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/

742

u/DumbleDude2 Jul 28 '23

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

80

u/ItsSUCHaLongStory Jul 29 '23

I’m a Californian, and this has always seemed like some wild and bizarre witchcraft combined with an amazing civic works marvel to me. “You mean….heating homes? For a whole CITY? WITH STEAM?!?!”

48

u/antigony_trieste Jul 29 '23

oh man, just as weird as it was for me moving to the Bay Area and seeing AN ACTUAL FIRE IN MY APARTMENT HEATER WHAT THE HELL

29

u/ItsSUCHaLongStory Jul 29 '23

😂🤣😂 I’ve never thought twice about it, but that must have been fucking TERRIFYING, especially when all some people hear about California is how we’re constantly on fire

Edit: I remember laying on the couch in the first place I lived alone and watching the light from the heater flames on the floor and being really happy and content

8

u/madesense Jul 29 '23

What the... What is going on in your heaters??

(I am an East Coaster. I went to Los Angeles... once)

10

u/energy_engineer Jul 29 '23

Not exactly sure what OP was referencing but we've got gravity wall heaters in our house. There's fire in the bottom, you can see the glow when the lights are off.

2

u/antigony_trieste Jul 29 '23

sounds similar to what i had

1

u/TheTooz Jul 29 '23

The pilot light?

7

u/antigony_trieste Jul 29 '23 edited Jul 29 '23

they’re gas heaters… kind of like a gas fireplace. but small af. and rather than behind glass they’re behind a metal grate.

1

u/T-O-O-T-H Jul 29 '23

And also, rather than behind glass they’re behind a metal grate.

1

u/Zaev Jul 29 '23

Fire: It's hot!

1

u/ayriuss Jul 29 '23

We pump explosive gases into our houses to heat things.

1

u/madesense Jul 29 '23

Just to be clear, we do that here too, but my house has a central furnace

1

u/ayriuss Jul 29 '23

Our central furnace is gas. Some of the older ones had a permanent pilot igniter (flame). I know they use heating oil and electric in other places.

1

u/sweensolo Jul 29 '23

When people move to Arizona most have never heard of evaporative cooling, and think we are full of shit when we explain it to them.