Yep. When cheap comes to cheap, handymen's words are not given any weight (importance).
What the heck was so wrong with giving an explanation?
I went to do some repairs at a residential that my customer rents it out to some rich prick. I get there, i overheard the renter complaining that its so hot in the house to someone who works at the same company who contacted me to do the repairs. While i was doing my repairs, i noticed that the condenser was not running and humming even tho he had mentioned that he set the t-stat to lowest degree. So i told the guy that reason for not getting any cooling is because the condenser is not running. He asked me (the real-estate guy) if i knew anything about a/c. I said yes. So he asked me if i could do something, and i said i can check it out, check the stat in case it has been wired wrong because its a new house just built. He then left, and i was there checking the stat and so everything looked fine, and i bypassed the stat in case it was faulty and still condenser not running, so that ruled out that the stat was faulty. So the renter, is asking tons of questions, and so i explained to him that there could be several reasons for it not working. 1. Motor could be seized, 2. Capacitor could be bad or 3. No power to the condenser.
I then told him that most likely is no power to condenser because its new units, and because i looked at the electrical panel and found no breaker for condenser and only had furnace breaker which was 15amp breaker.
So today, i called my customer to tell her that theres some stuff that i was told to do by the other guy and that i needed her approval first. She yells at me and is very upset because i spoke to her client. Goes and tells me that im not a licensed hvac guy and that i don't know what im talking about. And that it was nothing wrong with the capacitor or compressor. So i asked her, is the condenser running, she says no because the hvac guy said there is no power to the condenser. She's upset because the renter has harrased her regarding the A/C. But they had this problem over 2 months and they tried to replace filters, had me closing the basement dampers to up the air flow to upstairs thinking that it would fix the problem. I got there, an unlicensed hvac guy figured out what the problem was and yet im being chewed for explaining to the renter as to why he has no A/C.
All i can say is WTF!!!
I then told him that most likely is no power to condenser because its new units, and because i looked at the electrical panel and found no breaker for condenser and only had furnace breaker which was 15amp breaker.
So today, i called my customer to tell her that theres some stuff that i was told to do by the other guy and that i needed her approval first. She yells at me and is very upset because i spoke to her client. Goes and tells me that im not a licensed hvac guy and that i don't know what im talking about. And that it was nothing wrong with the capacitor or compressor. So i asked her, is the condenser running, she says no because the hvac guy said there is no power to the condenser. She's upset because the renter has harrased her regarding the A/C. But they had this problem over 2 months and they tried to replace filters, had me closing the basement dampers to up the air flow to upstairs thinking that it would fix the problem. I got there, an unlicensed hvac guy figured out what the problem was and yet im being chewed for explaining to the renter as to why he has no A/C.
All i can say is WTF!!!
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You have to always protect your customer, the renter was not your customer. Explaining anything to the renter is just going to cause your customer problems because it gives them ammunition.
Do I think you did the right thing? Yes. Should you do it again? NO. Always contact your customer with any potential problems, then, if they ask you to speak to the tenant, request that they email authorization for you to do so. The email is an easy way to remind them that they asked you to talk to their tenant.
It is just another thing you have to do to CYA from people's harsh words. Even though you found the problem, your customer did not ask you to do it and feels like you went behind their backl. People are stupid!
Do I think you did the right thing? Yes. Should you do it again? NO. Always contact your customer with any potential problems, then, if they ask you to speak to the tenant, request that they email authorization for you to do so. The email is an easy way to remind them that they asked you to talk to their tenant.
It is just another thing you have to do to CYA from people's harsh words. Even though you found the problem, your customer did not ask you to do it and feels like you went behind their backl. People are stupid!
You have to always protect your customer, the renter was not your customer. Explaining anything to the renter is just going to cause your customer problems because it gives them ammunition.
Do I think you did the right thing? Yes. Should you do it again? NO. Always contact your customer with any potential problems, then, if they ask you to speak to the tenant, request that they email authorization for you to do so. The email is an easy way to remind them that they asked you to talk to their tenant.
It is just another thing you have to do to CYA from people's harsh words. Even though you found the problem, your customer did not ask you to do it and feels like you went behind their backl. People are stupid!
I agree that i made the mistake of explaining to the renter, but i was also told by her co-worker to see if i could fix the problem. She is pissed off because she hates dealing with clients that have a thought of their own. She's very stubborn, would not even let me explain to her what i had discussed with the renter. She hung up on me also, and has done so to the renter and refuses to answer his calls.
Lesson learned i guess.
Sounds like they have a case for the tribunal then.
If i was the renter, i would not be paying for the 2months of rent that he had been living there without a/c. The house was so humid that it was so much worse then outside. I replaced a cracked tile in the shower wall and i came out of the washroom soaked with sweat because it was so humid.Sounds like they have a case for the tribunal then.
As a professional it is generally bad taste to be disloyal to your paycheck cutter, if its not in bad taste its still generally a bad idea. For one thing its hard to know all the facts of what is going on and for another thing youre asking the favor returned.
Well they can't do that without getting a notice of eviction. But if there are promised services not functioning in the rented home beyond a reasonable amount of time, then the renter needs to let all the proper parties know, preferably by registered letter.If i was the renter, i would not be paying for the 2months of rent that he had been living there without a/c.
If i was the renter, i would not be paying for the 2months of rent that he had been living there without a/c. The house was so humid that it was so much worse then outside. I replaced a cracked tile in the shower wall and i came out of the washroom soaked with sweat because it was so humid.
Oh, da landlady knows... just that she didn't want you to tell renters of problem yet.. and/or propose solutions to fix it... because you will cost her more later $$ on her electric bill$ when they could take revenge on her AC summer heat, simple as that!
Your client is a greedy twit and has only her own comfort and pocketbook at heart. If I were in your position, I would fire her.
If she doesn't want her clients calling her and complaining, then she needs to take care of them. There are really only two types of renters in this world.
The ones that call you weekly to tell you what is wrong or not quite right, and the ones you never hear from or see until you're taking them to small claims court for destroying your property.
If she doesn't want her clients calling her and complaining, then she needs to take care of them. There are really only two types of renters in this world.
The ones that call you weekly to tell you what is wrong or not quite right, and the ones you never hear from or see until you're taking them to small claims court for destroying your property.
I think you were wrong to talk to the client. I would have first called to see if they wanted you to check out the problem while there.
You did not install it, they did not ask you to look at it and you did not have permission to look at it or discuss it with the client.
I would have chewed you out or given you your walking papers.
You did not know the history behind the problem and may have made the situation worst with your assessment whether you were right or wrong it was not your business.
You did not install it, they did not ask you to look at it and you did not have permission to look at it or discuss it with the client.
I would have chewed you out or given you your walking papers.
You did not know the history behind the problem and may have made the situation worst with your assessment whether you were right or wrong it was not your business.
Or both, I would be pissed :furious:I would have chewed you out or given you your walking papers.
You stepped on your clients toes.I went to do some repairs at a residential that my customer rents it out to some rich prick. I get there, i overheard the renter complaining that its so hot in the house to someone who works at the same company who contacted me to do the repairs. While i was doing my repairs, i noticed that the condenser was not running and humming even tho he had mentioned that he set the t-stat to lowest degree. So i told the guy that reason for not getting any cooling is because the condenser is not running. He asked me (the real-estate guy) if i knew anything about a/c. I said yes. So he asked me if i could do something, and i said i can check it out, check the stat in case it has been wired wrong because its a new house just built. He then left, and i was there checking the stat and so everything looked fine, and i bypassed the stat in case it was faulty and still condenser not running, so that ruled out that the stat was faulty. So the renter, is asking tons of questions, and so i explained to him that there could be several reasons for it not working. 1. Motor could be seized, 2. Capacitor could be bad or 3. No power to the condenser.
I then told him that most likely is no power to condenser because its new units, and because i looked at the electrical panel and found no breaker for condenser and only had furnace breaker which was 15amp breaker.
So today, i called my customer to tell her that theres some stuff that i was told to do by the other guy and that i needed her approval first. She yells at me and is very upset because i spoke to her client. Goes and tells me that im not a licensed hvac guy and that i don't know what im talking about. And that it was nothing wrong with the capacitor or compressor. So i asked her, is the condenser running, she says no because the hvac guy said there is no power to the condenser. She's upset because the renter has harrased her regarding the A/C. But they had this problem over 2 months and they tried to replace filters, had me closing the basement dampers to up the air flow to upstairs thinking that it would fix the problem. I got there, an unlicensed hvac guy figured out what the problem was and yet im being chewed for explaining to the renter as to why he has no A/C.
All i can say is WTF!!!
BTW if the unit is humming, there is power to it.
A licensed HVAC contractor who knows what they are doing should be called.
Since you are not a licensed HVAC contractor why did they have you work on the unit?
Agree with the others; not the best thing to circumvent the owner with an extensive consult with the tenant. But I certainly know how it can happen, BTDT. Have a rant and move on. :thumbsup:
Hey, Double-A: My wife just walked by while I had this thread onscreen, did a double-take and asked, "Double-A? Is she bragging or complaining?" :w00t:
Hey, Double-A: My wife just walked by while I had this thread onscreen, did a double-take and asked, "Double-A? Is she bragging or complaining?" :w00t:
I agree with you that i was wrong in talking to her client. But i was told to check if i could repair it by her co-worker not by the renter.I think you were wrong to talk to the client. I would have first called to see if they wanted you to check out the problem while there.
You did not install it, they did not ask you to look at it and you did not have permission to look at it or discuss it with the client.
I would have chewed you out or given you your walking papers.
You did not know the history behind the problem and may have made the situation worst with your assessment whether you were right or wrong it was not your business.
There was actually not enough power to the condenser, what the installer did was use the same source as furnace, a 120v 15amp breaker. Over here, condenser needs to be on its own breaker, which compressor uses 220v, and should be 20amp min breaker.You stepped on your clients toes.
BTW if the unit is humming, there is power to it.
A licensed HVAC contractor who knows what they are doing should be called.
Since you are not a licensed HVAC contractor why did they have you work on the unit?
You may or may not be in the right concerning the co-worker depending on whether or not they have the authority to requisition more work. Your main goof was in talking to the tenant. He is not your client, he is the landlords client.I agree with you that i was wrong in talking to her client. But i was told to check if i could repair it by her co-worker not by the renter.
They may ask you to check something out but your report should be to your client to help with their decisions in regards to handling their client. You're finding out how sticky it can get when you get in between.
Good Luck
Dave
Wait a week and send the client a muffin basket and an apology.
Sounds like Canada should get more serious about its contracting laws.There was actually not enough power to the condenser, what the installer did was use the same source as furnace, a 120v 15amp breaker. Over here, condenser needs to be on its own breaker, which compressor uses 220v, and should be 20amp min breaker.
I have had a lot of experience on that. Here are my observations.
First-I have worked for numerous properties where I had to deal with tenants. I have also worked at a local college. I tell me guys that they are not to talk to the tenants unless it is say hello, the only questions that they are to ask is if they can come in to work on whatever. things like that. Nothing else. This was after one of my employees started telling me one day all about the college, how much the tuition was, where the girl was from, why she was there, etc.
The point is, first of all don't talk to the tenant or tell them what the possibilities are.
Second-You need to talk with your specific client and make sure you understand the chain of command. I was under that situation one time when a subordinate client asked me for a quote on doing something. I sent the quote to his boss as I had been instructed by a previous boss. The subordinate chewed me out. I went to his boss and told her what happened. She told me not to worry about it. But if he asked for a price in the future on something to give it to him. No big deal. If I wanted to cover my tracks, send her a cc.
The thing is. Make sure you know who the real client is.
And Lastly-I could understand that you want to help. However, you are unlicensed. And as I understand it, the units are new? The client needs to deal with the tenant and also to make the original installer fix it. Why should she pay you or anyone else for their screw up? I have seen it several times, when someone else installed something and screwed it up, the client would ask me to get it fixed. I tell them to go back to the original because if I or one of my subs does something, it could void the warranty.
I hope this helps.
First-I have worked for numerous properties where I had to deal with tenants. I have also worked at a local college. I tell me guys that they are not to talk to the tenants unless it is say hello, the only questions that they are to ask is if they can come in to work on whatever. things like that. Nothing else. This was after one of my employees started telling me one day all about the college, how much the tuition was, where the girl was from, why she was there, etc.
The point is, first of all don't talk to the tenant or tell them what the possibilities are.
Second-You need to talk with your specific client and make sure you understand the chain of command. I was under that situation one time when a subordinate client asked me for a quote on doing something. I sent the quote to his boss as I had been instructed by a previous boss. The subordinate chewed me out. I went to his boss and told her what happened. She told me not to worry about it. But if he asked for a price in the future on something to give it to him. No big deal. If I wanted to cover my tracks, send her a cc.
The thing is. Make sure you know who the real client is.
And Lastly-I could understand that you want to help. However, you are unlicensed. And as I understand it, the units are new? The client needs to deal with the tenant and also to make the original installer fix it. Why should she pay you or anyone else for their screw up? I have seen it several times, when someone else installed something and screwed it up, the client would ask me to get it fixed. I tell them to go back to the original because if I or one of my subs does something, it could void the warranty.
I hope this helps.
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
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