Hydronic & Steam System FAQs | Expert Answers | Fluid Handling
What products and services does Fluid Handling, Inc. provide?
Fluid Handling, Inc. is a leading manufacturer's representative specializing in commercial, industrial, and institutional hydronic, steam, boiler, and pumping systems. We represent industry-leading manufacturers and provide complete solutions including:
- Commercial and industrial boilers
- Pumps and pumping systems
- Heat exchangers
- Steam specialties
- Burners and combustion equipment
- Hydronic accessories
- Condensate recovery systems
- Domestic hot water equipment
- Controls and automation solutions
- Custom engineered skid packages
In addition to equipment sales, Fluid Handling offers system design assistance, equipment sizing, application engineering, startup support, technical troubleshooting, training, and ongoing customer support.
What industries does Fluid Handling serve throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest?
Fluid Handling supports a wide variety of commercial and industrial markets including:
- Commercial office buildings
- Healthcare facilities and hospitals
- Colleges and universities
- K-12 schools
- Manufacturing facilities
- Food and beverage processing plants
- Breweries and distilleries
- Pharmaceutical facilities
- Multi-family housing
- Hotels and hospitality
- Government and municipal buildings
- Energy and utility facilities
- Industrial processing plants
Our team works with consulting engineers, contractors, facility managers, wholesalers, OEMs, and end users throughout Wisconsin and the surrounding Midwest.
Does Fluid Handling offer boiler system design and sizing assistance?
Yes.
Fluid Handling provides comprehensive application engineering and equipment selection for new construction, retrofit, and replacement projects.
Our engineers assist with:
- Boiler sizing
- Hydronic system design
- Steam system applications
- Boiler room layouts
- Equipment selection
- Expansion tank size
- Pump selection
- Heat exchanger sizing
- Control strategies
- Energy-efficient system design
Our goal is to ensure every system is properly designed for long-term performance and reliability.
What types of pumps does Fluid Handling supply and support?
Fluid Handling represents industry-leading pump manufacturers and supports virtually every commercial pumping application, including:
- End suction pumps
- Inline pumps
- Split case pumps
- Vertical multistage pumps
- Booster systems
- Domestic water pressure boosters
- Condensate pumps
- Boiler feed pumps
- Circulator pumps
- Variable speed pumping systems
Our technical team assists with:
- Pump sizing
- Pump selection
- Performance calculations
- Troubleshooting
- Startup assistance
- Replacement recommendations
Can Fluid Handling design and build custom skid packages?
Absolutely.
Fluid Handling designs and assembles custom packaged systems tailored to your project requirements.
Typical skid packages include:
- Pump skids
- Boiler skids
- Heat exchanger skids
- Domestic hot water systems
- Condensate recovery packages
- Hydronic mechanical packages
Each skid is engineered to reduce installation time, improve quality, and simplify field startup.
What is the difference between hydronic and steam systems?
Hydronic systems circulate heated water through piping to provide heating or cooling throughout a building. These systems are highly energy efficient, easier to control, and common in commercial HVAC applications.
Steam systems generate steam within a boiler and distribute it throughout a facility for heating or industrial process applications. Steam systems can deliver large amounts of energy quickly and are commonly used in hospitals, manufacturing plants, food processing, and industrial facilities.
Fluid Handling specializes in both hydronic and steam system design, troubleshooting, and equipment selection.
Does Fluid Handling provide troubleshooting support for steam and hot water systems?
Yes.
Our experienced technical team helps diagnose and solve system issues including:
- Boiler performance problems
- Pump failures
- Steam trap issues
- Condensate return problems
- Flow imbalances
- Heat exchanger performance
- Air elimination issues
- Control sequence problems
- System efficiency concerns
We work directly with contractors, engineers, and facility maintenance personnel to quickly identify and resolve problems.
What boiler manufacturers does Fluid Handling represent?
Fluid Handling proudly represents several industry-leading boiler manufacturers, including:
- Lochinvar
- Thermal Solutions
- Aldrich Company
- Burnham
- Victory Energy
These manufacturers offer high-efficiency commercial and industrial boilers for hydronic heating, domestic hot water, and steam applications.
Our team helps customers select the right boiler based on capacity, efficiency goals, application requirements, and budget.
Does Fluid Handling offer training classes or PDH-certified educational programs?
Yes.
Through the Fluid Handling Institute (FHI), we regularly host educational seminars, product training, and continuing education programs.
Training topics include:• Boiler operation and service
• Steam systems
• Hydronic systems
• Pump applications
• Heat exchangers
• Energy efficiency
• Controls
• Condensate recovery
• New product technologies
Many engineering-focused programs offer PDH credits for licensed engineers.
What types of heat exchangers does Fluid Handling work with?
Fluid Handling provides engineering support and equipment for many heat exchanger applications, including:
- Plate and frame heat exchangers
- Shell and tube heat exchangers
- Brazed plate heat exchangers
- Domestic hot water systems
- Process heating
- Boiler isolation
- District energy systems
Our team assists with proper sizing, application engineering, and system optimization.
Does Fluid Handling stock replacement parts and equipment locally?
Yes.
Fluid Handling maintains a local inventory of many commonly used replacement parts and equipment to help minimize downtime.
Depending on the product line, customers have access to:
- Boiler replacement parts
- Pumps
- Pump components
- Steam specialties
- Valves
- Controls
- Heat exchanger components
- Accessories
Our knowledgeable staff can quickly identify the correct replacement parts for your equipment.
Can Fluid Handling help improve system efficiency and reduce operating costs?
Absolutely.
Our application engineers evaluate existing systems and recommend improvements that may include:
- High-efficiency boilers
- Variable speed pumping
- Modern controls
- Heat recovery
- Condensate recovery
- Heat exchanger optimization
- Proper equipment sizing
- Steam system improvements
These upgrades can significantly reduce energy consumption, maintenance costs, and overall operating expenses while improving system reliability.
What areas does Fluid Handling serve?
Fluid Handling serves customers throughout Wisconsin and the greater Midwest.
Our sales and technical teams support projects across:
- Wisconsin
- Upper Midwest regional markets
- Commercial and industrial facilities throughout our manufacturers' representative territories
Does Fluid Handling provide startup and service support for commercial boiler systems?
Yes.
Fluid Handling works alongside contractors and manufacturers to provide startup assistance, technical support, and service guidance for commercial boiler systems.
Services include:
- Equipment startup assistance
- System commissioning support
- Operational training
- Troubleshooting
- Warranty coordination
- Service support
- Manufacturer technical resources
Our experienced service group helps ensure systems are operating safely and efficiently.
Why choose Fluid Handling over other hydronic and steam representatives in Wisconsin?
Since 1980, Fluid Handling has built a reputation for technical expertise, responsive customer service, and long-term partnerships.
Customers choose Fluid Handling because we offer:
- Over four decades of industry experience
- Highly trained application engineers
- Industry-leading manufacturers
- Comprehensive product knowledge
- In-house custom skid fabrication
- Local inventory and responsive support
- Startup and troubleshooting expertise
- Ongoing training through the Fluid Handling Institute
- Strong relationships with consulting engineers, contractors, wholesalers, and facility owners
Rather than simply supplying equipment, Fluid Handling partners with customers from design through startup and beyond—helping deliver reliable, energy-efficient mechanical systems that perform for years to come.