CAN YOU TOP THIS?

Welcome to the latest edition of our popular “Can You Top This?” column, featuring the newest entry in the Service Industry News “Horror File.”

This issue’s entry comes to us from Brian Rejniak of Orange County Pool & Spa Service in Anaheim Hills, California.

“Two pool ‘repair men’ serviced this pool heater — Neither technician realized the obvious danger: Inadequate and low gas pressure!”, writes Brian.

I determined heater soot buildup caused by low gas pressure caused this heater to meltdown. Soot is a powder-like form of amorphous carbon, and is potentially flammable.

“The first issue, and the most common we see is an undersized gas meter. A 215k btu gas meter was feeding a 400k pool heater and the rest of the home. After our recommendation, the customer now has a 630k btu.

“Second, the person who installed the heater had used over 16’ feet of 3/4”, on newer lonox heaters and you cannot have more than 36” of 3/4”.

“Third, the distance was too great for an undersized meter. We removed the 16 feet and replaced it with 1.5”.

“The heater is no longer starving for gas and the problem is solved. Excessive soot is a fire hazard and increases risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Had the customer not been home, their house could’ve burned down with the Santa Ana winds that day…..”

At Service Industry News, we would rather go behind the scenes and take a closer look at the type of stuff our readers encounter everyday — cracked tiles, spaghetti plumbing, rats in heaters, cars in the pool, snakes in the plumbing, and more!

When you are out in the field and you see something that doesn’t look right, send us an email along with a picture and a brief description: Send your photo to serviceindustrynewscd@yahoo.com. Please write: Attention Horror File, in the subject line and thank you for remembering us when you are out there.