Why is it so hard to get anyone to do anything?

[Don Ro]

Those 2" return lines on the right. Heated with torch just enough to be flexible but not collapse.
.
.

[DanielDudley]

If you documented it and took pictures, I'd say you have a legitimate case for not paying. Notice Don has pictures that show how it was done right.

I'd be calling the boss and having a few words.

[look 171]

Milt is correct, its not easy to bend in schedule 40 because it will collapse on ya. I have done it before with a heat gun in the field only because I really needed to snake it around some something. Its always been gentle bends and only for sprinkler systems

[Zeke]

Those are gentle sweeps not a p-trap.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Alan A

I’m differing on the definition of the word improvement.

Occluding a drainage pipe is not - imo - an improvement.
Breaking a system that was working is not an improvement.
Unless you are developing software of course.

But this is hvac, not linux so the expectation is for it to work once the technician has completed the work.

I'm not trying to defend the sloppy work so don't get me wrong. But they did come and determine that the drain was plugged. It sounds like they cleared the drain. They should be paid for that work. I think your best course of action would have been to document the poor workmanship and contact the company. Most companies have a no charge callback policy and it appears pretty clear the workmanship was poor which caused the failure. I think I'd talk to the owner of the company or the manager and see if you can negotiate an acceptable outcome.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by cabmando

I'm not trying to defend the sloppy work so don't get me wrong. But they did come and determine that the drain was plugged. It sounds like they cleared the drain. They should be paid for that work. I think your best course of action would have been to document the poor workmanship and contact the company. Most companies have a no charge callback policy and it appears pretty clear the workmanship was poor which caused the failure. I think I'd talk to the owner of the company or the manager and see if you can negotiate an acceptable outcome.

The drain wasn't plugged. The filter inside the unit collapsed.
The drain itself was fine. And he wasn't asked to **** with it. He took that upon himself.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Alan A

So the A/C went on the fritz.
I’m out of town. Bottom air handler is flooding the basement.
Either the condensate pump is on the fritz or the drain pipe is blocked.

So SWMBO calls the A/C repair guys.
They diagnose a blockage in the drain and take it upon themselves to rejig the drainage.

Fast forward a week. I go downstairs and the basement is wet.

Said A/C guys decide to put a P trap in the drain as part of their ‘improvements’. By heating the schedule 40 and bending it. To the point that they occlude the pipe and it’s been backing up all week.

I went totally radge. Lots of four letter words.
A trip to Home Depot and $15 of materials and it was done properly. Took less than 20 minutes.

Am I being unreasonable when I say I’m paying that bill over my dead body?
Why is it so hard to find someone to do things right?

OK, I figured out the rest of the jargon here but what is an SWMBO?

[pavulon]

She Who Must Be Obeyed

[flipper35]

Funny you should bring this up. My wife went to a flooring place to get a quote on some carpet and it is a color we bought there a few months ago and had the measurements of what we needed. He did not want to go through the trouble to give her a quote and all he had to do was look up the old invoice to find the number for the color and multiply the footage x price, or just give her the price per square yard/foot and we could figure it out form there. She order from another place.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Alan A

The drain wasn't plugged. The filter inside the unit collapsed.
The drain itself was fine. And he wasn't asked to **** with it. He took that upon himself.

From your first post: I’m out of town. Bottom air handler is flooding the basement.
As a tech, even if you find the filter had somehow blocked the condensate flow (which I have absolutely no idea how that would happen) if you notice something isn't installed correctly (no trap in primary drain) you fix it because if you don't, you risk being called back because it's not draining properly.
Again, Not defending the shoddy work with bending the pvc with heat. He should have used a few 45 degree elbows and made a short trap. Pay the bill, don't pay the bill, means nothing to me ultimately. I'm just saying I think there's a better way to approach it, that's all.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by pavulon

She Who Must Be Obeyed

Denis isn't married, he doesn't have that problem.