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Home » Authors » Dave Yates
Dave Yates

Dave Yates

Dave Yates began his career in the PHCP-PVF trades in 1972 with F. W. Behler, a third-generation plumbing/ HVAC firm he purchased in 1985. Besides running F.W. Behler, writing articles for industry trade publications and speaking at events, Yates also is an experienced teacher in the hydronics industry, serving as an adjunct professor and on the Technical Advisory Board for the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. He can be reached at dyates@consultyates.com.

Articles

ARTICLES

02 PME Dave Yates Column PERC Energy for Everone Hero Award
From the Mechanical Room | Dave Yates

Propane fuels award for Ruby's Inn

Propane use at Ruby’s Inn has helped to eliminate 5,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
November 10, 2023

PERC presented Lance Syrett, general manager of Ruby’s Inn with its national Energy for Everyone Hero Award for environmental stewardship.


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01 PME 0923 CLMN Dave Yates
From the Mechanical Room | Dave Yates

The importance of thermal scald-guard ASSE code-compliant devices

Murder by scalding
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
September 7, 2023

It’s acceptable to raise the hot water storage temperature if you incorporate temperature-balancing scald-guard devices either at the point-of-source, or better still, at all points of use where human contact will occur.


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PME 0723 Dave Yates slide1
From the Mechanical Room

Dave Yates: Salt-free water softener

Be careful of the misinformation pipeline.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
July 7, 2023

Color me a skeptic. One of our supply house salesmen constantly hounded me regarding citrus-based no-salt water softeners. I never did buy into the sales literature hype, so we never installed any.


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steam pipes

Dave Yates: On the lam

An anecdote about a tenant and a 100-year-old steam system.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
May 9, 2023

Judge Roy Lam could easily have been mistaken for a hang-em-high judge from a Clint Eastwood western movie! His demeanor could have scared-straight even the hardest of criminals. While arguing a case before another District Magistrate Judge where the deadbeat customer’s lawyer clearly sensed he was losing the case, he announced I had chosen the wrong venue (District Court for our business area) and should have filed charges against his client in her district. I asked him if he would really want to have me bring this case before Judge Roy Lam? He, realizing that would be a fool’s errand on his part, wisely threw in the towel. We secured full judgment and, finally, got paid.


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inspecting the work

Dave Yates: The submittal process

They only matter if someone of authority is inspecting the work.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
March 7, 2023

The first time I ever bid and landed a commercial plumbing contractor, it was for a huge retail store on the upper floor of a local shopping mall. Every bidder was required to provide submittals for virtually everything being installed.


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High-Low temperature

Dave Yates: Doing the hydronic limbo

Low-temperature hydronic systems reduce energy consumption.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
January 9, 2023

If you’re my age, you’ll remember Chubby Checker singing the Limbo song. If you’re wondering who and what that is, check out the link. I found myself thinking of that song and how low can you go when reviewing some flat panel radiator pictures.


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pottery classroom

Dave Yates: What happens when donated equipment needs costly repairs?

Free ain’t free
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
November 9, 2022

I love design-build mechanical projects, and York Arts was one that presented many challenges. The basement level would be two large pottery classrooms with a third room isolated for the electric kilns, the first floor an art gallery and offices and the upper floor was to be classrooms and a large open space where lectures, painting classes or gatherings would be held. With such a diverse and wide-ranging load for maintaining thermal comfort, multiple zones would need to be created.


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Caleffi's DIRTMAG PRO

Dave Yates: Treating the water inside hydronic systems

Black water
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
September 9, 2022

I was first introduced to black water in 1972 as an apprentice at F. W. Behler, where I had just begun the never-ending learning curve. We were draining a hydronic hot water system that served a large row home with standing cast iron radiators. The water was dark colored and smelled a bit funky, but it was explained, to me, that this was perfectly normal and highly desirable because that indicated the hydronic water was essentially devoid of free oxygen.


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steam heating systems

Dave Yates: Steam to gently warmed water

Best practices for converting steam heating systems.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
July 11, 2022

Customers with steam heating systems often ask if there is any way for them to reduce operating costs. In addition, after asking, they note there is uneven heat distribution and want that resolved, too.


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Formic acid corrosion, erosion

Dave Yates: Formic acid corrosion, erosion

Leaking line sets cause problems despite being protected by insulation.
Dave Yates
Dave Yates
May 12, 2022

I first encountered formic acid erosion/corrosion when our installed air conditioning and heat pump evaporator (indoor) coils began suddenly leaking refrigerant in 2008. These were not old coils either, and some had only been installed for a year when the issues arose. 


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April 27, 2023

13 Pitfalls of Heat Pump Water Heaters and How to Avoid Them

On Demand This webinar will discuss the available options in electric tankless water heaters, and how to avoid pitfalls when specifying the equipment.

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On Demand Installing and maintaining traditional tank-style heat pump water heaters is a challenge due to the added complexity these systems require. This webinar will discuss the ways in which contractors can harness the benefits of tankless heat pump water heaters to their advantage and ensure positive customer feedback.  

Earn: 1 PDH; 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU

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