OXI Cleaner

Here's an interesting cleaning product for coal-fired boilers, circa-1950. Thanks to Michael Keefe Brewer for sharing.

Published on 06/10/2014 10:19 AM
Posted in Heating Museum
Heating the House

Here is a wonderful explanation of what was involved with caring for a coal-heated home in 1943. (From The New York Times, 1944.)

Published on 06/10/2014 10:16 AM
Posted in Heating Museum
Louisiana
Coal-Fired Heating

In the days before central heating life was hard. So hard, in fact, that it’s almost impossible for us to comprehend the difference that central heating made to people’s ...

Published on 06/10/2014 10:06 AM by Lisa Camfield
Posted in Heating Museum
Chimney Data

This excerpt about chimney dimensions, design, construction, and troubleshooting is from Spencer Heater's Steamfitters Handbook, published in 1917.

Published on 06/09/2014 4:55 PM
Posted in Heating Museum
Explosion Reports from the Early-1930s

Boiler explosion reports from Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company's Locomotive magazine. Special thanks to Frank "Steamhead" Wilsey for finding and sca...

Published on 06/09/2014 4:35 PM
Posted in Heating Museum