Flooded Boiler Rooms Need Skill, Flipping Switches Doesn’t?

Hey everyone! In today’s video, we start off with a routine HVAC boiler service, but the cold weather quickly turns the day into a string of no-heat calls. Some of these issues were simple fixes-things like a leaking sight glass, a switch being off, or a valve being closed. These quick jobs didn’t take much time or effort.
But then there were the bigger problems, like full boiler room floods. These situations take experience and skill to handle safely and effectively. It got me thinking: Should we expect homeowners or building staff who don’t know HVAC work to handle small things like flipping switches or opening valves? Or should we approach every situation with equal care and attention because, at the end of the day, it’s our job to know, not theirs?
Join me as I navigate through these calls and discuss the balance between simple fixes and complex repairs. Whether you’re just getting started in HVAC or have years of experience, this video dives into how we tackle both the easy and the tough jobs.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment sharing your thoughts-should we expect customers to handle the little things, or is it all on us? Let’s figure it out together!
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[@08airman]

The customer would say that "All you did was flip a switch". I would reply "But, I knew which switch to flip"...LOL...

[@joeyf504327]

or you just say, well it'd be covered with a miantainance contract.

[@zlo92x21]

I’m on call Sundays all day went out last Sunday at 930pm for a switch off made an extra $200 to drive 20 mins and flip a switch can’t beat that

[@ench2112]

I had the same issue when I started in building maintenance. I would be shocked that I would get a work order for a whole section of light being off and told it was an electrical/breaker issue. Then I would walk in and flip the switch and problem solved. You friends words of wisdom are very true, take the easy jobs, flip a switch, and smile as they write a check.

[@PawsumGaming]

What gets me is when someone calls you to fix a problem, but they hover over you the whole time making comments about what they know it is.... and I'm checking the wrong things. Let me do my job...

[@kennyadvocat]

I agree with you and I'm not even in the trades. A home owner or building manager should know how to start their heaters. Its like calling computer support and not checking if your power strip switched off first. I know someone that had a bad leak and didn't think to shut off the main water cutoff. They just sat and waited for the plumber to arrive while their kitchen was flooding. =(

[@kittehofdovrefjel]

I occasionally roll my eyes on some of the easy resi calls but I can't be mad at someone backing off and calling me before they really screw something up.

[@joeyf504327]

to pimp your van out and make the ride quieter, you should buy some of those cheap black foam pads and glue them the inside of the roof. Will cut down the sound a ton.

[@theapprenticesurvivalguide]

Thank you for the tip! 🤟🏻

[@jasonhudock3225]

That time of the year tell me about it. I have a rather standard New Yorker oil boiler in my house, the lucky thing is my mom has the same one. So I don't really need to learn something new if something happens to hers. I get a call on the first cold night of the year after a 12 hour day..."Son, my heat is not working". I go over and there is no flame. Look at a few things and I really should be working on hers more often. Every bolt on the blower/pump/ignitor assembly are rusted shut, cant unscrew anything. Just going to have to rebuild it, o boy what fun. The main issue is that she has an electric hot water heater so the oil burner does not run for most of the year and the moister just builds up on everything. sigh

[@christianurbano1483]

Nice vid, have a question about wiring those tekmar controls, if you have any videos it will be nice ,thanks

[@peter-pg5yc]

I did an oil change for my neighbor.well i measured the oil it was 1 quart car takes 5 quarts. They were oblivious. I was like how did it run

[@LeoLoder]

There's an old saying in our trade. You get paid whether you're fighting or marching. I've seen guys who would spend hrs on a job that the switch or valves were off. Make up some b.s story just to kill time. Sometimes that's a good thing if times are slow but the only person they were kidding were themselves.

[@brothertheo2677]

old army saying: "Marching or fighting, it all pays the same."

[@lnk4328]

Or travel time to the job site.

[@digitald5851]

Exactly! Im hourly. Switches better than dirty britches

[@unmountablebootvolume]

While these easy jobs can be annoying when you're already overloaded with actual problems, outside of these times, I just see them as free money. Drive 30min., flip 1 switch., get paid. Easiest way to pay your rent!

[@mikev.1034]

Some of these people are renters and they don’t give a fuck. Don’t blame them either.

[@peter-pg5yc]

and they pay for the right not to care

[@TheRAMBO9191]

👍🏻🥃💪🏻7:05 aammeeennnn🙏🏻

[@RobAlbertHVAC]

Nobody wants to be bothered. It’s all well and good as long as you don’t try to get the call for free like some idiots used to do. Here’s your stupid sign! Now pay me!