ETERNAL BATTLE: THE GOOD CONTRACTOR vs CITY HALL

My regulars know the eternal battle contractors fight every day.

They also know the battles the homeowner fights with himself before calling a contractor:

“I can do this. How hard can it be?”

Since the fearless fire god left, I started looking into the problem, which was now My Problem.

How complicated could it be?

Aside from starting an accidental fire, or blowing up the house, how complicated could it be?

I knew what the problem was by listening to the boss from the first inspection:

“I’m trying to tell you there’s a 9 volt battery that ignites the top rack. All you need to do is replace it and I’m saving you a service call.”

Now he’s doing me a favor?

In short, my fancy gas fireplace wouldn’t ignite.

Finally the tech got it fired up on all levels. Then the top level died.

The top level gas burner stayed dead when he left.

I needed to make a service call because he was the ‘clean and inspect’ guy, not the service guy.

There was no 9 volt battery like his boss said on the phone, but there was a black On/Off toggle on the black fireplace frame.

I flicked it and damn, that top burner fired up.

Somehow, during inspecting and cleaning, it must have flicked off?

Not any more.

Happy times all around, unlike my twitter pal Tom Boyle whose furnace has been out a week.

Eternal Battle, Pt 2: Way Of Water

City Hall gives out building permits to good contractors.

And bad.

The difference comes out in the end product, but the permits shouldn’t be the highest hurdle.

Except when City Hall is short staffed and working a four day week.

Still, the patient contractor waits for the permit, which is the green light to demo and rebuild.

In other words, GO TIME!

But, not so fast.

Even with go time from the city, there’s getting on the contractor’s schedule since they don’t make their living waiting around.

In the meantime, a remodel requires the work of plumbers and electricians, who also have work schedules that don’t always match the customer’s calendar.

Eventually the band gets together, reviews the work, the changes, and work commences.

Water: The Solution

A residential water meter size is based on points.

If the points change, the water meter may need an upgrade.

Adding an extra toilet, shower, and two sinks raises the points.

City Hall adds up the extra points assigned to the new construction and yes, it needs an upgrade.

The contractor checks with the city. Yes, it needs an upgrade.

New pipe tunnel drilling, new pipe, new meter?

In a turn of events the owner adds the points, goes to City Hall, Emails, makes calls.

The contractor and the city both agree on the new number.

Hole drilled, pipe run.

After that, the owner receives a too-late email from City Hall with an adjusted sum of the water meter points and new additions.

No upgrade necessary.

Does it have to be an eternal battle for everyone?

Is it? Or am I all alone out here?

That is the $4500.00 question.

The follow up email from City Hall said, “Talk to your contractor.”