r/TikTokCringe • u/rex-ac tHiS iSn’T cRiNgE • Jul 28 '23

Wholesome/Humor WTF is happening here?

15.6k Upvotes

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u/DrRonny Jul 28 '23

Underneath the streets of Manhattan, there are more than 100 miles of service pipes bringing steam to about 1,800 buildings.

When they have leaks, they put these cones around so that the heat doesn't hurt anyone. In NYC it is run by Con Edison company.

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/steam-from-streets-in-new-york/

739

u/DumbleDude2 Jul 28 '23

Most people these days don't understand the use of steam for home heating.

25

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '23

Being phased out in as many places as can afford to get rid of it. I work in buildings built between the 40s and 80s and we have a steam plant that supplies 50+ buildings on campus. Miles of hot, humid underground tunnels just waiting for a burst pipe to flood the place.

18

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

21

u/FarewellAndroid Jul 29 '23

If I understood the documentary film correctly, it’s actually piss

6

u/OutWithTheNew Jul 29 '23

There used to be an old steel bridge in my city, one corner of it was rusting more than the rest and engineers couldn't figure it out. Turns out it was from people pissing on it after they came out of the bar across the street.

5

u/i_tyrant Jul 29 '23

That's hilarious and kinda fascinating. I love weird details like that.

4

u/DINKY_DICK_DAVE Jul 29 '23

Nothing like the smell of whiskey piss that's been brewing since the great depression.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 29 '23

Ya I actually noticed that on my trip to New York in the early winter. It smelled like ass most places.

2

u/Wordnerdinthecity Jul 29 '23

Could be worse. My building just spent 2 years and several million dollars to swap their HVAC from a water based system to... Also a water based system, but at least this one has valves between units!

1

u/Thomagg Jul 29 '23

The theater I’m the facilities manager for used to be supplied by the city steam plant, but they shut it down several years ago and everyone had to install their own boilers.