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Ugh...landlord problems.

shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭✭
edited December 2017 in General Discussion
Had a great Christmas Eve with the family, get home at 1am, it's -9 degrees with wind chills around -45. One of my 5 renters texts at 1:30, no heat in the house.

So I run in, fool around with it not really knowing what am doing, everything seems normal, just won't light. Dammit.

Offer to pay for a motel as my plumber and 2 of the guys that work for him didn't answer their phones.

She declined, is running two space heaters and is going to tough it out. Hopefully one of them will run over right away in the morning.

Comments

  • remingtonoaksremingtonoaks Member Posts: 26,245 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have four Amish style ceramic heaters for just such occasions (they heat a 1500 square foot area nicely that's unobstructed meaning no petition walls with 8-foot ceilings) for my renter's. Their a lot safer than space heaters, and then you don't have to worry about offering them a motel

    I also have a few ventless portable propane heaters in case the power goes out

    Did you tell her to let the water run tonight a little bit in every faucet including the showers, and did you adjust the Float(s) On the toilets so it/they run? that way your pipes won't freeze.


    But I bet you have a bad thermal coupler
  • MobuckMobuck Member Posts: 14,163 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    There have been about 1/2 dozen house fires in my part of the world over the last 3-4 weeks--nearly all rental houses running electric heaters.
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Yes, I know those electric heaters are not real safe but at 2amChristmas day we didn't have much choice.

    Don't think it has a thermocoupler, it's got an ignitor on it not pilot light. The plumber is over there now.
  • Ricci WrightRicci Wright Member Posts: 8,259 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The important thing is you responded right away and took care of them. Good job.
  • spasmcreekspasmcreek Member Posts: 37,717 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    1500 watt on a 14gauge wire is asking for trouble .i use an infrared thermo on wall sockets and wires..little red dot tells the tale...we replaced a 1500 watt heater in the basement with a 1000watt one ....till i get line replaced with 12 guage.....wall socket and plug should only be a few degrees above wall temp..should not feel plug warm at all ...like to get a standard double wall socket in a heavy duty(double or single) for that one 110v line
  • MercuryMercury Member Posts: 7,840 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    "1500 watt heaters" are NOT 1500 watts........rarely do they run over 1300 watts.......


    Get a watt meter and check for yourself.



    Merc



    quote:Originally posted by spasmcreek
    1500 watt on a 14gauge wire is asking for trouble .i use an infrared thermo on wall sockets and wires..little red dot tells the tale...we replaced a 1500 watt heater in the basement with a 1000watt one ....till i get line replaced with 12 guage.....wall socket and plug should only be a few degrees above wall temp..should not feel plug warm at all ...like to get a standard double wall socket in a heavy duty(double or single) for that one 110v line
  • fordsixfordsix Member Posts: 8,554 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    ya need to keep spare thermo units on hand for the furnace
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,892 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Most of my customers who use space heaters use them on 15 amp outlets & have no problem. You can have a problem if:

    --- your electric wiring is knob-and-tube, or
    --- the heater is not plugged directly into the wall outlet, or
    --- you run the power cord under carpeting, or
    --- you fail to keep combustibles at least 36" away from the heater

    Neal
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fordsix
    ya need to keep spare thermo units on hand for the furnace


    The circuit board burnt out on the furnace.

    Not sure what a "thermo unit" is.
  • cbxjeffcbxjeff Member Posts: 17,637 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I believe even an electronic ignited furnace will have a thermocouple. Otherwise how does the furnace know if the burner is lit or to turn off the gas?

    I know the feeling, shootuadeal - I have three. I would like to punch the guy that said rentals are easy money.
    It's too late for me, save yourself.
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Ricci Wright
    The important thing is you responded right away and took care of them. Good job.


    +1. I keep the oil filled radiate heaters as emergency backup for tenants. Seems something always happens during holidays.
  • allen griggsallen griggs Member Posts: 35,692 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am a carpenter, but I have wired 4 houses, new log houses. Not a foot of 14 gauge wire in any of my houses, I use only 12 gauge, with 20 amp receptacles.
    You can plug high amp stuff into any receptacle in any of my houses.
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    And now water is froze in one of the trailer houses I rent out, Merry Christmas! I'm sitting here babysitting a knipco heater right now.
  • shootuadealshootuadeal Member Posts: 5,301 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Rentals aren't so bad when its not life threatening cold outside.
  • droptopdroptop Member Posts: 8,363 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by spasmcreek
    1500 watt on a 14gauge wire is asking for trouble .i use an infrared thermo on wall sockets and wires..little red dot tells the tale...we replaced a 1500 watt heater in the basement with a 1000watt one ....till i get line replaced with 12 guage.....wall socket and plug should only be a few degrees above wall temp..should not feel plug warm at all ...like to get a standard double wall socket in a heavy duty(double or single) for that one 110v line


    My rule is: If breaker in the main 120v panel is 15 amp use #14 / 20A use #12. Length should be less than 50 feet from the receptacle.

    Personally use #12 cord for both. That way, no mistakes.
  • asopasop Member Posts: 9,019 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I change thermo couples everytime I service a furnance. Not that expensive, easy to do and good insurance. These are not applicable to the newer electronic start units.
  • wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Landord blues...

    Every 1st of the month is landlords birthday!
    "What is truth?'
  • redneckandyredneckandy Member Posts: 9,716 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had a plugged main sewer line on one last week. Backed up into the basement. Had to clean that up and snake the line at 10:00pm.
    The joys of maintaining multiple houses. The rent sure is nice though.
  • pistoljimpistoljim Member Posts: 967 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by cbxjeff
    I believe even an electronic ignited furnace will have a thermocouple. Otherwise how does the furnace know if the burner is lit or to turn off the gas?

    I know the feeling, shootuadeal - I have three. I would like to punch the guy that said rentals are easy money.



    No thermocouple, they use a flame sensor.
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    So here's one for you landlord types. Saturday afternoon the water goes out at my daughters apartment complex. Either the main regulator or a relief valve went out feeding the entire complex (14 buildings well over 500 units) the office lady sending the emails had no clue. It was not on the county side of the meter so the complex had to fix it. However due to the size/nature of the part it was last night around 10 before they finally got it back on. What if any recourse do the tenants have? My daughter was with us travelling to Grammas house, and stayed with us when we got back, but the rest of the complex was hosed for 4 days (over Christmas)...
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,529 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    So here's one for you landlord types. Saturday afternoon the water goes out at my daughters apartment complex. Either the main regulator or a relief valve went out feeding the entire complex (14 buildings well over 500 units) the office lady sending the emails had no clue. It was not on the county side of the meter so the complex had to fix it. However due to the size/nature of the part it was last night around 10 before they finally got it back on. What if any recourse do the tenants have? My daughter was with us travelling to Grammas house, and stayed with us when we got back, but the rest of the complex was hosed for 4 days (over Christmas)...



    Not much recourse. When something like that happens it is almost an act of God. Probably won't happen again in the lifetime of the building. Some places would have probably taken longer to repair. They jumped right on it. You would think that the county would have helped them get it on...
  • CaptFunCaptFun Member Posts: 16,678 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by select-fire
    quote:Originally posted by CaptFun
    So here's one for you landlord types. Saturday afternoon the water goes out at my daughters apartment complex. Either the main regulator or a relief valve went out feeding the entire complex (14 buildings well over 500 units) the office lady sending the emails had no clue. It was not on the county side of the meter so the complex had to fix it. However due to the size/nature of the part it was last night around 10 before they finally got it back on. What if any recourse do the tenants have? My daughter was with us travelling to Grammas house, and stayed with us when we got back, but the rest of the complex was hosed for 4 days (over Christmas)...



    Not much recourse. When something like that happens it is almost an act of God. Probably won't happen again in the lifetime of the building. Some places would have probably taken longer to repair. They jumped right on it. You would think that the county would have helped them get it on...



    I didn't think so. They provided bottled water and the LA Fitness across the street let them use the shower facilities there. It is a large apartment complex. Mostly students so I'd bet most of the kids were home for Christmas anyway...
  • wpageabcwpageabc Member Posts: 8,760 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Landlording is not for the easy money crowd...
    "What is truth?'
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