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The guy has grandkids that are always around. He just shrugged when I showed him the 120v handrail. I told his daughter to call us if he worked on anything electric.
He never could understand why those fish kept floating up around his boat, either.
The guy has grandkids that are always around. He just shrugged when I showed him the 120v handrail. I told his daughter to call us if he worked on anything electric.
We work on boats. According to L&I (Labor & Industry), if it uses a cord and a plug it's an appliance. So electrically speaking any boat - even a 200Ft superyacht is just a plug in appliance and because it's not on the land, there is almost no regulatory authority. We have standards bodies, but they are not governance, so no authority. Anyone can go work on a boat. Many boat owners have brother-in-laws, who are 'pretty much' electricians. And because everything on a boat is technically a sub-panel, and can have multiple sources of energy, there are all kinds of nuance that don't apply to the brother-in-law's garage.
We get to fix some fun stuff. Also some scary stuff - Like the guy with the AC crane that had messed with the wiring himself. It worked in one direction, but not the other. Turns out he had cobbled together neutrals and grounds in a way that when he hit the 'down' button on the crane, it energized everything metal on the boat with 120V - also sent it out to the water.
He never could understand why those fish kept floating up around his boat, either.
We work on boats. According to L&I (Labor & Industry), if it uses a cord and a plug it's an appliance. So electrically speaking any boat - even a 200Ft superyacht is just a plug in appliance and because it's not on the land, there is almost no regulatory authority. We have standards bodies, but they are not governance, so no authority. Anyone can go work on a boat. Many boat owners have brother-in-laws, who are 'pretty much' electricians. And because everything on a boat is technically a sub-panel, and can have multiple sources of energy, there are all kinds of nuance that don't apply to the brother-in-law's garage.
We get to fix some fun stuff. Also some scary stuff - Like the guy with the AC crane that had messed with the wiring himself. It worked in one direction, but not the other. Turns out he had cobbled together neutrals and grounds in a way that when he hit the 'down' button on the crane, it energized everything metal on the boat with 120V - also sent it out to the water.
This is where "handymen" feel there are.
Most I've been around think they're general contractors.
We work on boats. According to L&I (Labor & Industry), if it uses a cord and a plug it's an appliance. So electrically speaking any boat - even a 200Ft superyacht is just a plug in appliance and because it's not on the land, there is almost no regulatory authority. We have standards bodies, but they are not governance, so no authority. Anyone can go work on a boat. Many boat owners have brother-in-laws, who are 'pretty much' electricians. And because everything on a boat is technically a sub-panel, and can have multiple sources of energy, there are all kinds of nuance that don't apply to the brother-in-law's garage.
We get to fix some fun stuff. Also some scary stuff - Like the guy with the AC crane that had messed with the wiring himself. It worked in one direction, but not the other. Turns out he had cobbled together neutrals and grounds in a way that when he hit the 'down' button on the crane, it energized everything metal on the boat with 120V - also sent it out to the water.
Wow, I thought there were usually carve-outs for owner-occupied homes. I guess in a city you don't want your neighbor doing something he can't pay to fix.
In many of the suburbs you can get a "homeowner's permit" to do work yourself.
In all my years of working construction... over 53 years now... a license doesn't guarantee quality or knowledge.
When I went to test for my drywall contractors license; I was the oldest guy by far in there out of probably 40 others.
Almost all of them were going for their "handyman license". Don't get me started on "handymen".
I was the first one out of there. And everyone stopped and looked at me.
Supposedly all the plumbers/electricians and HVAC contractors in this town are licensed "professionals".
In this town any plumbing/electrical/HVAC work must be carried out by licensed contractors, who have to pull permits.
Wow, I thought there were usually carve-outs for owner-occupied homes. I guess in a city you don't want your neighbor doing something he can't pay to fix.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Apr 14, 2026 - 7:33pm
Red_Dragon wrote:
In this town any plumbing/electrical/HVAC work must be carried out by licensed contractors, who have to pull permits.
In all my years of working construction... over 53 years now... a license doesn't guarantee quality or knowledge.
When I went to test for my drywall contractors license; I was the oldest guy by far in there out of probably 40 others.
Almost all of them were going for their "handyman license". Don't get me started on "handymen".
I was the first one out of there. And everyone stopped and looked at me.
My theory has generally been that it is ok to tackle things downstream from a shutoff valve so that the whole house doesn't lose water if things go south. I mean, if you don't trust the valve, then maybe replace it when you have the whole house shut off. And maybe make sure there is an access port since it is in a closet.
Then again, the law here says that all plumbing works have to be done by a licensed plumber. You aren't supposed to replace a toilet since somehow you could do something to screw up the city sewage system or somehow do something so that sewage backs up into the water mains. If someone installs a bidet, they have to put in a valve to prevent backflow. But then that valve is supposed to be tested every 6 months or something and they typically put it where testing or replacing it is a major operation.
My house is on septic and not connected to city water so basically none of this applies and the person we bought it from was a plumber who bought it as a wreck to flip and I'm pretty confident he did the plumbing properly and most of the other work was done by his friends charging "mates rates".
It's a racket second only to the sparkies having to install anything that is wired in or replace a plug on a table lamp.
I'm technically supposed to get a permit to do electrical or plumbing but since I'm the owner/occupant (not owner/landlord) I get a pass.
My theory has generally been that it is ok to tackle things downstream from a shutoff valve so that the whole house doesn't lose water if things go south. I mean, if you don't trust the valve, then maybe replace it when you have the whole house shut off. And maybe make sure there is an access port since it is in a closet.
Then again, the law here says that all plumbing works have to be done by a licensed plumber. You aren't supposed to replace a toilet since somehow you could do something to screw up the city sewage system or somehow do something so that sewage backs up into the water mains. If someone installs a bidet, they have to put in a valve to prevent backflow. But then that valve is supposed to be tested every 6 months or something and they typically put it where testing or replacing it is a major operation.
My house is on septic and not connected to city water so basically none of this applies and the person we bought it from was a plumber who bought it as a wreck to flip and I'm pretty confident he did the plumbing properly and most of the other work was done by his friends charging "mates rates".
It's a racket second only to the sparkies having to install anything that is wired in or replace a plug on a table lamp.
Is hot on the right and cold on the left down there?
There *is* an access but it's in Charlie's closet which duh, should be easy but we've put shelving in there. And then once I get in there, I assume it's 30-year-old shutoffs that twist disconcertingly before finally slowly turning off or on. So there's always that fear so maybe just turning it off at the curb is best. Slower, but sure.
My theory has generally been that it is ok to tackle things downstream from a shutoff valve so that the whole house doesn't lose water if things go south. I mean, if you don't trust the valve, then maybe replace it when you have the whole house shut off. And maybe make sure there is an access port since it is in a closet.
Then again, the law here says that all plumbing works have to be done by a licensed plumber. You aren't supposed to replace a toilet since somehow you could do something to screw up the city sewage system or somehow do something so that sewage backs up into the water mains. If someone installs a bidet, they have to put in a valve to prevent backflow. But then that valve is supposed to be tested every 6 months or something and they typically put it where testing or replacing it is a major operation.
My house is on septic and not connected to city water so basically none of this applies and the person we bought it from was a plumber who bought it as a wreck to flip and I'm pretty confident he did the plumbing properly and most of the other work was done by his friends charging "mates rates".
It's a racket second only to the sparkies having to install anything that is wired in or replace a plug on a table lamp.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Apr 13, 2026 - 6:36am
Steely_D wrote:
Contractor remodeled my sink area about ten yrs ago and the cartridge on one faucet needed replacing. There was no way to get to it except to remove the tile job that the team had placed around it, so adjacent to the cartridge that it couldnât be reached without pulling the tile. Ended up calling a pro to do it and afterward he said, âOh you should just have gone through the Sheetrock on the other side, right by your bed.â
That seemed like yet another horrible idea. Hope none of the other cartridges give out. Was annoying that there wasnât a logical, non-destructive way to get to it.
Oh yep.
They always go after the drywall.
And they call me to fix it.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Apr 13, 2026 - 6:33am
ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Yeah I have to replace a cartridge in the shower valve and I haven't, because I can't decide whether it'll be easier to turn off the water to the whole house, or to excavate the shutoff under the tub. I think maybe I should go further upstream and call BuRec and ask them to shut off the water at the dam. Just to be sure.
"She chuckled a little. Or maybe threw up in her mouth a little, not sure."
It's all happenin' in The Cowboy State, I reckon...
This hardware store and the connected liquor store (you read that right) hire exclusively people I have never seen in my life. When they were owned by the last people, I'd walk in and go "hey, how long you been here?" and now it's "where the hell did they dig you up?" There's one guy works in the liquor store with one leg shorter than the other and I don't know why he doesn't wear a special shoe because I get seasick just watching him go. Except now I at least know a few of them on sight but for a couple of years now they've all seemed pretty much identical.
Contractor remodeled my sink area about ten yrs ago and the cartridge on one faucet needed replacing. There was no way to get to it except to remove the tile job that the team had placed around it, so adjacent to the cartridge that it couldnât be reached without pulling the tile. Ended up calling a pro to do it and afterward he said, âOh you should just have gone through the Sheetrock on the other side, right by your bed.â
That seemed like yet another horrible idea. Hope none of the other cartridges give out. Was annoying that there wasnât a logical, non-destructive way to get to it.
There *is* an access but it's in Charlie's closet which duh, should be easy but we've put shelving in there. And then once I get in there, I assume it's 30-year-old shutoffs that twist disconcertingly before finally slowly turning off or on. So there's always that fear so maybe just turning it off at the curb is best. Slower, but sure.
The old rule about every chore requires 3 trips to the hardware store... they were starting to make fun of me on about trip 5 (literally). One of them I went home empty-handed so that doesn't count, right? But on trip #6 the third cashier of the day says in a mocking tone, "back again?" and I slapped that 79¢ clamp down and THAT means I'm almost done and you're gonna miss me! She chuckled a little. Or maybe threw up in her mouth a little, not sure.
"She chuckled a little. Or maybe threw up in her mouth a little, not sure."
It's all happenin' in The Cowboy State, I reckon...
