TG
Terrence Griffith
Dec 13, 2025
We hired Adam Mechanical to install a new residential steam heating system in our home at a cost of over $50,000, replacing an older Weil-McLain steam system. Based on prior experience—Adam Mechanical previously completed an installation at our church that was done well—we expected the same level of professionalism and workmanship. Unfortunately, our residential experience fell far short of expectations.
Immediately after installation, several serious issues became apparent. The automatic water feeder was extremely loud, audible throughout the entire house. In addition, the pipes produced excessive and disruptive noise, creating what can only be described as constant pandemonium. Importantly, our previous steam system did not exhibit any of these problems, despite being significantly older.
When we raised concerns, the installer attributed the noise to the age of the house, which is located in Overbrook Farms, a designated historic district. Unsatisfied with this explanation, we hired an independent mechanical engineer to assess the system. He identified multiple installation deficiencies, including:
• Failure to replace steam traps, which should have been addressed as part of a proper system replacement
• Incorrect pitch on at least one newly installed pipe
• Installation choices that contributed directly to noise and performance issues
Rather than correcting these issues as part of the original installation, Adam Mechanical attempted to charge an additional $10,000 to address the noise problems. We declined, as these issues were not present prior to their installation and appear to stem from incomplete or improper work.
Adam Mechanical also brought in a representative from Weil-McLain, who stated he was present only to observe and not to opine on the noise. However, he did identify that:
• The water pressure meter was set incorrectly
• Copper piping had been installed in locations where it should not have been
Since that visit, Adam Mechanical has been largely non-responsive, and our attempts to obtain resolution have gone unanswered.
Additionally, if wall access is required during installation, customers should get written confirmation that wall repairs will be handled properly. In our case, Adam Mechanical did not want to restore the walls and proposed having one of their technicians perform the repairs—something we found unacceptable.
Overall, we are deeply disappointed—not only by the quality of workmanship, but also by the dismissive and condescending attitude we encountered when legitimate concerns were raised.
Advice to potential customers:
If you use Adam Mechanical—especially for steam system installations—make sure they are not simply swapping equipment, but fully inspecting and updating all associated components (traps, piping pitch, pressure settings). Get all repair responsibilities clearly documented in writing.
This was a costly project, and the outcome has been extremely frustrating