OT waiting

Arrrggggg

Our furnace quit and I called several repair places until I could find one
that could come out 'soon' .... i.e. yesterday right after Noon

About 4 PM, yesterday, they called to say that both their trucks were stuck
in the mud and they were sorry but would come out first thing this morning
and give me a discount to boot. With little choice, I said, "OK"

It's now 10:40 and no sign of them .... early must mean something different
in the heating and air conditioning biz .... I guess.

It's not that I have that much to go do, but few things are as tedious as
waiting for the repair guy, and I'm on the verge of spewing a string of
expletives that will remind me why my granddad used to say, "Obscenity is
the strong expression of a weak mind." .


Thanks, hopefully this little rant will make it easier for me to behave like
a rational human being, when they do, FINALLY, arrive.

"Larry L" wrote in message
...
Arrrggggg

Our furnace quit and I called several repair places until I could find one
that could come out 'soon' .... i.e. yesterday right after Noon



What do you think is wrong with it? If its hot air could be its just a belt.
Or a fuse? Or a blower bearing? Have you looked at the manual? If its a oil
or gas boiler, is the gas still on, is the pilot lite out, etc..?

Even if I cannot fix it myself, I try to learn enough about the system so
that I do not feel so dependent, can interact intelligently with the
technician, and not be ****ed when I write the $500 check to him. :-)

Dave

"David Snedeker" wrote


What do you think is wrong with it? If its hot air could be its just a
belt.
Or a fuse? Or a blower bearing? Have you looked at the manual? If its a
oil
or gas boiler, is the gas still on, is the pilot lite out, etc..?

Even if I cannot fix it myself, I try to learn enough about the system so
that I do not feel so dependent, can interact intelligently with the
technician, and not be ****ed when I write the $500 check to him. :-)


Well, they arrived a little after 11:30 and took 15min to declare it needed
an ignitor box ... that will be $700, and up to 5 days to get the part

Its a heat pump/propane dealie ... I checked that I had plenty of gas and
such before calling.

The unit was making an effort to start, sometimes did ( 1 in 10?) , but
usually just started the first fans up but never the burner or blower. I
was told that Lennox doesn't allow for universal parts so they have to order
the factory item and it is more $ and causes the wait ... I bet that is
true, if they had something to sell me today they would rather do it than
come back out here, I bet.

I quizzed the guy as best as I know how and he appeared to know what he was
doing and able to show me evidence that his conclusion was correct ( they
guarantee the work ) ... add the fact that it's decent weather here, mid 50s
high today, so we ain't going to die of exposure .... add the next fact that
they are giving me a $200 'discount' ( if I care to believe it ;-) and lord
knows what a different outfit might want IF I could get one out here in a
reasonable time frame .... and given that all the outfits want a service
charge just to check it out ( applied to the work ) so I'd be out another
$65 bucks for a second opinion, and I said " do it"

I am not good, at all, at "house stuff" any "tool stuff," really, and
usually opt to hire it done rather than **** it up and then hire it fixed
and redone, for 30% more .... but I do feel vulnerable at times like this.
I try hard to do business in my small town, where my "word of mouth" is
something to seek or fear, but this time all the locals were booked until
next week for the first visit.

Whoa, spoke too soon .... the sky just opened up and in two minutes my porch
is white with hail.... so much for decent weather G

http://www.kimshew.com/hail.jpg

the shollow lakes in the background are SUPPOSED to be pasture ... it's been
a very wet year here, thus far.

On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 20:09:06 GMT, "Larry L"
wrote:


"David Snedeker" wrote


What do you think is wrong with it? If its hot air could be its just a
belt.
Or a fuse? Or a blower bearing? Have you looked at the manual? If its a
oil
or gas boiler, is the gas still on, is the pilot lite out, etc..?

Even if I cannot fix it myself, I try to learn enough about the system so
that I do not feel so dependent, can interact intelligently with the
technician, and not be ****ed when I write the $500 check to him. :-)


Well, they arrived a little after 11:30 and took 15min to declare it needed
an ignitor box ... that will be $700, and up to 5 days to get the part

Its a heat pump/propane dealie ... I checked that I had plenty of gas and
such before calling.

Um, something doesn't sound right - $900 (USD?) for an igniter?
Moreover, I wouldn't think your aux/emergency heat would need to come on
at 50 degrees outside temp, unless something else is going on. Any more
details?

TC,
R

wrote:

Um, something doesn't sound right - $900 (USD?) for an igniter?

Even worse -- Larry's gas company has switched to Euros. It's a trend.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Try here to see if you are getting ripped by your heater repair man parts
http://www.lennox-parts.com/default.html
The price he quoted may include parts and labor nit 700 bucks sounds kind of
high to me.

Sarge

"rw" wrote in message
m...
wrote:

Um, something doesn't sound right - $900 (USD?) for an igniter?

Even worse -- Larry's gas company has switched to Euros. It's a trend.


Uh oh. There goes the world economy.

--riverman
(damn, I just knew this was gonna happen!!)

"Sarge" wrote in message
...
Try here to see if you are getting ripped by your heater repair man parts
http://www.lennox-parts.com/default.html
The price he quoted may include parts and labor nit 700 bucks sounds kind
of
high to me.

Sarge




Thanks,
I think I may be being ripped but I'm not really certain how to tell or
prevent it. I called and asked for an itemized list of the estimate
including part #s and labor cost ... but it's the weekend and I'm not
expecting instant results.

I tried calling a couple local places to see if they would give a phone
estimate based on what I was told since I'm leary of spending another $65 to
get someone to come out and then find out they want even more. Again, it's
the weekend and I'm not holding my breath.

As I told one of them, "If this was a car sputtering along, in need of work,
and I had the same 'feel' about the people and estimate I'd sputter down to
the next shop for a second opinion willing to return to the first if the
opinions matched and estimates were in the same ballpark." I think there
is a built-in incentive to be a bit cheaty in a system that charges for
estimate ... I bet most people cringe then assume that accepting is better
than more hours of waiting and spending for another estimate.

While your at it get an estimate on a new furnace.
Once they start to fall apart it may continue. Check incentives or tax
rebates on stepping up to a more energy efficient model. If you can't get
the tax credit, check the efficiency of the one you have against that of a
new one.

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Sarge" wrote in message
...
Try here to see if you are getting ripped by your heater repair man
parts
http://www.lennox-parts.com/default.html
The price he quoted may include parts and labor nit 700 bucks sounds
kind
of
high to me.

Sarge




Thanks,
I think I may be being ripped but I'm not really certain how to tell or
prevent it. I called and asked for an itemized list of the estimate
including part #s and labor cost ... but it's the weekend and I'm not
expecting instant results.

I tried calling a couple local places to see if they would give a phone
estimate based on what I was told since I'm leary of spending another $65
to
get someone to come out and then find out they want even more. Again,
it's
the weekend and I'm not holding my breath.

As I told one of them, "If this was a car sputtering along, in need of
work,
and I had the same 'feel' about the people and estimate I'd sputter down
to
the next shop for a second opinion willing to return to the first if the
opinions matched and estimates were in the same ballpark." I think
there
is a built-in incentive to be a bit cheaty in a system that charges for
estimate ... I bet most people cringe then assume that accepting is better
than more hours of waiting and spending for another estimate.