If heating you is wrong…

…I don’t wanna be right.

The words “second opinion” are like music to my ears. I’m a natural educator and, as such, I enjoy giving homeowners information they didn’t get from a competitor. In many cases I’m able to offer a more cost effective solution. And in some cases I get to prove my competitor wrong. I must admit that my inner imp loves proving the competition wrong.

I heard those two melodious words today. Continue reading If heating you is wrong…

They don’t make them…

…or train them like they used to.

I, for one, am quite happy that they don’t make them like they used to. I have a hard enough time finding a parking place for the truck, much less a 1771 Fardier à Vapeur. As for central heating, you’d have to hire me full time had we not progressed beyond the hypocaustum. Technological change is good.

Pedagogical change, on the other hand, has not been good – especially in the trades. Five year apprenticeships? Not even close. Continue reading They don’t make them…

Eight Is Enough

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. These eight pictures get you 470 of them. That’s not such a great bargain I suppose, but it’s a mite better than what my customer got last year. Her 207 pictures of George Washington got her nothing.  Read on to learn how a twenty-four point tune-up turned up a repair that was paid for but never performed. Continue reading Eight Is Enough

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Has monkey got a deal for you!

“Dear Friend,

Since replacing your furnace could cost you thousands of dollars, doesn’t it just make sense to consider a Tune-Up? Especially if I take all the risk, and there is no risk for you. Let me explain.”

Those are the opening words of a letter (pictured below) from the owner of Heroic Heating & Air to homeowners in his area. While considering a tune-up certainly seems to make sense, you’ll soon learn what their so-called tune-up actually makes is dollars and cents. The letter continues:
Continue reading Monkey See, Monkey Do

Snatched from the Jaws of a Tune-Up

You’re gonna need a bigger check.

Fall was just days away when I was called to check a furnace that had been paid a visit by Equinoctial Air. When I arrived, I removed the furnace’s covers and saw what you see in the first and second pictures below. What looks like partial disassembly is, in fact, nearly complete disassembly. The blower, heat exchanger, burner tray and so on were all sitting loosely in the furnace cabinet. Under the guise of performing a tune-up, Equinoctial Air had completely gutted the furnace.
Continue reading Snatched from the Jaws of a Tune-Up