Hiring a contractor? Here are some tips!

A hovering customer, “helping” to install gas piping for a barbeque. 

Photo: Adrian Becklumb 

By Adrian Becklumb 

For the last 17 years, I have lived in the Glebe and have delivered the Glebe Report with my family. I am now retired and moving to the greener pastures of Comox, B.C. 

I owned and operated an HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) installation company. Here are some tips for dealing with contractors working on your home. For a successful relationship, it is the small things that matter. 

1. Allow contractors to park in your driveway. Finding a parking spot in the winter can be challenging. Make sure your driveway is clear of ice. 

1. Clean the work area before the contractor arrives. No one wants to work beside your cat litter box. Stairways to the basement should be clear. Provide lights if your basement is dark. 

1. Tell the contractor where your bathroom is. 

1. Tell the contractor where your water shut off is and ensure it is accessible. 

1. Tell the contractor where your electrical panel is and ensure it is accessible. 

1. Offer tea, coffee, water and cookies twice a day. Contractors are like Labradors – they are motivated by food. 

1. If your cat, dog, toddler, bird or bunny is an escape artist, take precautions.  

1. Ask to see your contractor’s trade licences. Contractors will be proud to show their licences. 

1. If your air conditioner is being removed, insist that the refrigerant is reclaimed. The refrigerant is a very strong greenhouse gas. It is a legal requirement that refrigerant be reclaimed, but disreputable contractors do not always follow the rules. 

1. Safety is a huge issue. Falls from heights are the big killer. Scaffolding should be used when installing ductless splits. Allow the contractor to wear safety boots in your house. 

1. Don’t buy used barbecues. The most common patients for plastic surgeons are motorcycle crash victims and barbecue users. 

1. Don’t hover over your contractor asking questions. When distracted, we make mistakes. 

1. Talking of mistakes, don’t rush your contractor. If we make a mistake, your house could burn down due to an electrical fire, you and your neighbours’ house could blow up because of a gas leak, you could die from carbon monoxide poisoning, or your basement could flood. 

1. Business relationships shouldn’t be a fight. Keep things civil, fun and friendly. Keep up good communications. Ask for updates every two hours, and remember that with a 120 -year-old Glebe house, there will likely be surprises.  

1. Listen to your contractor. Thirty minutes of google research does not make you an expert. 

1. TSSA (Technical Standards and Safety Authority) is the provincial regulator of HVAC workers. They have cut way back on work-site inspections. There are also no penalties for HVAC contractors who do not follow the rules if there is no injury, property damage or a major spill. To protect yourself, make sure you have carbon monoxide detectors installed. If you smell natural gas, call Enbridge immediately. 

Adrian Becklumb is a retired HVAC contractor.