Chase For Water Heaters - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

deox719 · 02-18-2006, 06:17 PM

I am GCing a total rehab on a 6 family thats being turned into 6 condos. This is the second time we are using this Plumber. The first job no Hvac was installed.

He is telling me that he is not putting in the duct work for the water heaters because since there is Hvac being installed they are responsible for all the duct work.

Is this right or did he just underbid the job & looking to save his butt.

it is a non union job & in NJ

I am also going to post this in the Hvac forum to see their response.

thanks frank

bmartin · 02-19-2006, 01:48 PM

Where I am from (Ca) the vent pipe is usually done by the hvac guy.

ricks_plumbing · 02-20-2006, 05:04 AM

when i was in santa fe NM plumbers ran all gas and duct work for fart fans and water heaters However now I am in TN and that is all done by the HVAC guys

Bjd · 02-20-2006, 05:47 AM

Maybe he does not need any duct work, as he is planning on either direct vent or power vented units

I know I sure would go with either one of them, rather than go through the pains of b vent.

BJD

Atricaudatus · 02-21-2006, 03:41 PM

Deox,
I usually give the customer the option. If he wants to pay me to run the vent I will; otherwise, the tin-knockers run all the ductwork and venting. I much prefer that they do it, if for no other reason than that they are better equipped and trained to do it and can therefore usually do it quicker and cheaper for the customer.
If your asking if he should have included this in his bid, well that seems like something that ought to have been mentioned in the paperwork. I don't automatically include venting, but I always let the customer know that any vent work will be an additional cost. If your satisfied with his work on other projects and want to keep him on your team, I don't recommend that your try to force him to eat the cost of it. It will only sour him on doing further business with you. If you genuinely feel he's trying get over on you, well.. that's another matter.

deox719 · 03-02-2006, 08:43 PM

I solved the problem by giving the job to the Hvac company. I let the plumber know he needs to put in his contract what is included or not included.