You know when your tired and ready to go home

[Snapperhead]

Last call of the day , At a restaurant , I climb up on the roof , find an old GE 5 ton unit , probly 1980 , cant make out Tag whatsoever , oldie but still kickin along.

Find small leak , shrader core , fix it.

Owner climbed up there to watch me , which was friggin awesome , i just love that

Not

So hes looking around the unit , and he sees the thermostat wire is dry rotted. Asked if that could cause an issue ? I said yes if the wires touch it will short out the transformer. He said i can replace that wire ?

Yep sure can.

So im swapping in the new wire , and lemme tell you there was a ton of wires inside. So i carefully do one by one.

While in there i notice a wire nut loose holding 3 wires , so i snug that up. Snug up screws on contactor as well.

Then i see what appears a wire nut fell off , was laying in the bottom of panel , and these two white wires just laying next to each other. So i put a wire nut on them. Figured id save him a call next week when he tries the heat and it dont work.

Didnt bother to follow them to make sure they were for heat...... im tired , and its getting dark , and some dude is looking over my shoulder.

Fire it up , unit is quiet , nothing comes on.

Hmm thats odd.

Suddenly little smoke comes out of transformer.

Oh perfect

Shut her down

Remove that wire nut on white wires.

Fire it back up, no problem , everything comes on.

But the transformer stinks now like burnt wires.

Owner standing right there sees it all . Cant leave it like that now can I .....

Im like , well it looks like I owe you a new transformer for free , it seems the last guy worked on this re-routed some wires , or bypassed something , and left those 2 wires dangling there.

So i had to replace that free of charge.

I'd like to slap the lazy azz who left those exposed wires dangling there.

"Most " of us put a wire nut on the end , or tape the end , or at least cut off the exposed copper...... jeez

Made me look like an idiot , and pissed me the hell off at the same time.

[Joehvac25]

That's plain lazy, could have at least used the one wire nut he had.


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[jaypslugger]

Don't be so rough on yourself. We've all seen this and did exactly what you did even though the little voice was telling us it might let the smoke come out of the transformer
:gah:
:cheers:

[Joehvac25]

Hell on friday I installed a boiler and fired it on propane and it was set for ng. It was a new line of triangle tube boiler and normally you have to order them fuel specific. It was late I was burnt out and over looked it, boy did it howl.


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[truck12]

That only happens when the owners watching. I've had weird stuff happen an told the watcher that this never happens when I'm alone. Even thought about it, maybe I just remember these calls better. Thats not it, when someones watching something odd is going to happen.

[motoguy128]

When I have a service tech, plumber, electrician etc. at my house or at work, I'll ask for an update and see how things are going, make sure the little details look OK, then I leave them alone. He** if nothing else, it's usually a T&M job so they are on my clock and me standing there sure isn't making it get done faster.

[socotech]

I work waaaaaaay slower when the customer is watching.

[J-thetechwizard]

So what was the actual problem with the white wires?
Sounds like to made a logical decision...and how could it have been working with wires just floating around inside?

[tedkidd]

Nicely written.

[Snapperhead]

So what was the actual problem with the white wires?
Sounds like to made a logical decision...and how could it have been working with wires just floating around inside? I have no idea what those white wires were for , and I wasnt in the mood to trace them.

They usually turn on heat ..... or act as a common someplace.

I would have never guessed putting white on white could let the smoke out :gah:

I just unhooked them and wire nutted them off

[newoldtech]

I would of done one of three things if I saw loose wires.

1) If they dont look like they are about to short out something I might just leave them as I found them.
2) Tape or put a wire nut on each individual wire.
3) Trace out where they go and then decide what needs to be done.

Too risky to just tie loose wires together unless 100 percent sure what they are IMO. Oh though, I know I've done worse things too.

[LibertyTree]

The watching customer sucks. That's always when things go wrong too...Years ago I was working with a guy on a gas furnace install that was converted to propane. He was hooking up the gas pipe and decided to "hot tap" the gas valve (take old valve off the line without shutting off the meter and quickly put the new closed valve on) the new gas valve. He took too long and didn't realize propane is under much more pressure... The water heater pilot ignited the propane and a 12' high flame was pouring out of the gas pipe into the garage. I saw a flash, jumped off of the truck and saw the guy walking slowly away from the giant flame looking at his hands like a shellshocked boob. I ran and shut the meter off in about 8 seconds flat and came back to find the homeowner shooting the furnace with a fire extinguisher... "What happened!?" the homeowner demanded, the guy then proceeded to tell him that his hair gel started the fire, yes his hair gel. I immediately stepped in and told some sort of story to calm the customer. The guy who caused the fire (which thankfully didn't catch anything on fire) was completely incapacitated by the flash, it turned his brain to mush just like you see in war movies. Anyway, point is the craziest stuff happens at the worst time when the customer decides to babysit.

[dsprice]

First ask homeowner if they have any questions. Then stop working and firmly but politely tell them I will find them when I'm done and let them know what I discovered before I repair. H/o usually gets the hint and leaves.

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[Snapperhead]

The watching customer sucks. That's always when things go wrong too...Years ago I was working with a guy on a gas furnace install that was converted to propane. He was hooking up the gas pipe and decided to "hot tap" the gas valve (take old valve off the line without shutting off the meter and quickly put the new closed valve on) the new gas valve. He took too long and didn't realize propane is under much more pressure... The water heater pilot ignited the propane and a 12' high flame was pouring out of the gas pipe into the garage. One day I was about to try that maneuver myself , nobody was home , and 3 barking dogs in back yard where the meter was. I unscrewed the old valve a few threads , and with just 2 threads left I stopped , there was too much gas pouring out for my liking. I decided to wait.

[Snapperhead]

Buddy called yesterday with a good one. He left a self tapping screw on top the OD unit he just fixed and didnt realize it ..... until it fell into the fan blade and got hurled into the coil at 1000 mph

Can you say pssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[zxcb]

Normal rates: $100 per hour
Customer watches: $200 per hour
Customer helps: $300 per hour

:)

[ControlsProgrammer]

I must admit when I have the opportunity to be there when a serviceman is doing work at my home I am right there. If I can learn a new skill, I take advantage. I do programming and commissioning of commercial Energy Management Systems. I also provide service on those HVAC control systems. On the contracted work, it is not uncommon for there to be two or three of the customer’s representatives hanging around. But, you can bet they leave me alone when I’m on T & M.

[KB Cool]

If the HO stands around and watches. I put them to work! "Hand me that, hold the flashlight"!!!!I love it!!!!:grin2:

[TCreacy]

If the HO stands around and watches. I put them to work! "Hand me that, hold the flashlight"!!!!I love it!!!!:grin2:

I had a homeowner show up with his own tools once...I stood over his shoulder and made him work....lol

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[Sicofthis]

I just tell them if they are gonna watch they need to stand back and not approach the unit the power is on and has moving parts. Can never be to safe.

That and I had homeowner walk up while I was bent down and stick his hand right on the contactor in a rheem unit. He got back inside pretty fast.

[tedkidd]

If the HO stands around and watches. I put them to work! "Hand me that, hold the flashlight"!!!!I love it!!!!:grin2:
+2

[hotandcoldair]

New guy at my last job: pulls out the furnace high limit switch because the unit kept shutting off while he was trying to measure the delta T. Homeowner comes in and starts to talk and new guy forgets. Next thing you know the evap coil is on fire (from all the crap built up, also the cause of the short cycling) smoke is pouring out and the kid is paralyzed with fear. Fortunately there was another tech there installing a water heater (he had just quit our company - great) and he shut off the gas and broke out a fire extinguisher. The house was way high dollar and we had to put up the homeowner and his family in a ritzy hotel for one week while they cleaned the smoke damage. Two weeks later the kid totalled a truck and they fired him. Homeowner got to keep his job...

[tedkidd]

Intense story!


pulls out the furnace high limit switch because the unit kept shutting off while he was trying to measure the delta T.

Uh, im not following. Why would you want delta t on a short cycling unit?

Where would one find pulling high limit recommended? Or was this an example of obsessing without thinking big picture.

[mason]

Intense story!



Uh, im not following. Why would you want delta t on a short cycling unit?

Where would one find pulling high limit recommended? Or was this an example of obsessing without thinking big picture.

I think he's talking about temp rise. Measuring the return and supply to see of it meets temp rise on the unit label. If you literally pull the limit out it would allow you to insert your static probe after the blower and before the coil to check for a pressure drop across the evap coil causing the heat exchanger to overheat from not moving enough air across it. This applies to a split system gas furnace but would not be used on many packaged units.

[J-thetechwizard]

I didn't realize the air coming off a standard furnace (without the high temp limit shutoff) could actually start evap crap on fire!!
I was assuming the air was not thathot for this exact reason.

Does anybody have the average temp. of said heat exchanger situation???

[hotandcoldair]

I can't say for sure on this furnace but I have seen 170F plus at the plenum. Not sure why this one ignited - cat hair? Belly button lint?

[zw17]

When I have a service tech, plumber, electrician etc. at my house or at work, I'll ask for an update and see how things are going, make sure the little details look OK, then I leave them alone. He** if nothing else, it's usually a T&M job so they are on my clock and me standing there sure isn't making it get done faster.

I find it hard to look over my own shoulder and get any amount of work done.

I also find my service tech, plumber, electrician is always drinking on the job while working around the house.

[tedkidd]

If you literally pull the limit out it would allow you to insert your static probe after the blower and before the coil to check for a pressure drop across the evap coil causing the heat exchanger to overheat from not moving enough air across it. This applies to a split system gas furnace but would not be used on many packaged units.

Ah! Thanks.

So it's common practice to pull the limit to use the hole because there is no other access before the coil.

I thought he actually pulled it to avoid it's tripping. That seemed scary/funny on the level of the live swap gas valve story.

[hotandcoldair]

No - he pulled it to keep the unit from tripping. This was the NEW guy (not a new hire a trainee). We didn't get the chance to talk about static pressure...he was still working out static cling.

[Snapperhead]

I had a homeowner show up with his own tools once...I stood over his shoulder and made him work....lol

Actually I did that once as well ... handed the guy my coil cleaner and asked him spray this coil down while I go get something.

Come back to find him coughing away . He walked off still coughing and I never saw him again lol

[mason]

Ah! Thanks.

So it's common practice to pull the limit to use the hole because there is no other access before the coil.

I thought he actually pulled it to avoid it's tripping. That seemed scary/funny on the level of the live swap gas valve story.

It appears he 'pulled' it to prevent it from tripping but yes many techs will pull out the limit for static probe insertion or to snake their camera to view the underside of the coil.

[akelesis]

when a customer is watching me i always ask if i can have a cold glass of water or just walk back into my truck for 2 mins and go back and see if he is still there. usually they are not. but sometimes they are. ya like the other guy said i take longer and bill for that time.

Dont you enjoy the times where the customer is looking over ur shoulder and you discover a crack. you need a new furnace Sir. that gets him steamed for at least a half an hour. laf.

[Snapperhead]

Dont you enjoy the times where the customer is looking over ur shoulder and you discover a crack. you need a new furnace Sir. that gets him steamed for at least a half an hour. Yep , seen that movie as well .... the lady was like WHAT ! ? I dont have any money for a furnace , let me see that crack , where did you see it , let me see it , i wanna see it , how can that be cracked , how big could it be , thats not That big

Sorry lady , there are 3 cracks , 2 inches long, and its blowing the flames out the front trippin the sensor , im shutting it off.

[Pete954]

I just tell them if they are gonna watch they need to stand back and not approach the unit the power is on and has moving parts. Can never be to safe.

That and I had homeowner walk up while I was bent down and stick his hand right on the contactor in a rheem unit. He got back inside pretty fast.


I had to smack a lady's hand away from an open breaker panel once. Pointed to it with my sharpie and she went to touch it with her bare hand!!!! I can picture the call, "umm hey small problem here, I killed the customer"

The only thing worse than the customer over your shoulder is the boss over your shoulder. Although I once handed him tools and told him to show me how "easy" it was. Half an hour later he handed 'em back saying "you git this right?". Which i did. :grin2: