Repairmen in your home: advice?

[carbine85]

I actually run a HVAC business. I recommend calling a licensed, insured, and bonded contractor. Check the BBB for complaints.
As a contractor we discourage homeowners from leaving the property while we are there but sometimes you have to work around it. I will not allow our techs to enter a home where there are teenagers or younger and no parents. The parents are to quick to point fingers and the kids can't be trusted so we refuse to enter the home.
We are typically loaded with work and rushed. We could care less about what's around us. We concentrate and deal with the issues at hand.
If you have concerns the best thing to do is be there and cover up your belongings.
Most reputable contractors have prehire screening and random drug testing. Our guys are GTG.

 

[JRWhit]

Right now it's go time for hvac service. Put your mind at ease. Throw a blanket over stuff you want concealed. Right now any service tech should be so buried in work that his only concern is to get you fixed so he can get on to the next fifty that he has holding. This time of year we don't really have time to concern ourselves with what surrounds our work space so long as it is not an immediate henderence in accessing the equipment.
Didn't realize how many refrigeration and HVAC specialist there are here at THR.
Who knows, maybe the guy that shows up is a member.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Fix it yourself. It is probably just a bad capacitor.

I looked and looked but must have missed the smiley face. Terrible idea. A capacitor can kill even with the electrical power shut off. (Federal law requires 608 certification to work on this type of HVAC system..or did .) A bad capacitor IS a possibility....one of dozens of reasons for the failure.

 

[double bogey]

What jimmyray said. If you don't have the capability to verify power is off, you have no business even attempting to change even an obviously bad part. I won't even pull the covers anymore without killing power. Too many burned wire loose looking for a place to short. As far as having the homeowner reset a breaker, good luck, most of the time you are lucky if they can find the breaker box.

Also, a very large part of failures are capacitors. If they are Chinese made, if they have not failed, give it a few mins.

 

[P5 Guy]

Not A/C and not firearms related.
An apartment complex I once rented a unit in decided to have cable installed without notice to the tenants. A few days past the install several units were burgled. Lost some jewelry and cash.
If I had had advanced notice I would have stayed at the apartment to watch where the installer went. Would that have kept him from returning? Probably not.

 

[buck460XVR]

Any A/C repairman that would trust a home owner to trip a 220v breaker for him would already be a dead man!

BTDT with another 'skilled' repairman at work and almost got fried by it!

rc

^^^This. Been there myself. The sheets will probably draw more attention that the safe and reloading equipment. If you are worried about your firearms, you should be worried about everything else of value in the home. If you hired a reputable service man, you have nuttin' to worry about. If you hired someone that did not come recommended or with a poor reputation, the bill will probably be a crime also. Service people work in peoples homes beside personal property all the time. Most I know, myself included, never even notice.

 

[Ed Ames]

I looked and looked but must have missed the smiley face. Terrible idea. A capacitor can kill even with the electrical power shut off. (Federal law requires 608 certification to work on this type of HVAC system..or did .) A bad capacitor IS a possibility....one of dozens of reasons for the failure.

No smiley. Caps can kill exactly the way guns can kill. Which is to say they can't. You can kill yourself with one, but that's hardly unique to capacitors. You can kill yourself with many commonplace items. Water, for example, or a child's helium balloon.

I don't recommend it though. Killing yourself, I mean. I had thought that went without saying.

If you don't know what a capacitor is, and can't be bothered to research it, you aren't going to DIY replace them so no worries. If you do know, you know why they require a certain amount of caution so again no worries.

 

[Warp]

No smiley. Caps can kill exactly the way guns can kill. Which is to say they can't. You can kill yourself with one, but that's hardly unique to capacitors. You can kill yourself with many commonplace items. Water, for example, or a child's helium balloon.

I don't recommend it though. Killing yourself, I mean. I had thought that went without saying.

If you don't know what a capacitor is, and can't be bothered to research it, you aren't going to DIY replace them so no worries. If you do know, you know why they require a certain amount of caution so again no worries.

FWIW I wouldn't recommend a person unfamiliar with firearms attempt to fix a loaded and malfunctioning gun on their own out of the blue

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Caps can kill exactly the way guns can kill.

Neither can kill simply by being touched in the wrong place as a capacitor can. I personally knew 2 men who were killed when contacted capacitors.

 

[Ed Ames]

FWIW I wouldn't recommend a person unfamiliar with firearms attempt to fix a loaded and malfunctioning gun on their own out of the blue

This is hardly out of the blue.

The op described a problem. Most of the respondents answered with minimization. "It isn't really a problem." As in, to paraphrase, "Tradespeople are generally honest and see far worse, don't worry about it or cover it with a sheet because that won't make anyone curious about what is being covered up."

I didn't try to dismiss to OP's problem. I answered with practical advice: if you are truly concerned about people coming into your space, don't let them in and fix - or at least troubleshoot - it yourself. There is plenty of information about how. Which, by the way, is where the safety warnings belong, not in a one line statement about a common point of failure.

That seems far more on-point than trying to scare people about caps.

What we are seeing now in this thread is tradespeople trying to literally scare up business. Maybe not for themselves directly, but for their industry. It is exactly like an automotive brake shop trying to convenience people that if you do your own brake jobs you will kill your family.

 

[chicharrones]

While the whole capacitor discharge issue is off topic, I do agree that someone needs to have some basic electrical knowledge and know safety protocols to work on any house or business electrics. One of those things would be discharging capacitors. It's not hard, but carelessness can hurt you.

 

[sniper58]

I just had the water-heater replaced at my place. Installer is bonded, insured, and a shooter.
I was working on a rifle while he was replacing the heater in the same room. I gave him some advice and pointers on loads for his .30-06 and he knocked $50 off the bill in appreciation.

Win - Win situation!

 

[homatok]

While most contractors are honest enough, the people they hire ----sometimes not so much! I learned the hard way never to leave workmen alone in rooms where there are easily concealed, not likely to be missed quickly, items. When we moved here, the shed needed to be wired. I hired a highly recommended firm to do the work. I had to go out of town for work and my wife let the contractor's workers (3) into the shed to complete the wiring install. Several months later, when organizing all the boxes, ammo cans etc. I discovered I was missing two firearms. One was an AR-7 .22 and the other was a very good double 410 that folded in half for storage. Also the scum made off with an ammo box containing several very good quality hunting knives and some other stuff. I reported the theft to the RCMP and was basically told that due to the length of time that had elapsed, it was highly unlikely I would ever see my stuff again! Lesson learned!

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I have a contract with a pest control service (big name) for monthly treatments. The same company also provides termite protection. The monthly treatments involve the entire interior of my house and the termite inspection includes my basement. I have had these contracts since 1978 and 1990 respectively. I leave the door open if I'm going to be away at the time the technicians need to be there. Over the years there have been many different individuals who serviced my home and not once has anything ever been taken or misplaced. There were golden opportunities as stuff wasn't always locked away out of sight. It's just not something I worry about.

 

[leadcounsel]

I also hate having strangers in my home for repairs and don't hire a maid service for this reason.

Go to a reputable company. No craigslist handymen!

Conceal the stuff. Sheets and tarps. Then put things on TOP of those, like paint cans or tools or small engine parts, oil cans etc. Blend it to make it look just like a messy garage area. Maybe set something on the tarp like a wood working project or something to conceal it.

Stay armed, alert, follow them around. I wouldn't be so concerned about THIS person, but I believe there is an underground market for the sale of information about houses to target...

And you can't always be home.

 

[Blue Thunder]

My last home I had a secured room in the terrace level that had all my reloading stuff, shop stuff, and radio stuff in it with an electric lock on the door. My next home I am building now will have the same. No HVAC in the room, no electrical panels, just my stuff all behind a locked door that is a solid door that opens outward. The sheets and blankets is the way to go. You may also want to see if you can wall that area in or make some way to block it off for the future. Yes, I also watch all repair folks in my house. Lot of good ideas here.

 

[phil dirt]

If it were me, I'd put a sheet over it and lean a 4X8' sheet of plywood up against it. Then, I'd accompany him to the garage. I don't blame you for being paranoid.

 

[Sniper66]

I say cover everything. I don't know a single shooter that openly displays his weapons cache to strangers. We are all cautious. I'm sure all of you have heard stories or know someone who has been burglarized after not been cautious enough. Had a good friend who was robbed of several firearms, including family heirlooms shortly after his teenage son showed his dad's guns to some acquaintances. My friend was certain the acquaintances did the stealing, but he never retrieved any of his lost guns and no one was ever arrested. Better safe than very sorry...cover everything.

 

[Tactical Lever]

Gotta say, I'm kind of amused thinking about a safe the size of Trent's (maybe its smaller) with a sheet thrown over it.

Potential burglar: "Hey what's that? Blanket with wheels... indoor gazebo.. curtains with a butt stock...boxes on speaker stands.. Nothing valuable here!"

If you really want to "disguise" a safe, empty it out, leave it wide open. Ask the repair man if he wants to buy a safe while taking pictures of it. Previous owner left a huge safe in the garage as part of the deal, and you don't have a thing to put in it...

 

[Warp]

If you really want to "disguise" a safe, empty it out, leave it wide open. Ask the repair man if he wants to buy a safe while taking pictures of it. Previous owner left a huge safe in the garage as part of the deal, and you don't have a thing to put in it...

LMAO

Now that is thinking outside the box, err, safe.

 

[Black Knight]

Just cover everything with drop cloths. If the repairman asks you can tell him you are getting ready to spray paint something in there and didn't want the splatter to damage anything.

 

[larryflew]

As a retired HVAC repairman I can attest (at least for me) that I rarely even noticed what people had since your concentration is on the repair and getting on to the next job. Otherwise almost everything you own might be coveted by someone maybe even more so than your guns. If you are a bit paranoid (maybe a good thing) go with the cover up and also the stay home but PLEASE just let the poor guy do his job. Remember some of the old garage signs $20/hr, $30/hour if you watch, $40/hour if you help $90/hour if you already tried to fix it yourself.

 

[itsa pain]

I don't intend for my post to sound "offensive", or "harsh". NOBODY is allowed to enter my residence unless I am present to confirm their identify, allow them entrance, supervise their time there, and walk them politely to the door. During the entire time, I do carry open. Disagree if you want. Or simply do as you want.

My justification is as follows: My property; my firearms; my liability. Most important, I have to be able to live with myself in the eventuality that my firearm(s) ever are stolen and subsequently used unlawfully. I have to be able to live with my conscience. That means doing all that I can do, to safeguard my property, me and society at large. Is that over-protection? Nope. Paranoid? Nope. Vigilant...responsible.

Geno

I guess no one has come over your house for a very long time and if they did they never went back lol. You might be overdoing it a little

 

[thump_rrr]

I'm an HVAC business owner. I typically only deal with commercial/industrial due to us worrying more about the customers home than them worrying about us.
Junk, pets, filth of all kinds, then the worry of if they will pay or bounce a check.
My technicians make between $75,000-$100,000 a year depending on how much overtime they're willing to do.
I can't say that all technicians are honest and hard working but I can say nearly all of them are.

 

[mgmorden]

Thanks guys. Like I said I had a friend of my dad's come over and look at it and I've got AC running now .

Turned out to be a blown transformer (that apparently damaged the downstairs thermostat when it blew requiring that it be replaced too). Cost $100 to have it fixed (which is good as just looking at the parts cost they were around $60-65) and I didn't mind him seeing what I have as I've met the guy before and trust him.