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Re: Extreme Left Jaw Pain leads to many things.....and there is more!
I had jaw pain like that once. Sparring Valastro, Heavyweight, beefy 18 year old. I was a 16 Year old middle weight. Hit me with a hook and caught me breathing out of my mouth..(a Real No no in boxing!). Heard a loud pop and saw stars. Definitely thought my jaw was broken...Who knows? Still pops when I open wide 40 years later...ha ha 😂 🤣 😆 😄 Mad Dog
Re: Bad customer behavior
It depends if they are genuinely curious & interested 🤔 or trying to nail you.
1) if HO is nice, they can hang out all day.
2) If they become overbearing I put them to work...run them for this & that go get me this.
3) Nosy & obnoxious not trusting...I go stone cold 🥶 quiet.. I won't talk to them for 10 hours...Had a Guy set up a chair, snack table, a full coffee ☕ pot...(Just for him) right in the boiler room for 3 Days. Paid him no mind.
4) My father in law, will just start throwing pipe wrenches on the floor hard until they get the message.
5) I had one guy right next to me as I was trying to Voltage test a Wall Hung boiler. A hundred questions...very annoying..know it all. After 5 minutes, I said:
"Sir...you hired ME to figure this out. I need time on this. I'll come get you when I figure it out, ok???" It worked....
Mad Dog 🐕 🤣
L>8
1) if HO is nice, they can hang out all day.
2) If they become overbearing I put them to work...run them for this & that go get me this.
3) Nosy & obnoxious not trusting...I go stone cold 🥶 quiet.. I won't talk to them for 10 hours...Had a Guy set up a chair, snack table, a full coffee ☕ pot...(Just for him) right in the boiler room for 3 Days. Paid him no mind.
4) My father in law, will just start throwing pipe wrenches on the floor hard until they get the message.
5) I had one guy right next to me as I was trying to Voltage test a Wall Hung boiler. A hundred questions...very annoying..know it all. After 5 minutes, I said:
"Sir...you hired ME to figure this out. I need time on this. I'll come get you when I figure it out, ok???" It worked....
Mad Dog 🐕 🤣
L>8
Re: This weeks case, Replacing a steam boiler at my kids school What would you do?
Two boilers for sure.
For our school I replaced a 65 year old double sized steamer with 2 zones by installing 3 smaller boilers.
I wrote all the specs down to the last detail.
And then submitted a number and a cash donation towards my number. Donation was about 25% of my bid. Talk about buying job!
Even without the discount, my actual number was still less than 2 other bids.
For me it is/was the only new steam boiler install I will most likely do.
Just a project/hobby I wanted to accomplishment.
Not the situation for everyone.
For our school I replaced a 65 year old double sized steamer with 2 zones by installing 3 smaller boilers.
I wrote all the specs down to the last detail.
And then submitted a number and a cash donation towards my number. Donation was about 25% of my bid. Talk about buying job!
Even without the discount, my actual number was still less than 2 other bids.
For me it is/was the only new steam boiler install I will most likely do.
Just a project/hobby I wanted to accomplishment.
Not the situation for everyone.
1
Re: Purple primer mess
You could just sign the water heater "Jackson Pollok" and maybe increase its value by a couple of thousand dollars.
Re: Bad customer behavior
Another story I like to tell that I have used several times to refuse to work for someone.
A customer may question my integrity. Maybe even call me a crook for quoting an expensive repair.
Here is a nice way to call them a crook or dishonest right back.
“My mother taught me that there are many kinds of people out in the world. Some are honest and some are not. But I find that most people are a product of their environment. So if someone believes that you are being dishonest, then they were probably brought up with a lot of dishonesty around them. Remember this when you deal with customers and be selective with who you do business with”
I tell this story to the customer word for word. Than I add
“Since you and I can’t agree that I am doing my best to help you at a fair price, then I am going to take my mother's advice and choose to not do business with you. You would be better off finding a contractor that you can trust to do this job for you.
You owe me nothing for this time. Please call one of my competitors to have this work done. Have a blessed day.”
I like to use “Blessed day” just to rub it in to those that might use this tactic against me. And there are those that will use religion to swindle you.
This happened at the end of a business day that was particularly busy and cold for one person I remember vividly. There was no way that homeowner was going to get another company to come out that evening. I left them with the estimate even though they didn’t pay the diagnostic fee. (which would entitle them to the estimate) and a cold home. Oh well. That is why I like the Flat Rate “up front pricing” plan that states the price before any real work is done. Lets you know if you are going to have a problem getting paid when the job is completed.
A customer may question my integrity. Maybe even call me a crook for quoting an expensive repair.
Here is a nice way to call them a crook or dishonest right back.
“My mother taught me that there are many kinds of people out in the world. Some are honest and some are not. But I find that most people are a product of their environment. So if someone believes that you are being dishonest, then they were probably brought up with a lot of dishonesty around them. Remember this when you deal with customers and be selective with who you do business with”
I tell this story to the customer word for word. Than I add
“Since you and I can’t agree that I am doing my best to help you at a fair price, then I am going to take my mother's advice and choose to not do business with you. You would be better off finding a contractor that you can trust to do this job for you.
You owe me nothing for this time. Please call one of my competitors to have this work done. Have a blessed day.”
I like to use “Blessed day” just to rub it in to those that might use this tactic against me. And there are those that will use religion to swindle you.
This happened at the end of a business day that was particularly busy and cold for one person I remember vividly. There was no way that homeowner was going to get another company to come out that evening. I left them with the estimate even though they didn’t pay the diagnostic fee. (which would entitle them to the estimate) and a cold home. Oh well. That is why I like the Flat Rate “up front pricing” plan that states the price before any real work is done. Lets you know if you are going to have a problem getting paid when the job is completed.
Re: Extreme Left Jaw Pain leads to many things.....and there is more!
The helo ride would have been fun if you could sit up.
As it is your feet seem to be stuck under the dash, then you are swung in like on a ladder rack, the ceiling is about 12" above your head. Pilot and 2 paramedic on with you.
There were some big boys who could not fly on the Helo and had to use the fixed wing as they pushed 300lbs. Weather also determines what craft might show up.
The local hospital gets on line with cardio people in Sioux Falls SD to monitor your situation.
The hospital in Norfolk NE is affiliated with them. The order for the Helo is made from SD.
Everyone who touches you seems to want to put another set of "pasties" on your chest, you run out of hair eventually.
Yes, I was very lucky that the angels were around.
Thanks to all.
As it is your feet seem to be stuck under the dash, then you are swung in like on a ladder rack, the ceiling is about 12" above your head. Pilot and 2 paramedic on with you.
There were some big boys who could not fly on the Helo and had to use the fixed wing as they pushed 300lbs. Weather also determines what craft might show up.
The local hospital gets on line with cardio people in Sioux Falls SD to monitor your situation.
The hospital in Norfolk NE is affiliated with them. The order for the Helo is made from SD.
Everyone who touches you seems to want to put another set of "pasties" on your chest, you run out of hair eventually.
Yes, I was very lucky that the angels were around.
Thanks to all.
1
Re: Water hammer, capped main vent, deteriorating pipes, asbestos
I'll try to hook you up with The Great One, Vince Fiore, NYC Licensed Master Plumber, and workaholic who is SUPPOSED to be retired in the Carolinas. Vince, has done Thousands of steam boilers in the 5 Boros and Long Island 🏝. If you can get him to take a ride from Wilmington NC, take advantage of his knowledge. Ill reach you and see if he's available, but he is extremely busy and in demand. Standby. Mad Dog 🐕
Re: Bad customer behavior
Regarding, "Customers checking up on you or hovering over you while you work". I like to watch folks work on my house if I have the time. This is because I like to learn--not because I don't trust them. I do try hard to not impede their work. Would this behavior of mine bother anyone?
CLamb
3
Re: Best Water Heater Temp
ASHRAE recommends 140*f for 1 hour to kill legionnaires disease.I agree but I didn't have to live with ASHRAE. I had to live with PAT. and she was the higher authority having jurisdiction back then. ...and that was before the NEST thermostat came out.Point of use no more then 120*f.
Re: Boiler with compression tank, want to add B&G Airtrol fitting.
Just to update you all. I finally got a chance to plumb the B&G Airtrol into my boiler properly with 3/4" pipe. It's been working great so far for a week. I'd say this has to be the best this boiler has worked since new. Thanks again for all the help and suggestions. Here is a couple pictures of how I piped it to the tank. 




