Stephen Minnich

Stephen Minnich has nearly 40 years of experience in the heating industry, primarily installing and servicing hydronic systems. He most recently operated Minnich Mechanical Design, based in the Chicago suburb of Elk Grove Village. Minnich is currently an HVAC consultant for Elevate Energy, Chicago.

Contractor Stories

I’ll Take the Blame

A micromanagement leadership style can leave you excessive turnover in your business.

March 4, 2019

Stephen Minnich

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A micromanagement leadership style can leave you excessive turnover in your business.

Contractor Stories

My Kind of Town, Chicago Is

The story of a boiler, a tricky problem with an elusive answer and the help of a knowledgeable friend.

February 4, 2019

Stephen Minnich

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The story of a boiler, a tricky problem with an elusive answer and the help of a knowledgeable friend.

Contractor Stories

The Mod Squad

Tips and techniques on properly servicing and maintaining high-efficiency boilers.

January 5, 2019

Stephen Minnich

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When I say the Mod Squad, I’m not talking about the diverse trio of undercover police agents that gave television a breath of fresh air in the late-1960s and early-1970s. No, this is about so much more than the redemption of Pete, Julie and Linc’s past.

Contractor Stories

Wired for Success

Best practices for setting up the electrical in the mechanical room.

December 5, 2018

Stephen Minnich

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The electric is typically one of the last things you do on an installation but you can’t treat it like a political conversation over Thanksgiving dinner. It can’t be avoided. Here are some tips for giving your clients professional-looking wiring.

Contractor Stories

Hockey, Writing and Wiring

Don’t forget to pay attention to the electric side of hydronic systems.

November 6, 2018

Stephen Minnich

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All I wanted to be when I was a kid was a writer — a sports writer. But not just a sports writer; I wanted to be a beat writer for the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team.

Contractor Stories

'It’ll Never Work'

Converting an old church’s steam system to hot water involves patience — and math.

October 8, 2018

Stephen Minnich

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The job was at an old church, built in 1895, in historic Lemont, Ill. Its steam boiler had failed, leaking from the sections like a sieve. I must do the math and trust the math to make sure my design will perform up to, and beyond, expectations.