Would You Make the Call?

[360Youth]

I have passed by this house countless times working on other jobs and have always wondered if it is any of my business to stop. It would obviously be a nice service job, but the greater concern is the safety factor. I was just wondering how many here would stop and talk to the HOs about the possible dangers and recommend that the conduit be at least restrapped if no other repairs are necessary.

Not the greatest pics in the world, but you can hopefully see the overhead feeder conduit has lost all of its conduit strapping is is sagging from the ceiling. This is a duplex, BTW, with meters on the other side of the 8x8.

 

[jmsbrush]

I would, Its look like a safety hazard, You might be saving someones life

 

[macmikeman]

Cold call sales are perfectly acceptable for aluminum siding jobs, and solar pool heat as well. Certain religous sects knock on my door once in a while, they don't offend me much. Politicians knock on the door and I set the dogs loose on em......

 

[mxslick]

I would also stop in, notify the owner/occupants of the safety hazard, and leave a card as an option while telling them to call someone fast.

 

[ElectricianJeff]

I have knocked on doors when I have noticed obvious problems and have picked up several, very good repeat customers.

 

[JohnE]

I was at a buddy's house when his neighbor came over. The neighbor had a broken mast where the mast came through the roof. The mast was almost 90 degrees to the pitched roof. I told him and he said "isn't it supposed to be that way?" and didn't want it fixed. Wouldn't hurt to stop, but be prepared for a negative reception.

 

[prh1700]

I would stop. From the worn grass it looks like somebody parks a vehicle there. Would not be pretty if it was a truck with something in the back that caught the sagging pipe. Or kids reaching it and using it as a make shift gym....

 

[Curtis4President]

I agree, I would stop. Leave a card and tell them the saftey issues.If they are concerned, and they should be, they'll listen.

 

[btharmy]

As long as they have your card, encourage them to get other estimates thus emphasizing you are genuinely concerned about safety. Hopefully the response of the other e.c. when they see the problem will confirm your original issues with safety, making you the good samaritan and front runner for the job.

 

[Cow]

Go for it! It's like asking girls out, the worst they can say is no.:wink:

 

[B4T]

I would stop and say hello. Some people have no clue there is a safety hazard under their house. People get freaked out when an outlet sparks.. you have nothing to lose by dropping off a business card

 

[tonyou812]

I do it quite often but mostly with buisness. Like if I see a lot of paking lot lights out or something that looks sketchy like your pic. Sometimes you gotta go and get the work yourself.

 

[boboelectric]

I'll send a flier.

 

[petersonra]

my first thought was maybe you should mind your own business.

my second thought was pointing out the problem to the owner might be doing him a big favor.

i finally decided that it really does not matter much to me what you do. you could be doing something nice and be appreciated for it, or the guy might think you are some kind of scammer.

 

[charlietuna]

For years i drove past this house on the way to and from work in my neighborhood. There was a raceway feeding the disconnect switch for the a/c compressor that had pulled apart because it was not strapped properly. And the weight of the disconnect kept dropping down further and further! After about five years, i caught the lady outside and stopped to explain the safety issue here and that she might be without air conditioning soon??? Well, she was about 80 years old and explained her husband before he died installed that pipe, then told me how he always was one for short cutting jobs around the house. I could see she didn't have the money to fix it--sooo i told her i would fix it that evening. I stopped by and got my battery drill out to intall a few straps using "nail-ins". As i set the drill on the top of the A/C unit i felt a shock!!! As i looked at the damage i could see where there was one feed wire bare against the edge of the pipe. And also found there was no ground in the sealtite feeding the compressor--the frame was hot!! Five minute freeby job turned into a hour...........:smile:

 

[360Youth]

Five minute freeby job turned into a hour...........:smile:

I have almost stopped by a few times just to offer to strap up the conduit, but I know what happens as soon as you put your hands on a project. I don't know if I mentioned one of the reasons I have not stopped is because I rarely see a vehicle there. There are a lot of part-time residents in this area. Thanks to all that have offered input. It seems the majority would stop and address the safety and that is probably what I wil do when I know there is someone there.

 

[iwire]

I would never hire anyone that stopped by uninvited and suggested that I fix something they noticed.

I am a big believer in MYOB.

 

[LarryFine]

How about a piece of advertising addressed to 'the homeowner at: ____' with their address on it?

 

[B4T]

I would never hire anyone that stopped by uninvited and suggested that I fix something they noticed.

I am a big believer in MYOB.

I agree with that.. BUT there is something really wrong here and I would tell HO to get a few estimates using Yellow Pages as a guide. Having other EC telling them there is a hazard makes you look good :grin:

 

[iwire]

My house better be on fire or you better be from publishers clearing house if you ring my door bell uninvited.