question to residential customers

[pacnw]

If you call for service on your system and/or have a maintenance agreement, do you expect the tech to have to climb, wiggle, squeeze and contort to get to and service it?

Why does it seem that there are so many people that do not care about common courtesy for techs?

Also, when you remodel the area, think about them before completely closing in the system or making it impossible to COMFORTABLY work on it. There is electricity and/or fuel they are dealing with and there may be a need to get out of there in a hurry.

Thank you

[seatonheating]

If you call for service on your system and/or have a maintenance agreement, do you expect the tech to have to climb, wiggle, squeeze and contort to get to and service it?

Why does it seem that there are so many people that do not care about common courtesy for techs?

Also, when you remodel the area, think about them before completely closing in the system or making it impossible to COMFORTABLY work on it. There is electricity and/or fuel they are dealing with and there may be a need to get out of there in a hurry.

Thank you

You had one of those days huh?

[classical]

If I cannot properly access a system I wait on the clock while the customer makes room. If the system is inaccessible the customer must make it accessible before I will work on it and they pay the service call and I will go back when the problems have been addressed.

[johnt2_2002]

"There is electricity and/or fuel they are dealing with and there may be a need to get out of there in a hurry"

I couldnt agree more. WE probably all hate being in tight spots where its difficult to get out, especially in case of an emergency. Our code states 24inches to front of furnace unless manufacturer states otherwise--I still think it should be more...Oh, and nothing like having the furnace switch in a completely different room, I always have my hand on it when im starting a unit!!

[yellowirenut]

u would think working commercial that this would not be the case..wrong. the air handler if its upright is usually in a room with all the Christmas trees for the lobby and any other decorating junk they have...spare carpet rolls boxes of floor tiles. I had one lady try and stuff the Christmas tree that i set in the hallway BACK IN the closet i was working.

[im4snow2000]

If you call for service on your system and/or have a maintenance agreement, do you expect the tech to have to climb, wiggle, squeeze and contort to get to and service it?

Why does it seem that there are so many people that do not care about common courtesy for techs?

Also, when you remodel the area, think about them before completely closing in the system or making it impossible to COMFORTABLY work on it. There is electricity and/or fuel they are dealing with and there may be a need to get out of there in a hurry.

Thank you

Amazing what some people think, or not!!

Equally amazing are how many people live.....:eek2:

[ascj]

u would think working commercial that this would not be the case..wrong. the air handler if its upright is usually in a room with all the Christmas trees for the lobby and any other decorating junk they have...spare carpet rolls boxes of floor tiles. I had one lady try and stuff the Christmas tree that i set in the hallway BACK IN the closet i was working.

Or the air handler in the ceiling and after the retro there is now a wall right where you need to go up. There is 10 mc cables in front of the panel and that is only after you try to move the 30 cat 5 wires that in there also. But watch that sprinkler line that is 2 inches behind your head.:eek2:

Then you find a bad blower motor.......

[yellowirenut]

Or the air handler in the ceiling and after the retro there is now a wall right where you need to go up. There is 10 mc cables in front of the panel and that is only after you try to move the 30 cat 5 wires that in there also. But watch that sprinkler line that is 2 inches behind your head.:eek2:

Then you find a bad blower motor.......
::DD: so true...funny in a painful way

[pacnw]

I know that us pros experience this in commercial and residential. this post was more for the Home owner to realize if they do not want to be in that position, why do they think we do?

what if you had to sit in your work cubicle(or wherever you work) right next to an overflowing cat box!!

what if you had to walk through dog crap to get to your work place?

imagine having to perform your duties under your desk with exposed wires hanging all around.

I know what trade I got into, but there are some things that are just unsanitary, disgusting and unsafe. Please don't get upset when someone tells you this.

[pacnw]

Our code states 24inches to front of furnace unless manufacturer states otherwise--I still think it should be more...Oh, and nothing like having the furnace switch in a completely different room, I always have my hand on it when im starting a unit!!

so when it was installed and inspected these were probably enforced and correct.

now, 2 days or more after inspection customer makes changes, what do you do to get the situation back to code?

I have come across some lately that I wanted to call the local building inspector, but then they would know who did it and I would loose my job.

[dash]

We say ,move the stuff, with permission,customers are happy with that solution.

Now this is within reason,and we do have a charge for difficult access,but that's more to do with the building structure,then junk piled in the way.

[johnt2_2002]

so when it was installed and inspected these were probably enforced and correct.

now, 2 days or more after inspection customer makes changes, what do you do to get the situation back to code?

I have come across some lately that I wanted to call the local building inspector, but then they would know who did it and I would loose my job.


All new gas equipment (ie new home contruction, oil to gas conversion) is inspected by our gas supplier and they are the first to activate it and test it, and if alls well and meets code, pass it and sign off with a sticker on the unit(s)

If something changes down the road that the HO did, like finishing off the basement, and something now does not meet code, (ie lack of combustion air, clearances etc) and I walk in to service..I would issue a Btag(a non-immidiate hazard) for 45 days for the HO to correct the conditions stated. Usually, we would do the repairs at a cost--but it all depends on the situation.

A copy of that btag and or Atag(immediate hazard which I would shut off the gas supply to that appliance) gets sent to the fuel supplier and they would keep a record of it.

IN the case of the Btag, once everything is completed they would either call us back for a fee to inspect work completed OR if it passes the 45day warning period, the utility will come out for a fee and inspect OR shut off the fuel supply to the home(though never had a case like this yet)

Bottom line, your the last guy there and its gotta meet code, even after the renos or if someone changed something.

[wundumguy]

Some of these handyman reno guys are crazy. Some homeowners are simply out of line and some are awesome.

I've run into a furnace with a hot water tank centered 4" in front of the blower panel. Then I find that it doesn't have a switch and it shares a breaker with the lights! I've run into a homeowner that threatened to call another company if I didn't remove my work boots to repair their boiler... in a crawl space. On the upside, I've had a homeowner make me lunch and insist I eat it with the clock running and then gave me a $20 tip.

[johnt2_2002]

Some of these handyman reno guys are crazy. Some homeowners are simply out of line and some are awesome.

I've run into a furnace with a hot water tank centered 4" in front of the blower panel. Then I find that it doesn't have a switch and it shares a breaker with the lights! I've run into a homeowner that threatened to call another company if I didn't remove my work boots to repair their boiler... in a crawl space. On the upside, I've had a homeowner make me lunch and insist I eat it with the clock running and then gave me a $20 tip.

Yea, I had the same. Even with my boot covers on(brand new ones too) I still get told to take them off from time to time. We all meet some interesting and great people out there-I enjoy it and laugh at some. LOL.

After an a long day after an install, the HO insisted we sit down and have dinner with them. I was out of it and wanted to go home, but the chilli was too good to pass up!!!!

[energy_rater_La]

I had a sweet little old lady bake me a lemon mererange (sp??) pie
a couple of weeks ago...best tip so far this year!
She didn't get around too well, so for her to spend that time
baking me a pie...too sweet.
and good pie too!

[classical]

About twenty years ago, long before we started using booties, I had a customer insist I take off my boots. Now back then I was stiff necked and really was disinclined but she had white carpet so I took them off. I picked them up to carry with me and she says you will not need them leave them here I do not want them in the house. Well that went over like a lead balloon and I explained I would need them in the attic. She insisted I would not it was very clean and she did not want the attic to get dirty.

OK so I walk two the second floor and go into the attic through a closet stairway. Did I mention the house had WHITE carpet, well so did the attic? I mean beautiful all white expensive WHITE carpet.

Turned out the furnace was loaded with rust burners completely covered up. I had to go get heavy plastic and sheets and cover much of the attic; the vacuum had to be in a plastic bag to carry through the house. She paid dearly and would never let anyone else come to her house.
I did have a customer that owned a Chinese restaurant cook a huge meal for my install crew after an install. I ran a service call while they were finishing up when I returned they were finishing the meal and having a Tsing Tao beer.

[tedkidd]

I had a lady from this bb send me home made rolls fedex!

[sui generis]

it's against OSHA standards to take off your boots for any reason

[REP]

I remember Im answered a no heat call late at night.It was about 10 degrees outside.
I went down in the basement ,looked around ,saw where the furnace should have been,but it was dry walled all around it.No doors ,no nothing.
I asked how they thought I was supposed to get to the furnace to fix it?
Their answer was that that was my job.
I told them that I was a lot of things,some good and some not so good but one thing I was not,was a carpenter.I told them to get a carpenter to take the walls down then get back to me.
They did and all I can say is that that had to be one of the most expensive blower motor jobs ever in my city.
When I left I told them that I needed a door and two and a half foot clearance in front of the furnace when the wall went back up.

[DanW13]

If these units are in acessible in some cases and or renovated and not to code or were inspected and passed, don't you think your question should be addressed to Building Inspectors ? If you happen to run in to these situation most HO's probably have no idea that when they purchase the home or otherwise that there are codes to follow as well.

[johnt2_2002]

Similiar story to yours REP.Went to do a maintenancee. Customer contractor built a wall covering about half the furnace and there was only 6 inches to the front to "service it". and forget about the closed in water heater in the back!! I suggested they take the whole wall down and installed louvered doors across.

[pacnw]

it's against OSHA standards to take off your boots for any reason

can you give me the actual code for this?

[pacnw]

If these units are in accessible in some cases and or renovated and not to code or were inspected and passed, don't you think your question should be addressed to Building Inspectors ?well, that was my thought but was unsure if others felt that way. If you happen to run in to these situation most HO's probably have no idea that when they purchase the home or otherwise that there are codes to follow as well.and their home inspector passed it if it is a new purchase?


if a remodel, then the building inspector passed it on final inspection.

I find that most of the time it has been this way for a long time and I seem to be the bad guy for complaining that I will not service these units.

[pacnw]

Similiar story to yours REP.Went to do a maintenancee. Customer contractor built a wall covering about half the furnace and there was only 6 inches to the front to "service it". and forget about the closed in water heater in the back!! I suggested they take the whole wall down and installed louvered doors across.

similar issue in my case this year on a maintenance customer.

furnace has been wide open until they remodeled basement to put in a bathroom.

completely dry walled the furnace in except for the blower access. here they moved the water heater within 6" of the door, 8" of the wall on both sides.

told them I needed access to service the unit. they cut an opening in the drywall, 36" tall by 20" wide.

[riderman]

question to residential customers

I'm sorry, I couldnt help myself. The header seemed to be geared to resi customers, but I get it. I thought it funny, all but 2 responces were from "pro's".:)

[johnt2_2002]

question to residential customers

I'm sorry, I couldnt help myself. The header seemed to be geared to resi customers, but I get it. I thought it funny, all but 2 responces were from "pro's".:)

LOL, I knew someone was gonna say it.

Perhaps all this will be educational for some HO to see why its important to make room for us techs when we service their equipment.

[pacnw]

question to residential customers

I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. The header seemed to be geared to resi customers, but I get it. I thought it funny, all but 2 responses were from "pro's".:)


I was wishing that HO would chime in, but maybe the stories will educate as was said.


I still wish that home owners would respond with their reasons but maybe that is just it, they do not think they have a problem or nobody has said anything to them.