how i almost hired a criminal SOLAR.KnowledgePublications.com

how i almost hired a criminal
27 mar 2004
the 15 yo whirlpool fridge/freezer-on-top in the barn is blowing
the gfc outlet every few days, so i call a local hvac professional
(who has a reputation for showing up drunk with a bible in hand)
and ask him to take a look. after he postpones visiting 3 times,
he staggers out of his old van, walks into the barn, tells me the
fridge (4' from the sink) shouldn't be on a gfci outlet, opens the
freezer door, listens, and says "the fan motor's bad. it's drawing
too much current." 

i say "why would that trip the gfci, vs the circuit breaker?" and
show him the 1.52 amp draw on the clamp-on meter and point out
it's been working fine on the 2-wire extension cord.

he disconnects the extension cord and plugs the fridge back into the
wall and tells me i'm going to burn the barn down with the extension
cord and says "are you some kinna wise guy? this'll be $180 to fix,
maybe more. i just got a new flat rate book."

i say "ohhh. maybe i'll fix it myself. how much for the visit?" 

he says $70. i say "you live less than 2 miles away, and you've
been here less than 2 minutes. how about a break?"

he says "ok, $50."

i figure his visit might be worth $20 and say "sue me,"
and he staggers back to his van and drives away.

sure enough, the evaporator fan won't turn without a finger twist,
so i get a one for $30, down from the retail $44.95 price, after
a brief discussion... "what do you do, if i may ask?"
"thermal transmogrification. i'm an engineer." 

maybe the new fan will fix the ground fault.

got any suggestions, if it doesn't?

nick