Is there a list of the best help forums for the various 'challenges' we encounter?

mnalep

This forum ( HeatingHelp.com ) is one of the best I have come across for heating and cooling help.

But, I find myself often looking for help in other areas (plumbing, cars, home repair, vinyl siding, electrical, computers, software, cell phones, etc.)

Are there specific forums that members here have found to be highly useful, and could share here?

GGross

There is a wealth of knowledge on anything building trades related here, the wall would be the first place I would ask for anything trades related, because I know enough about the people responding based on all their previous responses to trust the advice. Though it may not be the focus I imagine there are master plumbers and electricians on this site as well. Anything else I typically type into google, if I don't get quick results I add the word "reddit' to the end. So far I have never been left hanging on any computer/software type questions by doing those 2 things, never even had to make my own post as somebody else has always had the same issue.

mattmia2

there are a number of very good facebook groups too, especially the vintage appliance and vintage refrigeration groups. I have also seen some electrical and electronics groups that are very good.

EBEBRATT-Ed

Mike Holt forum is best for electrical but they only accept licensed people.

ChrisJ

https://monitortop.freeforums.net/

For all of your antique refrigerator questions.

EdTheHeaterMan

I have tried to offer my help on other websites related to the HVAC industry, the oil heat industry, and the boiler industry. I have found then difficult to navigate to the proper place to do what is best for the persons asking for help. The people at HeatingHelp.com got it right. Easy to follow a topic and easy to post photos to make that "worth a thousand word" statement and follow the others that have also offered to help. I have also noticed that others like Jamie Hall, Bob (hot_rod) Rohr and others on some of the other sites. They just don't click with me. This is the easiest to communicate with others here.

As far as other trades, like Electrical, Plumbing. Building, Construction, and automotive to name a few, You will not find what @DanHolohan has built here and what his daughter and others have continued to offer for our trade. This is unmatched and will probably never be duplicated anywhere else. kudos to Team Holohan

DanHolohan

Thanks, Ed. That means a lot.

EBEBRATT-Ed

I agree with @EdTheHeaterMan , Heating help is the best!!!

Mike Holt electrical is the best I have found for electrical. But they have decided for liability reasons to only allow people licensed in the electrical trade, (Electricians, contractors and engineers) to participate on that forum.

That forum is one that like Heating Help the people that participate are respectful (for the most part) and they don't allow nasty stuff or swearing etc.

mnalep

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1859391#Comment_1859391

Thanks, but too bad only licensed people …

mnalep

My current 'project' is I hired someone to install some vinyl siding, and they seem to be making mistakes. And they are practically ignoring me at this point, with the job 1/2 done. No work for 6 days, One text message in 6 days, after several from me. I have already paid 2/3 of the labor, and maybe have 1/2 work accomplished - but not all correctly. My texts have been to ask them to fix what they've done - and I am thinking that is why they are ignoring me, Their ladder is still in the yard, so it's not like they have 'run out. I'm not sure what to do?

mattmia2

find the manufacturer's instructions, there are detailed instructions about how to do the various details and how to hang the product so it can move and resists water and rodents.

mattmia2

if you paid by credit card you can reverse the charge.

mnalep

https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1859445#Comment_1859445

Unfortunately I paid with 'Cash App'. It's not reversible.

EdTheHeaterMan

Well you have their ladder and still have 1/3 left to pay and all the material is on site (I hope). You may not be ahead of the game, but you don't need to pay the last 1/3 until you are satisfied that the work is completed according the the manufacturer's specifications. You can always lock up the ladder with a chain and padlock until you get them to pay attention to you.

Does Siding need a permit in your area? If so, did they apply for one? Did they get approval to start? Now you have building code enforcement folks to ask for help. If you don't know, then call your building permit department anonymously and ask them if you need a permit to install siding on your home (in a different neighborhood).  You may be fined if your contractor started the work without the proper permit, so ask anonymously.  The homeowner gets the fine because the contractor may not live within the jurisdiction and it's easier to levy a fine on the property owner.

Nest step is social media. Post the lousy job on facebook or twitter or any of the other sites that have a audience. Post the name of the contractor  with their phone number. Tell your story and ask anyone who thinks that your were treated unfairly to Call the contractor and tell then so. You don't need thousands of followers. Just ten or so calls from people to the contractor will do.

Example 1: I am confined to a wheelchair, so I booked a Handicap Accessible Room for the first week of August 2024, 7 months in advance. When it came to the middle of July and I had airfare and other arrangements to meet with family from all over the country during that week in a quaint resort town, the venue called and said that the handicapped accessible room was still under construction and will not be available for another week. Could I move my stay to another week later in the month?   

As this was the peak season for tourism in that town, there were no other accommodations available for miles around, let alone handicap accessible rooms.   I posted this information on Facebook with the name and phone number of the motel.   Several of my friends called the venue and mentioned their disgust with the management handling of the situation. When someone just commented on facebook that it was not a good thing, I replied with the phone number, and asked them to call the motel and let them know how they feel.  

Turns out the electrician was holding up the completion and with all the social media attention for such a small town venue, the check in desk was “overwhelmed” with complaints (probably 10 calls on my behalf total)  The next day I got a call from the manager of the motel, the room will be ready on time but my boss needs you to do them a favor.   Can you please remove your post from facebook?

Example 2:  I visited Savannah GA for the first time in my life 4 months ago.  I used a wheelchair trailer to move my motorized wheelchair from my home to GA.  When I checked into the HIlton downtown Savannah, my caregiver and driver needed a large parking space out front of the hotel to offload the wheelchair from the trailer.  There was no room in front of the Hilton so she parked across the street in an empty parking space. All we needed was 5 minutes.  It turned out that parking space was reserved for the horse drawn carriage ride.  There was a woman who works for the Savannah Carriage Company that started harassing my caregiver about how we could not park there.  The Space was “reserved” and we had to move NOW!      

This of course upset my caregiver and so removing the wheelchair from the trailer took over 12 minutes.   During this entire time there were no carriages in sight.  I had to jell at the top of my lungs to get the Carriage employee to pay attention to me.  When she finally came to the passenger's seat, where I was sitting, confined, because I had no wheelchair,  so I could give her a piece of my mind, she was still raising her voice at me about not parking there. That time allowed my caregiver to bring the wheelchair to the passenger's seat so I could transfer from the car to the wheelchair.  Once I was Mobile, I took a picture of the carriage company employee and posted it on Facebook, with this story.  Again I added the phone number for the carriage company where you might book a carriage ride.   I know for a fact that 7 of my friends called the carriage company from all over the country on my behalf that day, Washington State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.   I don't know how many more after that.  Three days into our visit, I called the Savannah Carriage Company and asked if they were receiving any calls about their employee’s handling of a situation with a handicap tourist the other day,  they had a very brief and scripted answer…. “The situation has been addressed with that particular employee and we are handling this internally.”  no other comments will be made.  With such a scripted answer, I guess that management had to send out a memo to all the customer service phone people in order to contain the damage.  I was never contacted by the carriage company, and I have not taken the post down.     

Social Media can be your friend here

By the way. If you have not visited Savannah GA. I highly recommend it! we had a great time after the initial speed bump.

EBEBRATT-Ed

@manlep

Posting on Facebook is your decision I would not go that route at this time. You need to get a hold of the contractor and express you concerns firmly and politely and give them a chance to remedy the situation.

I know you have tried contacting them and it is frustrating that they do not respond. Call , text, send a letter and document, document and document. If nothing else you will be building your case if they choose to not respond

Larry Weingarten

Hi, Sometimes a friendly letter on an attorney's letterhead gets a response. 😇

Yours, Larry