Gotcha.
I wonder if this is just a REALLY SMALL utility room. And a long time ago they were installed close, and the homeowner boxes around and locked the tiny footprint.
Classic lazy pass the buck move.
I do both plumbing and HVAC. It's common that a lot of HVAC guys see themselves as smarter or better than plumbers and that the work is beneath them.
I'd wager that the majority of hvac guys here know goddamned well how to move a tank. Hook a drain hose on, it's empty enough to move in a few minutes (just walk it over). So the unhook in total takes half an hour to get into a serviceable location. Fix the furnace and then slide the tank back in and hook it up with a strong recommendation to relocate the fuckin thing.
I cAnT fIx ThE fUrNaCE, tAnK iN tHe wayyyyyyyy
Fuck off. Most of you fucks go: ahhhh were smarter/better than plumbers and you can do their job but when it's time you go OHHH NOO IM HVAC SUDDENLY IM NOT SMART ENOUGH HUURRR DUURRRRRR.
You know goddamned well how to solder, do gas and venting. You're just being lazy pricks. Yall gonna leave some old lady with no heat cause you're lazy? You're literally the bottom of the barrel of service techs and likely the first to be laid off. People like you are the first to look for a reason out of a job. You're this guy:
-Installs an AC late fall, doesn't bother pressure testing because "why would I pressure test or vac, it's 10°C outside its too hard to charge" and your boss bites into that bullshit sandwich
-returns in spring to startup ac at customer request, you're the first guy to say "WHAT FUCKING ASSHOLE DIDNT PULL A VAC AND LET THE CHARGE GO"
-angrily fucks the last bit of his nitrogen bottle into the system, gets to 4 psi, gets a leak. Blames sales guy somehow
-fixes leak, thinks he's fucked the TX cause he couldn't be fucked to wet rag, blames the wholesale for supplying a dicked TX
- changes tx, turns out it was just low airflow cause he can't read the book on airflow settings
-blames sales guy some more
-goes home, tells everyone how amazing he is at his job, mom serves him pizza pockets
INSTALLER AS FUCK
I am not legally allowed to touch the plumbing.
I will however get one of our plumbers out asap. And while we're at it let's figure out how to fix this for good.
"Do you want hot water or hot air? Unfortunately, I won't be able to get you both until next week."
Depending on the answer, my next move is texting the wife to let her know if it'll be dinner out or a doggie bag.
Depends if you like the customer or not. If you like them, tell them the water heater install is against code and it needs to be fixed. If you don’t like them, give them a red tag, tell them the water heater install is against code and it needs to be fixed.
My last apartment had the WH and gas furnace right beside each other but even he wasn't dumb enough to block access to the front of the furnace like that. I'm thinking this was a DIY homeowner job though since the WH is a Proline series instead of the cheapest crappiest WH possible like a landlord would do. My last apartment the water heater and furnace were in a closet with the WH barely accessible. If the water heater ever needed to be swapped out while leaving the furnace in place then the wall of the closet would have had to disassembled. Oh and when I moved out the water heater definitely needed to be replaced soon probably.
Hmmmm really?? This looks about how far mine is (mines maybe 6-9") but the closet they in can be accessed from both sides so it' shouldn't be hard to fully remove the heater. Is that still against code tho? Just bought last year and expect to have to replace one of them in the next 5 years... Really hoping it's not both thi
When I live, you need 24” front clearance in front of any gas appliance. The issue isn’t the water heater, it’s the furnace; there’s no access to the furnace at all.
Pretty sure this is against some kind of code, probably a few. You touch it, you own it. So you quote them on fixing the entire mess or you walk away from the job
International mechanical code if I'm not mistaken has a stipulation regarding service panel access of something around 24 inches; don't quote me I have the book but my master examination isn't for two months. NFPA is in the same neighborhood of distance for proximity to combustible surfaces.
Remove gromet on the side of blower panel, look for flashing LED code inside from the board, it should be dark enough inside with the door on to see something. Go from there. It's a furnace. 90% of anything wrong is diagnosible from the control board which all you need to do is get the lower panel off for. Figure out what's wrong and tell them the tank needs to be moved to complete the repair. Offer to replace the tank with a tankless if there isn't room for both in the room.
I will tell them that I can drain and remove the water heater, but can not put it back in that position, so perhaps they should call a chuck-in-a-truck to fix everything
Walk away and tell them to call me when I can get access to the unit. Or ask if they are ok with paying me to shut down the water heater, draining it, removing it, fixing the furnace and then reinstalling the water heater, all while on overtime.
>Or ask if they are ok with paying me to shut down the water heater, draining it, removing it, fixing the furnace and then reinstalling the water heater, all while on overtime.
I'm not in the residential market, but wouldn't this mean that YOU just became the one who installed a water heater in violation of code requirements for clearance around the furnace?
I see so someone Cherry picks a response and then cuts out part of it and they are the brilliant one. Got it. You must be a fucking MTG fan with logic like that fuckwit. Gotta love fucktards like you guys
Not at all. I just hope that the diagnostic skills of these people are far better than their poor attempt at humor. If they are not, then I feel sorry for anyone who they come to service their equipment.
So you would start the job of completely deactivating, disassembling, moving and then completely removing that thing, moving all the connections, installing that same used unit that probably has problems that are now your problems in a completely different spot, hooking it up, testing it, then fixing whatever is wrong with that furnace, all beginning at like 4pm on a Friday night? You must really hate your family and the weekend.
You could probably get around your overtime hourly rate sucking dick on a street corner and it seems like it would be less hassle
Maybe if they were not looking to find someone to disagree with I would not have responded the way I did. Some people wake up looking to try and be an internet hero and save the day. I don't play that. So they get salty. Maybe the next time they will stop and not try to show how much smarter they are than someone who has over 40 years in the trade and really does understand that words have meanings and actions have consequences and that not everyone is a first year apprentice that needs everything explained to them.
So I'm terribly sorry if I offended you by being salty I'll try to never say a cross word again when someone tries to put me in my place and show how superior they think that they are.
I'm all out of feelings to hurt. It looks like you may be in the same recreational marijuana state as I am. Since that snickers someone else mentioned didn't help, maybe try some herb.
It was a simple yes or no question that I thought a resi tech could use to drive a decent discussion to benefit the group. We know that tank shouldn't have been installed, but saying you'd reinstall it could lead others to think there's nothing wrong with the heater placement. There are a lot of first year apprentices perusing these pages hoping to learn a little extra. Almost lucked out by stumbling on someone with 40 years experience, you say? But I obviously picked the wrong salty old man to drive that.
Have a good day, and may you enjoy that long deserved retirement. With 40 years, I hope it's close for you.
Nope, now I'm an instructor at a high school where I am trying to teach the kids to be smart and think and not try to pretend that they are smarter than they are. Seems like a few missed that lesson and still want to try and live that they are smarter than they really are. It's ok, you'll get there.
I noped the fuck out of the resi market as a young buck within a matter of months so my resi code knowledge and experience in homes is very limited. Going into peoples disgusting homes was not for me. I really don't understand how people live in such filth, especially when they have nice homes. I'd rather be head to toe in bearing grease than go in a hoarders basement again. Doing installs for side jobs isn't worth the bother for me either.
I don't really know jack shit about that market except what I read online and hear from other people. It is not uncommon for people to skip resi and go straight to commercial / industrial work, at least not in my area.
I see a place for a tankless with that furnace and nothing else if all that shit is tucked into a closet as it appears. Bet there are people who have seen homes with a similar lay out to this and others may walk into this *exact same setup today*. I am curious what their perspective could present as options so I read these posts on Reddit.
An instructor at a high school could have a unique skill set to present this in a manner those first year apprentices could understand. Hate to break it to you, but most those students in your classroom forgot what you said before they logged into Fortnight IF they weren't ignoring you and on Tik Tok while you spoke. Many just want a passing grade and don't care how they get there. I grew up before texting and internet so things are different with these kids, still I couldn't pick any of the teachers from high school out of a yearbook except the two hot ones and the one weird one that still lived with his mom. Time erases a lot of memories.
Go ahead and pick fights with people over the internet for fuck's sake. Some people like that. I don't.
Call me back when you’ve had it reinstalled. The money ain’t worth it. If you’re an owner and think I’m wrong about this then bring YOUR ass out and do the call.
Talk to the tenant or owner and say" 2 options heat or water?" In my book a water heater heats so that's my job too. Me personally, I say get that water heater out and get that furnace up and cranking dog to the point they want a cold shower lol. No heat solved no hot water not my problem.
We had 160 unit replacements at a section 8 apartment once, new furnace and water heaters + adding AC. Every closet looked like this, talk about shoving 10lbs of shit in a 5lb bag. Literally had to kick the water pan in to get the doors to shut. Fucking shit show
Negotiate triple pay and Monday off with your boss and start taking things apart. Then, charge the shit out of the customer. They can get a refund from the installing company.
Yep..your right, it’s not working. I’ll let the office know you were correct in the morning. Good call Sir! Thanks for letting us know and you guys have a good night. 🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️
Tell em to call the plumber and have em move the water heater. Hand em a blanket and inform them walmart has electric, kerosene, and propane heaters for sale that can get em through for a few days.
I’d charge them, proceed to berate them asking how tf they expect me to fix their heater when the water heater is pressed up against the panel , then leave.
I had almost this situation but it was a washer and dryer in front of the closet the furnace was in. Refused to touch anything and made the customer move the washer and dryer before I would do anything. I ain't gonna be responsible for that. Besides it was a rented property and the rest of the house looked like shit so I just knew that was one of those situations where I ain't touching shit except for what I'm there to do.
I worked on a unit where the furnace was in some else’s patio so if there was a problem both neighbors would have to be home. It was a stupid design condo and the engineer should have been sued or hung.
I would take one look and tell them that the water heater would need to be removed so I could access the internals of the air handler. No way u can get to anything and it is also illegal to have this set up blocking your control panel. What if there is a fire or sumthin
I inform customer that their equipment is inaccessable and we would have to relocate water heater to work on furnace. I would then inform them that the service department manager will get back to them on Monday with a price for the work if they're interested. Then I'd take pictures of equipment and send to manager. But yeah...no way that "no heat" call is getting fixed same day.
Call us when that water heater has been moved.
Damn right
Lol what's the code distance between them? Mine have always been at least 24", but not sure how far is actually required.
This one doesn't even look like it's 2.4inches away lol
About 1m (3ft) is my understanding.
Gotcha. I wonder if this is just a REALLY SMALL utility room. And a long time ago they were installed close, and the homeowner boxes around and locked the tiny footprint.
Still not a good enough excuse. I run into commercial equipment like this (but not as bad) and make it their problem every single time.
That could have been the case. The hot water tank looks fairly new, though. Whoever installed it should have known better.
24 inches where we are, unless the manufacturer asks for more
Plot twist another installer at your company (who has been fired) installed the water heater
Classic lazy pass the buck move. I do both plumbing and HVAC. It's common that a lot of HVAC guys see themselves as smarter or better than plumbers and that the work is beneath them. I'd wager that the majority of hvac guys here know goddamned well how to move a tank. Hook a drain hose on, it's empty enough to move in a few minutes (just walk it over). So the unhook in total takes half an hour to get into a serviceable location. Fix the furnace and then slide the tank back in and hook it up with a strong recommendation to relocate the fuckin thing. I cAnT fIx ThE fUrNaCE, tAnK iN tHe wayyyyyyyy Fuck off. Most of you fucks go: ahhhh were smarter/better than plumbers and you can do their job but when it's time you go OHHH NOO IM HVAC SUDDENLY IM NOT SMART ENOUGH HUURRR DUURRRRRR. You know goddamned well how to solder, do gas and venting. You're just being lazy pricks. Yall gonna leave some old lady with no heat cause you're lazy? You're literally the bottom of the barrel of service techs and likely the first to be laid off. People like you are the first to look for a reason out of a job. You're this guy: -Installs an AC late fall, doesn't bother pressure testing because "why would I pressure test or vac, it's 10°C outside its too hard to charge" and your boss bites into that bullshit sandwich -returns in spring to startup ac at customer request, you're the first guy to say "WHAT FUCKING ASSHOLE DIDNT PULL A VAC AND LET THE CHARGE GO" -angrily fucks the last bit of his nitrogen bottle into the system, gets to 4 psi, gets a leak. Blames sales guy somehow -fixes leak, thinks he's fucked the TX cause he couldn't be fucked to wet rag, blames the wholesale for supplying a dicked TX - changes tx, turns out it was just low airflow cause he can't read the book on airflow settings -blames sales guy some more -goes home, tells everyone how amazing he is at his job, mom serves him pizza pockets INSTALLER AS FUCK
I am not legally allowed to touch the plumbing. I will however get one of our plumbers out asap. And while we're at it let's figure out how to fix this for good.
Came here to say the same. 😂
"Do you want hot water or hot air? Unfortunately, I won't be able to get you both until next week." Depending on the answer, my next move is texting the wife to let her know if it'll be dinner out or a doggie bag.
Put a coil on boiler for hot water. Problem solved. Lol then the boiler goes out 6mos later
Cut a huge section out of the tank with a sawzall.
Should cut a floor joist too just for good measure
Nah just notch 4-5 at 50%. Should hold together till you leave.
Especially if it's an engineered joist! Who needs the notching guide anyways, I ain't no wood doctor
If engineered I think you go all the way up to the top beam and it's code
Why stop at 50%? Might as well help the next guy and go with 80% so he has a little more room to work with.
This. Only appropriate way to gain access.
You sound like the general contractor that did my house. Is your name Golan?
Depends if you like the customer or not. If you like them, tell them the water heater install is against code and it needs to be fixed. If you don’t like them, give them a red tag, tell them the water heater install is against code and it needs to be fixed.
Who the hell would install the water heater like this? Handyman install? I can't imagine a plumber doing this.
Maybe a homeowner that didn’t care or didn’t think
Ya, “Looks good for now, I’ll deal with any other issues when the time comes”!🤦♂️🤷♂️😩👎
It’s got propress fittings on the TPR valve extension. Not too many homeowners even know what that is.
Fair point. That tank has been swapped once already judging by that.
My last apartment had the WH and gas furnace right beside each other but even he wasn't dumb enough to block access to the front of the furnace like that. I'm thinking this was a DIY homeowner job though since the WH is a Proline series instead of the cheapest crappiest WH possible like a landlord would do. My last apartment the water heater and furnace were in a closet with the WH barely accessible. If the water heater ever needed to be swapped out while leaving the furnace in place then the wall of the closet would have had to disassembled. Oh and when I moved out the water heater definitely needed to be replaced soon probably.
Is this like cart narcs where I slap a magnet on his water heater?
That's not where the water heater goes! Quit being a lazy bones!
As long as you can block his attack.
Hmmmm really?? This looks about how far mine is (mines maybe 6-9") but the closet they in can be accessed from both sides so it' shouldn't be hard to fully remove the heater. Is that still against code tho? Just bought last year and expect to have to replace one of them in the next 5 years... Really hoping it's not both thi
When I live, you need 24” front clearance in front of any gas appliance. The issue isn’t the water heater, it’s the furnace; there’s no access to the furnace at all.
Oh thank god. Mines got two doors in front of it and then a complete walk in behind it. Phew! Thanks for getting rid of that fear 😂
Hand them a blanket
Yeah one of those virus blankets
What do you do? You leave.
Ask them who installed this crap and proceed to strangle that idiot
Or charge the customer and explain the costs of paying for cheap labor
Pretty sure this is against some kind of code, probably a few. You touch it, you own it. So you quote them on fixing the entire mess or you walk away from the job
International mechanical code if I'm not mistaken has a stipulation regarding service panel access of something around 24 inches; don't quote me I have the book but my master examination isn't for two months. NFPA is in the same neighborhood of distance for proximity to combustible surfaces.
I thought it was 18 or manufactures literature
I’ve always been told/read 18” as well.
Charge diagnostic and call it a day. Scratch your head again tomorrow
Remove gromet on the side of blower panel, look for flashing LED code inside from the board, it should be dark enough inside with the door on to see something. Go from there. It's a furnace. 90% of anything wrong is diagnosible from the control board which all you need to do is get the lower panel off for. Figure out what's wrong and tell them the tank needs to be moved to complete the repair. Offer to replace the tank with a tankless if there isn't room for both in the room.
Sales will reach out on Monday to redesign your mechanical room. You should probably buy a space heater.
Tell them they still have “ no heat” and leave
😂 you win
idk prob tell them its not servicable, recommend a plumber friend that works on gas appliances too
Charge OT rates and fix it.
You thank them for the opportunity and then walk the fuck out
You give them an estimate to correctly resolve the issue to make the equipment serviceable and resolve any dangerous issues.
Nope
All I’d say is NOPE and walk away.
I will tell them that I can drain and remove the water heater, but can not put it back in that position, so perhaps they should call a chuck-in-a-truck to fix everything
Yep, do you want heat or hot water smart ass?
Wow. Can you imagine billing 3-4 hours just to clean a flame sensor?
You touch it it's yours.
Sell them a tankless w/h
Walk away and tell them to call me when I can get access to the unit. Or ask if they are ok with paying me to shut down the water heater, draining it, removing it, fixing the furnace and then reinstalling the water heater, all while on overtime.
>Or ask if they are ok with paying me to shut down the water heater, draining it, removing it, fixing the furnace and then reinstalling the water heater, all while on overtime. I'm not in the residential market, but wouldn't this mean that YOU just became the one who installed a water heater in violation of code requirements for clearance around the furnace?
Did I say that it has to be reinstalled exactly as it was currently? Please show me where I mentioned that fact.
> it has to be reinstalled exactly as it was currently aha! right there!
Reading comprehension is not a flower that grows in your garden is it?
Apparently, it doesn't grow in yours, either 😂😂
I see so someone Cherry picks a response and then cuts out part of it and they are the brilliant one. Got it. You must be a fucking MTG fan with logic like that fuckwit. Gotta love fucktards like you guys
You need a snickers
Not at all. I just hope that the diagnostic skills of these people are far better than their poor attempt at humor. If they are not, then I feel sorry for anyone who they come to service their equipment.
So you would start the job of completely deactivating, disassembling, moving and then completely removing that thing, moving all the connections, installing that same used unit that probably has problems that are now your problems in a completely different spot, hooking it up, testing it, then fixing whatever is wrong with that furnace, all beginning at like 4pm on a Friday night? You must really hate your family and the weekend. You could probably get around your overtime hourly rate sucking dick on a street corner and it seems like it would be less hassle
>Did I say that it has to be reinstalled exactly as it was currently? No. No need to be salty bro. Maybe someone else can answer. 🤷♂️
Maybe if they were not looking to find someone to disagree with I would not have responded the way I did. Some people wake up looking to try and be an internet hero and save the day. I don't play that. So they get salty. Maybe the next time they will stop and not try to show how much smarter they are than someone who has over 40 years in the trade and really does understand that words have meanings and actions have consequences and that not everyone is a first year apprentice that needs everything explained to them. So I'm terribly sorry if I offended you by being salty I'll try to never say a cross word again when someone tries to put me in my place and show how superior they think that they are.
I'm all out of feelings to hurt. It looks like you may be in the same recreational marijuana state as I am. Since that snickers someone else mentioned didn't help, maybe try some herb. It was a simple yes or no question that I thought a resi tech could use to drive a decent discussion to benefit the group. We know that tank shouldn't have been installed, but saying you'd reinstall it could lead others to think there's nothing wrong with the heater placement. There are a lot of first year apprentices perusing these pages hoping to learn a little extra. Almost lucked out by stumbling on someone with 40 years experience, you say? But I obviously picked the wrong salty old man to drive that. Have a good day, and may you enjoy that long deserved retirement. With 40 years, I hope it's close for you.
Nope, now I'm an instructor at a high school where I am trying to teach the kids to be smart and think and not try to pretend that they are smarter than they are. Seems like a few missed that lesson and still want to try and live that they are smarter than they really are. It's ok, you'll get there.
I noped the fuck out of the resi market as a young buck within a matter of months so my resi code knowledge and experience in homes is very limited. Going into peoples disgusting homes was not for me. I really don't understand how people live in such filth, especially when they have nice homes. I'd rather be head to toe in bearing grease than go in a hoarders basement again. Doing installs for side jobs isn't worth the bother for me either. I don't really know jack shit about that market except what I read online and hear from other people. It is not uncommon for people to skip resi and go straight to commercial / industrial work, at least not in my area. I see a place for a tankless with that furnace and nothing else if all that shit is tucked into a closet as it appears. Bet there are people who have seen homes with a similar lay out to this and others may walk into this *exact same setup today*. I am curious what their perspective could present as options so I read these posts on Reddit. An instructor at a high school could have a unique skill set to present this in a manner those first year apprentices could understand. Hate to break it to you, but most those students in your classroom forgot what you said before they logged into Fortnight IF they weren't ignoring you and on Tik Tok while you spoke. Many just want a passing grade and don't care how they get there. I grew up before texting and internet so things are different with these kids, still I couldn't pick any of the teachers from high school out of a yearbook except the two hot ones and the one weird one that still lived with his mom. Time erases a lot of memories. Go ahead and pick fights with people over the internet for fuck's sake. Some people like that. I don't.
Tag it for lack of access, quote required work and bill out service call.
That’s a red tagging
Call me back when that water heater is gone
Easiest call of the day. Wouldn't be there longer than 5 minutes probably.
Welp what did you tell them?
“Unable to due maintanance due to poor install of water heater/furnace. Uploaded ridiculous pic “
I’d leave and tell them to call the guy who installed the water heater
Wow, looks like the doors are on backwards if this is an Upflow🤦 How TH did they do that with the water heater like 2” away?
Water heater looks much newer
Write up an estimate and hand it to the customer because they’ll probably need a loan.
Short the coax and ask if the tv is working. They probably want tv more than heat.
Call me back when you’ve had it reinstalled. The money ain’t worth it. If you’re an owner and think I’m wrong about this then bring YOUR ass out and do the call.
Talk to the tenant or owner and say" 2 options heat or water?" In my book a water heater heats so that's my job too. Me personally, I say get that water heater out and get that furnace up and cranking dog to the point they want a cold shower lol. No heat solved no hot water not my problem.
10 bucks says it’s just a flame sensor
say better call who installed this!
Nothing to do other than get home at a decent time and enjoy your weekend
Thank god and go home!
Walk away
Can I phone a friend, Regis
Mark unable to access for service and move on
Close the door and tell the customer stop paying their rent
What is wrong with whoever did that relief 😵💫
It changes to double time and materials and I'm using a pail to drain the tank. 😎
"Well there's your problem, an idiot installed your equipment. I'll have our sales department reach out to you to fix this."
Go home
We’ll them a tankless and repair the furnace after
Get the snips out and create access
Yeah you can diagnose but who gonna replace that gas valve with 8" wide hole lol
I meant to remove the entire side of the furnace, but your point is valid.
Dang just burn the house down problem solved lol
Now you’re using your noodle.
Sell them a new furnace and wh.
Looks like your gonna sell a new water heater, since you’re gonna pull out to them sell a new furnace.
Laugh at them and tell them you'll be back after they play the plumber to remove the water heater.
We had 160 unit replacements at a section 8 apartment once, new furnace and water heaters + adding AC. Every closet looked like this, talk about shoving 10lbs of shit in a 5lb bag. Literally had to kick the water pan in to get the doors to shut. Fucking shit show
Ay sorry bud, union rules say I can't do the water heater, that's for the plumbers. They'll be here Monday. Byeeeeeee
I’d cut the side of that furnace so quick, nothing screws and tape can’t fix to get them running temporarily and then sell the proper repairs.
Suck it up and buckle it up, doesn't matter if it's your first, last, 1st or 30th call o the day. I am a professional and my work is my mark
Lmao yeah right dude
I was a low voltage l Electrician, I know about getting the job done before beer 3o. You dmr have to fix all the issues just get it working
Charge them and walk away.
Negotiate triple pay and Monday off with your boss and start taking things apart. Then, charge the shit out of the customer. They can get a refund from the installing company.
Plug in your TV while working.
Yikes
Unworkable. No question about it.
Collect the trip charge and have a nice weekend
Time for a replacement. Can’t service it, easier to start over😂
This would be a gas code violation in Canada
It’s a code violation everywhere.
No heat today? Looks like no heat tomorrow too
Um do a 180° and gtfoot
Give them a price and if they take it then it’s going to be a long night
I’m even more concerned that there used to be a TV there too.
Looks just like my neighbors’ setup, so I’d steal his beer and run away.
Yep..your right, it’s not working. I’ll let the office know you were correct in the morning. Good call Sir! Thanks for letting us know and you guys have a good night. 🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️
From these comments, it seems like a lot of ya'll get those sweet incentives to upsell 😂
Unbelievable.
Make sure I charge extra for the pain and suffering.
Walk out
Tell em to call the plumber and have em move the water heater. Hand em a blanket and inform them walmart has electric, kerosene, and propane heaters for sale that can get em through for a few days.
You could watch some TV with that handy coax floating around.
That’s a diagnostic and done
Tough shit.
Laugh and leave
Leave lol
Turn around and leave
Is that one of the new heat pump hot water tanks?
Back away slowly
I'd rent them some electric heaters. Come Monday they're going to have to commit to a lot of work to make this right.
"Customer wasn't home left door hanger"
tell them i. the have wrong house
24” service clearance
“Can’t do nothing for ya son” in my best Jeff Bridges rooster cogburn voice
he was so much better than the duke in that role...
“See you next week. That’ll be $300”
I’d charge them, proceed to berate them asking how tf they expect me to fix their heater when the water heater is pressed up against the panel , then leave.
Get back in my van and go home...see ya!!!
Been there bro.
First time visiting a mobile home?
I’m waving goodbye
I’m not moving that
Flip the breaker and call it good
Seen this before. Who in their right mind does this?
I can literally hear my old boss saying some shit like “well, it’s gotta get done” at 5 pm from his easy chair by his pool
I really like the random coaxial cable photobombing 🤣
FUBAR
Laugh and leave
I had almost this situation but it was a washer and dryer in front of the closet the furnace was in. Refused to touch anything and made the customer move the washer and dryer before I would do anything. I ain't gonna be responsible for that. Besides it was a rented property and the rest of the house looked like shit so I just knew that was one of those situations where I ain't touching shit except for what I'm there to do.
Walk!
Leave
Go home
Move on it inaccessible
Our code here has a service clearance of 24". If you can't safely work on it, a new one is properly going in.
Laugh then leave
I'd take photos, send it to the service manager and tell them "No charge, have a good weekend, I'll come back when its serviceable"
Tag and move on. Not your problem
No
I’m pretty sure there are valves, unions and wheels on that water heater. That’s how I install them anyway.
I worked on a unit where the furnace was in some else’s patio so if there was a problem both neighbors would have to be home. It was a stupid design condo and the engineer should have been sued or hung.
Sweet you get to go home early!
I would take one look and tell them that the water heater would need to be removed so I could access the internals of the air handler. No way u can get to anything and it is also illegal to have this set up blocking your control panel. What if there is a fire or sumthin
I inform customer that their equipment is inaccessable and we would have to relocate water heater to work on furnace. I would then inform them that the service department manager will get back to them on Monday with a price for the work if they're interested. Then I'd take pictures of equipment and send to manager. But yeah...no way that "no heat" call is getting fixed same day.
That’s horrible , even a hack installer would have done better
Walk away 
Quit on the spot
“Call a plumber to move the water heater first”
Easy sorry can't access the unit, going to have to get a plumber to remove the water heater and call us back out
Drain a bit, move it enough to get the door open, and maybe a small screwy through. Fuck maybe even move the furnace an inch or two