Dodgy Work Practices - Heating Guy

LStallion on 12/08/2016 - 14:02
Last edited 16/08/2016 - 21:07

Hi All,

So I got the missus (as I'm at work) to book in a guy to come check out our central heating and clean the ducts.

The guy complains that the unit is too old and shouldn't be used (saying its 30+ years old)

So the jerk off cuts the electrical cord to it without advising my missus.

She goes to turn the heater on and nothing… so I told her to call RACV Emergency Home Assist and they advised that the connections have been cut.

WTF ?

How is this allowed ? The risk is up to the home owner to accept? You can't just come into someone's home and cut not even just unplug… CUT the bloody cord.

Advice on how to proceed?

I've asked the missus to call the company up and complain plus I'm going to lodge a formal complaint with Consumer Affairs.

UPDATE:- Thanks all for your helpful and unhelpful(comments which made me laugh). After 2 days of trying to contact the guy with no answer, the company called to say they don't know anything about it and have advised the guy to call back which he hasn't.

I've decided to take the plunge and upgrade anyway but I've gone with a different company, ColdFlow, they were courteous, explained everything and even provided a cheaper better quote, with a newer model than the dodgy guy (who was trying to sell me a 3-star old model). ColdFlow has given us a Braemar TQM520 20kW 5 Star Efficiency rated model for the same price installed. ColdFlow is also a more reputable company.

Thanks Again. You may now go continue discussing what standards allow you to do what =) I will be unsubscribing from this thread.

Home & Garden

Comments

        • chumlee on 13/08/2016 - 21:28
          +1

          AS3000 is the wiring standards. Can you cut and paste the "law" part please to back up your claim.

          Not having a go at you but I really do want to get a better understanding of this as it seems ridiculous someone who comes to check your heater can cut the powercord.

        • MATTDAMON on 13/08/2016 - 23:05

          @chumlee:

          There is no specific law saying that if they didn't disconnect it hey would be fined, however if something did happen it would come under COR laws and if injury or death occurred and the electrician did not take reasonable steps to either rectify or isolate the device they can be found cuplable, which does carry jail time.

          Not to mention even if nothing happened they could loose their license,

          Risks not worth taking, people have been killed and sent to prison for less

        • chumlee on 14/08/2016 - 07:23

          But we don't know if the heater guy is an electrician. OP wanted ducts cleaned. Could have been a plumber. Could have just been someone with no license or accreditation

          Also, he could have advised OP what was faulty with the heater.

          As for OHS, I cannot recall anyone being sent to jail over something like this. 3 young man died installing pink batts and their respective employers only got a fine. a brick wall at a Melbourne building site was not adequately braced and fell on top of 3 innocent people walking past. The company received a fine and no one was jailed.

          sounds to me more like this heater guy is after money not safety.

        • Japius on 15/08/2016 - 10:36
          +1

          @MATTDAMON:

          "reasonable steps"….'informed home owner of risks and reasons why the unit is unsafe, advised in writing to not operate the unit'….that sounds reasonable to me…ass covered

        • MATTDAMON on 16/08/2016 - 11:49

          @Japius:

          Not in the eyes of a judge though.

          If you had said that they permanently isolated and disabled it, tagged it out correctly then notified the home owner then thats ass covered.

        • Japius on 16/08/2016 - 11:55

          @MATTDAMON:

          judge? is there a case that deals with this? I hadn't searched for a court case yet, curious to see where the actions have been tested or are at least explicitly stated in industry guidelines etc as I imagien that course of action is a sure fire way to get people off side so it must be written somewhere

        • MATTDAMON on 16/08/2016 - 12:39
          -1

          @Japius:

          There has been numerous COR court cases of late, your more then welcome to go and look for them.

        • Japius on 16/08/2016 - 12:57

          @MATTDAMON:

          haha I will, your post made me think you knew of some and I figured you'd have the parties but I will jump on tomorrow and have a look

    • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2016 - 00:23
      +4

      More then likely it no does not meet any of the current legislation or australian standards for a ducted heater (in particular insulation etc) so would be required by law to make it inoperable.

      Say they decided tomorrow that adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection and crash avoidance systems were mandatory on all cars, do you think they'd order all existing cars to be destroyed?

      No - safety standard only cover NEW use. Its impossible to enforce/alter existing use, without compensating the existing owners/users.

      Heck, there's still millions of homes with asbestos that no one is in a hurry to demolish.

  • Wallyt99 on 13/08/2016 - 21:54
    +1

    I was reading a review from someone about a 'dodgy plumber' and the response from the plumber. This was related to a gas leak. The plumber did say they were required (be it by law or regulation) to disable gas to the property until repair work was done or some such. The trade is plumber with gasfitter licence. You can probably lookup gasfitting licences if it interests you all.

  • garetz on 14/08/2016 - 02:17

    From his point of view, it must of been an immediate health risk which could lead to death, otherwise he probably would of advised just not to use it for now. Maybe you should find out about the model you were using before lambasting the guy.

  • zerocost on 14/08/2016 - 05:46
    +4

    30+ old heating system, he may have missed the proper communication but did the right thing to protect you. Give him a call ask for explanation, you may find something sensible. Take it easy.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 14/08/2016 - 17:22
    +3

    I'd be suspicious if he said "it's too old and shouldn't be used….. But I can fit a new one for just $10k…..offer ends today". Which is the usual bs these so called experts come up with.

    I would want an explanation of exactly what had failed and what was making it dangerous. Would you accept taking a car off the road for the simple reason it was too old?

  • BertieBrown on 14/08/2016 - 20:25
    +2

    It must be one of those older units where everything is made from asbestos and is powered by unicorn farts. See, in that case, immediately cutting the cord is completely warranted.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/08/2016 - 22:52

    It could actually be as simple as the 30 year old unit had brittle wiring and the cord broke, rather than being cut :)

  • cantstanzya on 15/08/2016 - 02:28
    +4

    25 Dangerous gas installations
    (1) If a person carrying out gasfitting work on a gas
    installation becomes aware of a danger arising
    from a defect in the gas installation, the person
    must without delay—
    (a) take all steps that are necessary to make the
    installation safe; and
    (b) notify the owner of the gas installation and
    the occupier of the premises in which the
    installation is situated of the defect.
    Penalty: 20 penalty units.

    http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/Domino/Web_Notes/LDMS/LTObject_Store/ltobjst8.nsf/DDE300B846EED9C7CA257616000A3571/B0CD770A661D9E1DCA257CA8007E3480/$FILE/08-165sra003%20authorised.pdf

    Sorry OP I know it sucks but it's because it's a gas unit and the laws are very strict regarding this.

    • Japius on 15/08/2016 - 13:05
      +3

      (3) If the person carrying out the gasfitting work is
      unable, or it is unreasonable for the person, to
      make the gas installation safe, he or she must,
      without delay, notify Energy Safe Victoria and—
      (a) if the gas installation uses natural gas, the
      gas distribution company which supplies that
      gas to the gas installation of the defect; or
      (b) if the gas installation uses LPG, the gas
      retailer which supplies that gas to the gas
      installation of the defect.
      Penalty: 20 penalty units.

      I would argue they could comply with part 1 by unplugging the unit and informing the owner not to use it, and they should then proceed to part 3 with their concerns since OP has not indicated the tradesperson discussed repair options

      • cantstanzya on 15/08/2016 - 15:52
        +1

        The reason why the cord is cut is mentioned by OP.

        The risk is up to the home owner to accept?

        Unplugging and informing is not making the installation safe as many people ignore the risks and plug the unit back in.
        That is why gasfitters are told to cut cords because people cannot be trusted with their own safety.
        Sad I know but true as the reason this became law is thanks to people who have died.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 15/08/2016 - 15:55
      +1

      He failed to do b). Being 30 years old is not a defect!

  • fruit on 15/08/2016 - 10:22

    OP did the person that cut the cord tell you they did that?

    • Stallion on 15/08/2016 - 17:34

      Negative.

      Rang Energy Safe Victoria who also was not advised.

      Rang the Heater company this morning and the "Technician" is "Sick".

  • [Deactivated] on 15/08/2016 - 14:14
    +10

    After reading so many stupid replies on this I must ad(hoc) my own:

    I think the heater dude wanted to bang your wife, she refused, so he sabotaged the system.

    Don't down vote this unless you have a legislative link proving you are not an idiot.

  • Bunnyburger on 15/08/2016 - 19:32

    It's 30+ years old so it shouldn't be used. Instead buy a unit from me and have me install it, and have me come by and fix it once planned obsolescence kicks in!

    Well he already cut the cord, the next best thing you can do is not give him any further business.

  • Mike88 on 15/08/2016 - 20:18
    +4

    I work in the industry and if what the technician has diagnosed is correct then he has done the right thing in disabling the heater. I cannot comment as to whether he is correct in his assessment, just as any industry there are good and bad technicians.

    The reason for cutting the cord as other posters have already outlined, it is part of their licensing. They cannot leave it unplugged. What if the OP has a guest stay at the house and they plug it back in? However the more likely scenario is that customer ignores advice and does so anyway. They do this to protect idiots. If customer is harmed from faulty appliance they knew about then they are liable which can result in fines, loss of license, loss of job and even jail time. Your budget does not factor into their decision to disable your heater.

    I also find it hard to believe that they would disable your heater without at least telling you/partner. I imagine that they would have an enormous amount of complaints if their practise is to leave all jobs without explaining what has been done.
    You have asked for a qualified technician to inspect your heater and you did not like the answer. Ask for a second opinion from another company if you believe they are incorrect in their assessment.
    Also electrical cables are not rocket science, you can easily repair/replace them.

  • Plug on 15/08/2016 - 21:17

    I would suggest the relevant piece of law is Section 25 of the Gas Safety (Gas Installation) Regulations 2008

  • LittleKatie on 15/08/2016 - 23:58

    Maybe your missus cut the cord so the tradie had to come back?

  • Bnjam3 on 16/08/2016 - 08:55
    +1

    I would love to hear the other side of this story.

  • DWH on 16/08/2016 - 11:43

    I had an old gas water system… I mean like 1960's old! It wasn't working well, so had a service guy around who simply blew the dust out from around the burner unit and it roared back to life and worked like a charm.

    The gas plumber commented that they don't make them like they used to anymore, and this old unit was actually superior to a new one (which I can tell you from experience are built to last almost exactly 10 years then get a hole).

    Unsure if ducted heating is the same, but it's foolish to automatically think newer = better.

    • Mike88 on 16/08/2016 - 12:05
      +1

      I have found that generally the older units do have a longer life span. However people seem to forget how much it cost for heating and cooling 30-40 years ago compared to today.
      Newer units are more energy efficient and have more available functions. To allow this they have pcb's that are more prone to failure than just the average contactor/gas valve in older heating/cooling systems.

      • JimB on 16/08/2016 - 16:21

        Like Mike88 said newer ones are much more efficient, so if it saves you $100 a year in gas, a new one will repay you back in 10 years.

        If you like gas storage, get an Aquamax Stainless Steel hot water service. Simply the best and most reliable.

  • illz on 16/08/2016 - 15:49

    Just wear a jumper dude.

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