My Very First Job!

Mikey,
Congratualations! on your first job. Do you still want more?
Now a couple of questions:
In your first picture in your left hand, it looks like a damper, was that in the duct? right before the fan housing?
And next question, in the close up picture of the electrical conduit, was it liquid tight flexible conduit? and judging by how greasey it was it looks asthough it was inside the ductwork also.
Have you studied N.F.P.A. 96 and did you make recomendations to the owner regarding the damper and the electrical conduit and did you suggest a hinge kit for the fan?

Not questioning you, just opening a train of thoughts that will help you in the future.

Good Luck and if you have any questions call me 310-636-8361

Grant
 
Yes that is the damper that was under the fan, it is in very poor condition and the spring was broken (damper is shot) and the conduit is not water tight and is pulled apart from preveus times and is being scweshed by the fan, not to mention the roof was commpletley saturated with grease run off(no containment!) I noted and advised the owner of all the problems and he took it with a grain of salt! to be honist with you I dont want to continue doing this if they wont commply with my recommendations...
Mikey.
 
Mikey

As you continue on you will find that the jobs become less of a problem because you have developed your own cleaning process. You will look back on these photos and ask why did I do that. One example is your blue tarp, why? You should be able to clean the fan over the vertical so that the majority of the water and grease drain down the vertical. You should be able to do this without a hinge.

If you would like to read Aklands book give me a call and I will loan you mine.

David
916-663-3033:)
 
Belive me I have began to learn some ways to cut my time and effort, so many times I asked what the hell was I thinking!
Now that I have done over a dozen jobs its starting to get easyer. The worst jobs pay the least and the easy ones pay the best I have noticed! Thanks Mikey (I try to call you).
 
Comply! huh!
Get use to it, most of the managers will not comply unless someone forces them too. Being new the only power you have is refusing to do the job, which is your right. They will just go get the next new guy. The more established you become the more influence you can command. About 15% of my customers are ones that refused to stay on schedule and make needed repairs, so I simply notified them I was no longer cleaning there store. They went to the next cleaner, and the next cleaner then finally called back for whatever reason. My point is, at that point I could say to them this is what needs to happen for me to service your account, they either agree or keep looking. I understand that it can be hard to turn down work when you are just staring out, that is a choice you have to make, it took me about five years to feel comfortable doing that. Today I don't even bid on some of the jobs I look at because I don't need more headaches. Sometime you just look at a place and think to yourself no way and keep going.
 
Thanks, One quistion? that damper below the fan thats shot!
is it nessessary or what, I was told it was a back flow preventor!
several of the luvers are broken and missing, the spring attaching them was also not hooked to anything at all when I removed the fan of the duct. All other hoods that I have done did not have that.
 
Wyoming Mikey, the thing with louvers serves only to slow down the air flow. I think the purpose is to prevent air flow when the fan is shut off. They few I have seen have been so plugged w/grease the the louvers do not open, or they do not close. I have pulled a couple of them out, tossed them in the dumpster with no one the wiser. I suggest you do the same next time.

The wiring is not that unusual. The electricians never think any one will be removing the fan. When I install a new fire system , I try to meet w/the electrician and ask for a long cord, enclosed in flex conduit. Usually just a waste of time. Just note on your invoice any problems, or potenial problems such as yhour wiring. I also have just walked on a couple of bad jobs.

So now you have cleaned a couple of exhaust systems. Are you going to continue or stay with the easy day work? Notice that are not many are doing hoods, because only the best can do hoods. The one you did is not all that challanging. Wait till you get a chinese hood.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
Yes I will be doing this full time and love the work I just have to develope a base so I can get the hell out of my regular job. I have had several contracts signed this month and will continue to pick up new ones. Most of the restaurants will have me come in ever 3 months :) Thanks Mikey
 
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