Tripped Ansul System “Fair Or Not”

Well I’m not a V anymore, but let me explain. I had to go into a attic to clean a utility fan, the duct coming down to it had a sharp 90 and you can see were the grease or water would settle so I attempted to get a catch container under it. After wrestling with it for a while trying to get the container under it, to my surprise the system discharged. Come to find out it came apart at the elbow that went to the pull station and set it off. Well this is the problem, I found out that the 90 that drops down to the station is about 16’ away and pulled out of the pipe and bam. My question is, first of all why when the company that put it in came up and spent several minutes tightening up all the compression fittings on the hole system then said the deal would only cost me around $275 under the table? Bottom line I set it off but who really is at fault…..“Fair Or Not” Mikey

Mikey, It's not fair but it is what it is. The conduit should have been tight enough to prevent accidental discharge, but you should not have been pushing against the system components hard enough to trip it. Sorry! $275 is not an unfair price (depending on how much chemical needed to be replaced) but what is the reason for under the table? How much would this guy charge you for a legit reciept? How long did it take to clean up the kitchen? Do you right off your business expenses? This qualifies as one!

Under means no tax report, yes this will be a loss in my records, Thank god I had just safety tarp and draped the system to start when I decided to not take a chance leaking, no extra clean-up time.$800 normally. about 10' Hood.

You can pay him "under the table" if you want, but I would still deduct the payment as and expense on your schedule C. Since it is under $600 you do not need to send him a 1099. But I would deduct it, as it is a legitimate business expense on your end. If he is not legitimate enough to claim the income, that's on him.

Mikey,
$275 to blow down, clean the nozzles, replace links, and reset and recharge the system? Wow, I would instantly be reaching for my wallet. I would neither use my insurance nor alienate this guy by insisting on a reportable business expense. He must like you, and you may need him again. Those in which I have been somewhat involved have cost close to one thou to over two thou - cash.
Richard

i must be in the wrong business.

(this is the first time ive said it but ive heard it a hundred times)

If we set one off in a McDonalds here it run at least $1200.

We set one off at union station in DC three months ago, the company sent someone out, the guy shows up at 2:00am. The store manager asked us to hang around til he was done to make sure the equipment was back in place and working, I thought "well the ansul guy should be able to do that" but what do you do. So we wait around, try to help as much as possible, which isn't much, he won't let us. This farts around taking til 5:00am to reset the grill and back fry hood, then does the last hood in 20 minutes. I could have shot him.

We just had a recharge on a R/G system. The gas guy was messing w/our stuff and tripped the system. He then denied it to the cook and the owner. He finally admits what he did. I was 450 miles away at a meeting, so I call Jon. Jon cancels the days work, drive 30 miles to the shop. I tell him over the phone where the parts are and what he needs. He then drives 150 miles and does the job. I charged $945 to the gas company and was threatened with the loss of the gas company's business. After 60 days I fianlly get a check for the amount. Now I send all of my customers to Ameri-Gas in that area. Now to do the Ansul job, I would charge about $350 for new Ansulex, new cartridge, flusshing chemical, nozzles caps, any nozzles needed because of corrosion, and new links. Labor would include flushing system, removal and cleaning of nozzles, repalacement of fusible links, reseting of system. Time would be anywhere from 2 hours and up. Sounds like to me the guys is not reporting his income, is he lisenced? and legitimate? Make sure to get an invoice. and a service report, and the old parts. This may not be entirely your fault, but you were the last to touch the system.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc

yes, to all above. thank you.

So Mikey, what was the outcome? did you pay?

ya,sorry to get back so late.