Venting... and I'm not talking about the attic...

15 years ago

We haven't even broken ground yet and my neighbor is stealing from me... ok, that's not entirely accurate, his contractor is stealing from me.

While I'm in well drilling hell, I check on the site every other day or so. I went out on Sat to clear a new area for well drilling and noticed that someone had disturbed the Temp Power box. Upon investigation, it had been used based on the meter (which should be 0). Only one house within 1000ft, my neighbor's house that's under construction. And my memory sparks, I recalled that while I was with my well driller, their framers tripped the breaker on their power several times (my temp was not installed till the next day).

Ok, my fault for not telling them not to steal from me. So I turned off the breakers and put a lock on the box on Sunday.

Monday, everything ok. Tuesday, didn't go to the lot. Wednesday, lock missing, box damaged (just the locking tab), and more power used. So I called the sherriff, was met out there by a deputy, and the deputy is going to have a talk with the builder.

My electrician says that they don't make a box strong enough to keep people out.

So I bought one of those game/security cameras last night. If they'll break a lock off my power box, what will they do when my windows and doors start being installed?

The really sad parts to this, is the builder is the owner and will be my neighbor, great first impression he's made. And if he'd called and asked for the favor of using the temp power to supplement his, I'd have said yes.

Now, he's a thief and I'm a jerk who doesn't let my neighbor borrow a cup of sugar. America - 2008.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

frog_hopper
15 years ago
Ouch, I feel your pain.

How close is your neighbors house site? 1,000 feet is a long way to run an extension cord. Any chance his subs did it without his knowledge?
cork2win
15 years ago
Yeah, that's crappy. Hopefully things will smooth out for you.
Related Discussions
Re- Need to vent-I'm so sad
Q
Comments (7)
I sympathize, rosies. You have not failed in any aspect, at all. You have done everything in your power to maintain your mother's health in the face of many obstacles. You must be very tired. I'm in year 3 of caretaking, too. Mum is losing her mental faculties now. Short term memory is waning, though physically she is quite healthy and fit, despite a stroke in '04 (did the mental damage). She has gone from an independent old woman, to one that must be really "cared for"... I get her up in the morning, see that she dresses herself, washes her face, fixes her hair. I prepare her breakfast, helpmeet does lunch, we split dinner. I put her to bed, see that she takes her pills, schedule the "bath lady", all the things that you have to do for an elderly parent. It's really hard! and you lose your own freedom. I haven't been out for dinner with the helpmeet "on the spur of the moment" for over 2 months now. I can't visit a greenhouse/nursery after work... I have to go right home, make sure the urostomy pouch is emptied, she has a glass of water, and that the sign is on the toilet reminding her NOT to empty the pouch again until it's time for bed. From the time I wake up until I go to bed I think about Mum and the next "chore" on the list... You have done as much as you can be expected to do. You've done it well, with love and commitment. It's OK to feel sad about what is changing in your life. But don't spend too much time feeling guilty even though it's part of the deal. (Tell the facility you would rather not have them shove so much garbage food into your mother. You are paying them to take care of her and you have every right to expect them to follow your wishes with respect to diet!)
...See More
How to vent exhaust fan through attic gable vent
Q
Comments (14)
Just to tell you where I am coming from on this - I wrote the book! (It's fun to say that.) "Residential Ventilation Handbook" It's been said pretty well already, but bath fans must vent all the way to the outside. Not just near an opening. Use insulated ducting to reduce the possibility of condensation in the ducting. Use 3 screws to attach the ducting to the hood. That will keep the ducting from turning or pulling off. Be careful that the screws don't interfere with backdraft dampers. (Cloth duck tape was made from the same duck material sailor's pants were made from. Not good at all for duct work.) If you can do it, transition from the 4" nozzle on the fan to 6" ducting. The flow will be much better. Point the nozzle of the fan in the direction of the exhaust hood. Air is lazy. It hates to make 180 degree turns. Here is a link that might be useful: Heyoka Solutions
...See More
Replacing roof - vent or not vent? I'm SO very confused
Q
Comments (1)
I'm surprised no one answered your question. There are two issues here. One, insulating living space,or future living space. Two, addressing proper roof function. Soffit and ridge venting deal with the second but are complicated by the first. If the rafter bay is to be insulated, asphalt & some other roof materials require temperature control beneath them. The typical strategy is the use of "chutes" below the sheathing in consort with soffit/ridge. "Or should we have no venting and just spray everything with closed cell foam (or other foam spray)?" No venting, with any insulation sounds like trouble as regards issue number two. The advantage of the spray ins is inherent vapor barrier. Look into a new roof on sleepers with that plan. That would enable full depth insulation AND roof venting.
...See More
This is what I'm dealing with - Just Venting!
Q
Comments (2)
Isn't she the one who said she "just wasn't ready to have him" at her home when he got out of the hospital? reminds me of a puzzle I once read. You have 2 sisters, one of whom has just died. When you go to your sister's funeral, you meet a guy who's the most gorgeous, intriguing, attractive man you ever saw. but you don't meet up with him, & no one else seems to know who he is. Next day, you kill your other sister. Why? answer: to see if the guy shows up for another family funeral. Some people really are like that- other people have value only in the benefit they provide for the person. What is stepson's mother thinking? that Emily thinks she (mom) is cool. His mother likes the limelight, & she doesn't have a clue that her son, or anybody, is a real live person with needs & vulnerabilities, a person who is entitled to be respected & cared for. & really... she doesn't care. She's missing that part, she doesn't know how to care, & she is not interested in learning how to care. Talking to her about it is like speaking Chinese (or Greek, if she happens to speak Chinese); she just doesn't get it. As far as she's concerned, he's just another member of her supporting cast... or maybe just a backdrop at this point- Right now Emily may be playing the second banana role in a more satisfying way. You or hubs need to discuss this with your stepson, to give him some insight & therefore some means of protecting/defending himself. He's 18 years old, plenty old enough to grasp the facts & plenty old enough to be entitled to the facts, & he already has a tremendous amount of damage from living with this. He is going to have to look out for his own safety & look out for his interests & welfare when he's with her. just had a thought; maybe he likes Emily because she seems familiar to him. She supposedly likes him, yet she does all the things that are bad for him, & he accepts it. It's a role he's accustomed to playing; he knows his lines, he responds to the cues. I wish all of you the best.
...See More
t-mac-mo
15 years ago
Wow, that's really brazen.
chisue
15 years ago
I'm sorry your new neighbor is a jerk. Our next door neighbor did a teardown. His elec wasn't yet in when he fired his first GC. New GC asked if they could use our elec. (and water) for a day or two. He had scheduled men on the job who would need both. We said OK. I was already watering shrubs that are theirs, but that border our lot.

A week went by. Another week went by. We called a halt to the 'borrowing' -- and had to stand by daily to enforce it!

Our 'neighbor' never once thanked us. Last week our back yard was suddenly under water. They were draining their pool via a hose stuck under our back fence. (Only most recent 'bad neighbor' action.) We called them. "Oh, I wasn't home when the pool guys were here." Water stops for an hour, then hose is moved a few feet to drain into another neighbor's back yard, which eventually ends up in ours anyway since we are downhill.

I'm sorry you got one of these jerks too. At least now you know he's a jerk.
bdpeck-charlotte
Original Author
15 years ago
The deputy asked if there was anyway they could've confused mine for theirs, but mine went in after theirs and mine had a lock on it. If that doesn't scream "Not yours" than I'm at a loss.

Our temp power is less than 10 ft from theirs, and the closest other site being built is about 7 lots away (more than 100ft wide each). And it's the same GC for that house.

Yeah, I knew they could just rip the lock off, but I didn't think they'd do it. I need to follow up with the sherriff and see if they had a conversation with them yet.
emilynewhome
15 years ago
Why didn't you approach you neighbor/builder when you first suspected they you were using power from your meter?

Perhaps introducing yourself and asking if they are indeed the ones using it, and take it from there.

Yes it's a pity, if he's guilty that he didn't explain his situation and ask the favor of you.

I hope things get smoothed over so you'll enjoy your new home.

Good luck!

Venting... and I'm not talking about the attic...

Comments (6)

frog_hopper

cork2win

Related Discussions

t-mac-mo

chisue

bdpeck-charlotte
Original Author

emilynewhome

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Venting... and I'm not talking about the attic...

Comments (6)

frog_hopper

cork2win

Related Discussions

t-mac-mo

chisue

bdpeck-charlotteOriginal Author

emilynewhome

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

bdpeck-charlotte
Original Author