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Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 152
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 12:28 pm: | 
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Has anyone heard of the above? Any opinions? |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 2165
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 1:21 pm: |
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Yes, installed central air on 2nd floor 3 years back.
Great install, almost the best price, system works flawlessly.
Minor hiccup on failed electrical (light in the attic had to be rewired and a separate "service" outlet installed) which they took care of.
Pete |
Ibeme
Citizen
Username: Ibeme
Post Number: 154
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 5:17 pm: |
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Good to know. Thanks. |
misshissa
Citizen
Username: Misshissa
Post Number: 2
Registered: 8-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, August 20, 2006 - 2:04 pm: |
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Another positive experience with Fritze. Best quote of 4, the install was quick and neat, and the system worked great. We also had to have them come back (twice actually) for small fixes to pass the electrical inspection, but we actually were inclined to think it was more an issue of the inspector being very nit-picky. Not a bad thing when it comes to electrical work, i suppose!
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J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 72
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:21 am: |
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positive experiences - great....!! yet, for both experiences FAILED electrical inspections??? Sure glad this firm fixed what the should have peformed correctly in the first place (& hope thay didn't charge for the call-back!) This does not sound like a ringing endorsement. misshissa, inspectors MAY just be "nit-picky", but it is towards your safety. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 2169
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 9:50 am: |
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As followup about the electrical, I have an attic install. The electical issue was *not* with the air handler or compressor themselves. The electical issue was that there must be a switched light and a GFIC outlet for service. There was an existing switched overhead light in the attic that worked, but they had to install a 2nd light right at the air handler itself. Similarly, while there was a 110v outlet on the wall of the attic (probably within 4 - 5 feet), they had to install a 2nd one right at the air handler.
BTW -- the electrical inspector gave me a long lecture on use of extension cords in the attic (which I never used, but were there from previous owner), and similarly, in the basement by the main panel, I got a long lecture about how the freezer I have is technically OK on a heavy duty cord, but that he could fail me for that...
I think these are the kinds of things where the code is "open for interpretation" -- and can't blame Fritze for that. They made good on it without question. So what's not to recommend?
(also note that plumbing and building inspections passed right away).
Pete |
J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 73
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 12:21 pm: |
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Pete - That they 'made good' is commendable and ethical on their part as professional electricians. But seems to me that they should have known that a service light & GFCI receptacle were going to be required for this installation (otherwise, why didn't they just say to mr. inspector or to you "gee, there's one light already, and plus there's already an outlet, too.... we'll just use those"). By 'making good', they were only acknowledging their work was insufficient AND  Heaven forbid!!! 'not-up-to-code'.
Look, Pete, pls I'm not trying to be rude, nor instigating... but the fact that the work had to be 'brought-up-to-code' is the point I'm on. Which is why 'recommending this firm' doesn't strike me as logical. Professional tradesman are licensed to perform work and that includes knowing the code (even it's 'subjectivities') and factor ALL that needs to be done to conclude a project. They didn't do that (right?), so doesn't that yield a cautionary recommendation?
Also, I am curious -really curious- what entailled 'making good'? Did they charge anything more, for either materials or labor than what they quoted? 'Cause if so... did you then end up actually paying overall what the higher bidders had estimated? And might it be that those guys would have have gotten it "right" (meaning, passing inspection to close the work) the first time?
I've got no gripe with this firm, don't know their work, DON'T wish to bad mouth them at all. But recommend them??? without ANY reservations?? From what you've described, I can't see how that'd be possible.
Jeff
ps..... man, the 'permanent' use of extension cords, btw, is scary. Really really scary. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 2170
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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JL --
no, no extra cost to me to fix things. my take, especially with a retrofit install -- there can be different interpretations of the code relative to "old stuff" both by different electicians as well as inspectors. Fritze came back to do those 2 things. that was good customer service -- they did what was needed to satisfy me (and the inspector). I suppose they could have charged me extra, or said it wasn't their problem -- since it wasn't directly related to the a/c system they installed.
If I hired an electrician to replace my dishwasher & stove, and that was done OK -- but then the inspector came and noticed a ceiling light fixture and counter outlet had to be updated -- I don't see this as any different.
I have a great a/c system working for several summers now. Considering they installed ductwork, cut holes in the ceiling and walls, did plumbing, did electrical on the first & 2nd floor, etc etc -- having a minor thing need correction is really no big deal to me. My house was clean after their install, I had no walls to patch. There was no flak about this , and they came quickly.
Pete |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 12445
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 1:01 pm: |
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Gosh, now I know why Customair installed a new outlet next to our air handler, even though there was one about six feet away. LOL
Pete has been around the barn a few times and I agree with his interpretation. Different inspectors will see things differently.
Even the best electricians have inspections problems from time to time.
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J L Bryant
Citizen
Username: Jeffbryant
Post Number: 74
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, August 21, 2006 - 1:20 pm: |
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pete - not meaning to beat a dead horse... but those two things WERE directly related to the overall A/C installation, otherwise the inspector wouldn't have cited it. It's not at all like the stove example. THAT's harrassment beyond the project being inspected.
but again, pls, I'm not trying to be 'down' on your experience (especially since you're happy & satisfied.. & cool, I'm gathering!) nor nay-saying the firm's rating, NOR disagreeing that inspection inconsistencies exist, as Bob noted. Bottomline for this thread is: they did right by you, you're pleased, and giving them a thumbs up. Which is all one can ask for. That's fine. |
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