FOUND CO TWICE THIS WEEK

Rely_2

This has been a bad week for me.Firtst call was last friday owner had propane fired GV-6 and no heat. The tec before me (not with our company) told the owner if there is no heat simply turn the emergency switch off and back on again with she did many times.The owner started to smell propane and call the propane company.They came out right away teh service man Pat was the hero he tested the unit and found heay leakage by the gas valve he shut the unit down and gave the h/w my number.when I arrived I found the ignitor had failed replaced same and started boiler up.I had the co test runnig in my test bag for gp as I always do.Within three minute the co was at 200 ppm in this crawl space where the gv-6 was installed.I inspected the unit and found the someone had replace the firing cone and gasket for same.The gasket was damaged on install.I don't know how long this was leaking but it was not good. The long and short of it was that I replaced it and test for co and all was good thank God.
the second call same day was for a clogged toilet while I was there the owner a nice 80 year old lady said she had just had the water heater replaced by the utility company I asked if it was ok to take a look.I took theco tester with me as soon as I was at the top of the second floor I had a reading of 10 ppm.The installer had broken the B-vent that service the HWH. I repaired same and reported it to the inspector.
The thing that bothers me is where is the moral and ethical values of the installers that did the work, or is it a lack of training that has caused this type of install by these men.
The state of New Jersey has no problem in charging us for the first time this year a lic. fee to do heat and A/C work but there is no education or test for the installers of equipment.The only teaher in the field is death, lawsuit or property damage.
Both jobs that I was on could have been deadly for the owners.I contacted both companies that did the installs and was not welcome well by either.
If we the professionals that we claim we are then we must encourage education and hold the light a high for other to see.After this week I will have no problem reporting a install to the company that has done so and if necessary the proper person that will have no mercy!

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Kyle Kubs - Benchmark Home Inspections

Clear conscience

Robert, - You did the right thing... You can go about your work with a sense of integrity and a clear conscience. The lacky's you tried to give a heads up to can not say the same and are clearly the type who give all tradesmen a bad name. Its disenchanting to know that there are these kind of people amongst our own ranks but many customers brings these things on themselves, looking solely for the lowest price they can get and never even asking about qualifications or references. Feel good about yourself, you saved a life today...

Kyle Kubs
Benchmark Home Inspection Services
North New Jersey

PS

I don't think it is fair to blame the customers in most cases. Low ball or Cadillac pricing - with the hodgepodge of permitting, licensing, rules, misinformation, etc - how is any layperson to know what is right or what is dangerous? Higher pricing does not necessarily mean quality or competency (sp). There are competent pros here who get confused and post for clarifications.

Most governmental involvement is based on collecting fees - not competency or safety. It is up to those in the industry to demand and enforce safety and quality - no one else has as much to gain or lose.

Rely_2

Thanks

for the words of encougement

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Rely_2

Police our own

I agree that the custumer is not the bad guy here.We have to police our own and try to educate them about the importance of safty. I have been thinking about this all week and have come to understand that I must change mission statement to we provide safty first and comfort second.

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Weezbo

Propane in a crawl space?...You Got to be making that up....

you have as part of your job a responsibility to the customer not just to preform your mechanical abilities flawlessly ( ..)buh also to point out situations that warrant immediate attention...driving by the fire department one day i see at least a #8 smoke pouring out of the flue..driving by the Oil companies office building while in Anchorage one day same thing...another time noticed Fire from around a flue while driving down the road...go in tell them there is a hazard to human life,offer your immediate help, if they act stupid or arrogant or apathetic tell them that you are or have notified the fire department and you will find the fire chief more than ready to read them the riot act