Dykier Engineering

Doug came by just after 6pm. Unfortunately it was raining out, I live in an apartment complex and he couldn’t find the address. When he finally did arrive and proceeded to the heating unit it became quite obvious he was ill prepared. In need of tools from basic sand paper /​abrasive pads to nut drivers and so on I provided what I had on hand to help him out (even giving him the sand paper for his tool bag). I actually know quite a bit about heating and air conditioning since I have done it for a living over several years but hey… apartment… I don’t own it and liabilities.
This was one of those situations where it just sat for a while without being run. I tested several parts myself and determined that they were working including the thermostat prior to his arrival until it got down to the gas valves and circuit board. Doug did his best using the shotgun approach. After replacing several items which worked just fine initially… the unit still would not stay on (I am pretty sure I know what it is but he was not interested in that as most know it all types aren’t.) He left around 10pm assuring me it was the flame sensor (which I know you can test by measuring voltage output .) Yet it was a «guesstimation» on his part.
Day 2. Doug arrived at 4:30pm. Worse mood than the day prior. He didn’t claim to want any help yet the first thing spoken was if it was raining when this first occurred to which I replied with the same answer as the day prior. It sat for the summer but was working fine when we last used it. I did advise him that I got it working that night and even last night I got it to work again but there was still an issue with it so I let him have his second go. Next he was certain that the diaphram had a pinhole leak (keep in mind I had already tested this, confirmed it on the first day with him and he dismissed it entirely) he was grasping at straws and proceeded to test it. Nope. Before his entrance today I did tell my girlfriend that his end reply would be that it has to be the circuit board and he would try to find one. Ladies and gentlemen, that was exactly how it ended except there was a lot of rude comments, a few expletives on his part and by now several replaced components that were not the problem. He said he would be back yet a third day and I am saying no. This isn’t even a commercial heating unit. Not tied in to an air conditioner and definitely not the most advanced unit out there.
One, if you don’t know what you are doing, be honest. Thank gosh I don’t own a home and they came in replacing everything but the kitchen sink. Two, if you do sense the owner may know more than even the above average Joe about what the problem is you may want to stop and listen to what they have to say (which he had several chances.) I do feel sorry for him to act that way on a service call after being so polite to him but I feel even more sorry for his employer who is paying for his lack of knowledge. For the record, Industrial and commercial is spelled in the manner listed. Must be quite a typo on the site to have that appear twice. =0)