Articles by Dan Holohan

Finicky Soap Pump - The ACHR News

The Story of the Finicky Soap Pump

A little reverse psychology might go a long way
Dan Holohan
September 10, 2018
If I owned a nice Italian restaurant and had a finicky soap pump in the men’s room, I’d definitely swap it for a good one. I mean, they charge enough for the food in this place. How much could a working soap pump cost? And how cheap were these people? Gosh, talk about leaving a bad impression.
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DAN HOLOHAN

Can You Convince Me to Hire You?

Good contractors tell customers what they really want to hear
Dan Holohan
November 20, 2017
Let’s say I need a new heating system, and I’m calling around (I’m too old to do anything else). I ask you to stop by, take a look at what I need, and tell me why I should choose you over the others.
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The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York

The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen

I’m honored to be part of New York City’s first technical school
Dan Holohan
September 18, 2017
I was born in Manhattan. When I was young and starting out in this business, I typed a quote from Carnegie on good paper and put it in a frame. I hung it on the wall just above my typewriter and read it again and again.
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radiant turf-conditioning system

The Engel Method

The invention of PEX and the permanent-magnet motor
Dan Holohan
June 19, 2017
When I met Thomas Engel in Sweden on Nov. 28, 1990, he said, “The paths of life are frequently this strange.” Afterward, he mentioned that if a shoe factory had been present in his vicinity at the time he invented PEX, we would perhaps be walking around today on shoe soles made of cross-linked polyethylene.
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THE ARSENAL:

The Arsenal of New York City

District heating, steam radiators, and getting the air out
Dan Holohan
October 17, 2016

The Arsenal is one of only two parks department buildings that take heat from the district steam system run by Consolidated Edison. The problem was it was taking two hours for steam to reach the radiators once it had passed through the PRV station, which had people very upset.


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Before drawing off the boiler’s old water, pour a pint or so of oil on the surface of the water in the expansion tank, which is always to be found at the highest point in the system.

Summer, Hot Water, and Steam

The effects of fresh water and near-boiling water on iron pipe
Dan Holohan
July 11, 2016

I was thinking about how we’ve grown so used to central heating and, with the exception of an occasional cleaning, pretty much ignore our boilers and heating systems when the weather gets hot and sticky. I wondered if it had always been this way...


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As tradesmen, we all have tools that immediately spark memories. For some, it’s their first manometer or pressure-temperature gauge. One of those tools for Dan Holohan was Billy Escowitz’s thief-wielding pliers.

Old Tools of the Trade

Sometimes our hands and eyes can be the best instruments
Dan Holohan
April 18, 2016

When I got older and was at the bar with my father, I was thinking about Billy. I asked my father about him and those two pair of pliers he always kept so close at hand. My father smiled as he remembered.


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Hydronics Zone

Where Are Our Apprenticeships?

The path to a career in the HVACR industry is through hands-on education
Dan Holohan
December 28, 2015

Training is for dogs, dancing bears, and little kids who crap in their pants. Is that the way we think of apprentices? Maybe that’s the real problem.


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Inventor of the Pipe Tong and More

The stories of Daniel Chapman — think of him and smile.
Dan Holohan
September 28, 2015

Oh, and I should mention that Daniel and Chapman were the man’s first and middle names. His last name was Stillson. Think of him the next time you reach into your toolbox for that durable Stillson wrench that will forever carry its inventor’s proud name. Think of him, remember him, thank him, and smile.


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