Really Mad!

[jdenyer]

Yesterday while I was working on a walkin freezer, this guy comes up to me and says hes here to clean the furnace. So I say ok and took him to the owner. The owner had called him so everything was cool. There are 2 units to be cleaned and tuned in this building, both oil fired unit heaters. I can see what he's doing from where I'm at, he opens the inspection port, fires burner and looks in. Closes it up and as he is leaving I ask him how it looked, he replies clean as whistle. I say thats great but you didn't do anything other than look, he says thats all they do on furnace clean and tunes! Yep, no nozzle, no combustion tests, nothing. This really ticked me off cause this particular company charges a good amount to do this. The owner that called these guys is really a great customer of mine, if anything needs to be replaced he always just says whatever you need to do. He always pays the day that service is rendered even though he has a net 30 account with us, and never has he complained about the cost of something. I really would like to tell the guy about this but I don't want to rat out another tech if ya know what I mean. This just really p*ssed me off and I need to vent. Thanks for listening guys.

[midhvac]

I'm so glad you posted that. I've been doing this all wrong. I could be doing 3 of those an hour. Jeeez!!!

[Yuma]

jdenyer,
That tech gives us ALL a black eye!
You should of said something to the tech. Or maybe call his company and ask what's normally done?
Just my two cents.

Yuma

[Green Mountain]

This sounds like one of those damned if I do, damned if I don't situations.

I take it that your company doesn't do oil heating?

If you are on a first named basis with this guy and you have been doing business with him for over 5 years then I would get a little up front and personal with the guy.

" Hey, Ralph, what kind of service contract do you have with this oil company?" Let me take a look at the agreement." Than kind of conversation.

Then you can say "well you didn't get this and you didn't get that......"

[dhvac]

Originally posted by jdenyer
but I don't want to rat out another tech if ya know what I mean.

You wouldn't be ratting out a tech you would be protecting the best interests of a good customer. If that is s.o.p. then that guy is a hack and has no bussiness doing this kinda work. And hey who knows it may be you that can eliminate a hack from the industry. just be prepared to have your integrity questioned.

[addfreon]

I will change the nozzel and fuel filter...check pump coupling(an easy upsale)...clean burner assembly and check for cracks in heat exchanger... but I dont do cleanings..I refuse to get sooted up...

[oil lp man]

If an inspection is all he did then the oil filter will be plugged up and no oil will get to the burner on the coldest day of the year, guaranteed.
I've been in this business for 5 years and once had a boss tell me on the day he hired me..If I go out on a service call and find you didn't change the oil filter your fired.
That kind of took me aback because I am always so thorough.
Now maybe i'm thinking he had to deal with clowns like this character.

[Chad711]

Let that company know that the tech didnt change the nozzle etc, if they allow this than damn, what a joke...

[i_got_ideas]

I'd call in acting like a homeowner wanting service on your oil furnace and ask what all that service includes. I bet the list of so called "included services" is a mile long though just looking is all they do.

I don't know how to do oil so that's all I can say. Here in Iowa it is REALLY hard to find anyone that does oil. We haven't for almost 10 years. Due to that, we've been changing out a few oil furnaces per year for people that are just tired of finding someone to fix thiers. At this point I don't think there's very many left, maybe a dozen or so in the county.

[sfry]

dodn't jump to conclusions, maybe it was done in the spring and they came back for a quick check before the heating season. either way if it is a good customer he probably won't mind you asking about the furn, since you do other work there. ask in a nice way, including things like how long have they serviced it and have you had problems with it. that might answer a lot of questions, if he has had some problems, recommend a oil person thats a buddy of yours, if you have one, and tell him he does good work and you should give a call next time you have a prob. try to help educate the customer, not bad mouth another co, keep it positive and i don't think you will come off looking bad, but i don't know the guy either. let us know what you do

[dhvac]

Not trying to rain on anyones parade but I would NOT recomend anyone else for the job at this point it can look as if you trying to do someone a favor rather than adressing the real problem. if there is a problem diddnt think about just a quick follow up maybe checking on a teck to see if job was done who knows.

[Diceman]

Originally posted by addfreon
I will change the nozzel and fuel filter...check pump coupling(an easy upsale)...clean burner assembly and check for cracks in heat exchanger... but I dont do cleanings..I refuse to get sooted up...
I agree

[bshm]

So how do you pull this off? This unit is too icky? I wear nitrile gloves use a good sweeper and clean it often. A good two cartridge mask is a must as well. Drop cloths and tarps, 409 type cleaner, and the job is bearable and profitable. A good digital analyzer is a flat out must, along with the smoke test pump.

I would say either be committed to oil work or don't do it at all, because a halfway job is an invitation to disaster.

[jdenyer]

We do oil furnaces, it's just that I have been so busy lately:D Sfry did make a good point about maybe them coming in the spring and having done stuff. I never thought of that. The reason we don't clean the furnaces for them is the oil company that he goes with gives him a good price on fuel oil. I will mention it to the owner, I just need to find a way to talk to him about and not put down the oil company, maybe it's not the oil companies policy and they have a lazy tech working for them.

[oil lp man]

Oil units rarely soot up if serviced once a year and properly adjusted and tested with a Bacharach kit.

[condenseddave]

Originally posted by addfreon
I will change the nozzel and fuel filter...check pump coupling(an easy upsale)...clean burner assembly and check for cracks in heat exchanger... but I dont do cleanings..I refuse to get sooted up...

Go press your skirt, Sally.:D

[condenseddave]

Originally posted by Diceman

Originally posted by addfreon
I will change the nozzel and fuel filter...check pump coupling(an easy upsale)...clean burner assembly and check for cracks in heat exchanger... but I dont do cleanings..I refuse to get sooted up...
I agree

When Sally is done with the iron, it's your turn, Susie.

[Collin]

Had to climb inside a big old apartment boiler to clean out all the soot. I was covered in oil soot from head to toe.
When I was finished I had a nice cold beer.

I ain't no Sally.:D