Many moons ago, I was self employed residential electrician. Worst place to make a call, by far, was west side of Jackson, MS. Cheaply built homes, and you can believe many had 2x2's for ceiling joists. By extension, the owners and tenants were low income; to include the typical standards of living. But I did make a point to take those calls. I'm a very small person, weighed about 120 at that time. I saw that as something shy of a duty, to prevent a normal-sized electrician from possible injury. I eventually discovered more tangible rewards in answering those kinds of calls. Suffice to say: it's the small improvements in living conditions that can be most effective at inspiring people to make even more improvements. In the long run, an overall increase in spiritual well-being. Unfortunately, the above was not true for the majority of calls. But I'm a glass-half-full person, so I'm glad for even the small numbers.
It's one thing to be low income, but no one has to live like that. I grew up dirt poor with an alcoholic father who never held a steady job. In spite of that, our house was always clean, and thanks to my hard-working mother (gone many years now) we always had nutritious food on the table and I had clean, decent clothing for school.
Back in the early 70’s while in high school, I worked weekends for a locksmith. I got to go on a lot of residential jobs with him. I saw a lot of things I wasn’t used to and gained an appreciation for the care and attention my parents put into our home. Gotta say however, that place you just serviced was pretty horrendous by any standard.
I have worked in homes like that WAY too many times. Each time I was surprised how some people live. EVERY time I left one, I went home and scrubbed from head to toe. And I'm not a germaphobe. I just always felt dirty. That doesn't mean they're not " nice" people, just live dirty is all. Laziness I guess. Like pack rats. You still did a great job, got them going and got out. So glad I got out of residential and wk commercial for the last 15+ years. Much respect Curtis.God Bless
I’ve been on a few of these where the crawl space or basement is more kept tidy then the house itself. I’ve seen house over ran by cats where the stench is unbearable but all you want to do is help. Good work for sticking it out and doing what you can.
On the opposite, I don't want to help, I just say I'm terribly allergic, I can't do the job and, say sorry and leave.. I'm ain't sticking around! I'm not the only HVAC tech
I’ve been in electrical for 26 years now, have done a decent amount of service calls in my time. Most places I’ve been in are pretty clean, but the ones like this really stand out. One of the worst places I’ve ever been in awhile was probably close to a million dollar home. We had to add a circuit for a humidifier for my HVAC friend, and the breaker panel was in the big walk in master closet. It took us almost an hour to clear stuff out so we could get in there to work. Dirty laundry, and just crap everywhere. I couldn’t wait to get out of there, went straight home and took a shower and changed clothes.
I think you got there a day before the Maid's got there ... Your a good person Curt and you bravely go where no other man dares to go ... Thx for posting ... 👍
I have had a few like this that I cannot forget. I worked in a restaurant that was so overrun with bugs that when I got home I took all of my clothes off outside (below grade entrance) and threw them in the washer then jumped into the shower for a long time. Another was a University that was so bad in the kitchen that I refused to work on the unit and so did their maintenance staff.
I feel the feeling! I've been the hvac guy for 37 years and i have been there soooo many times. And you did thr right thing. Just put your head down and get it done. Then drive to the nearest gas station and wash your face and hands 23 times!!!! Keep on doin it like you're doin it and stay safe.
I have had those calls where when I got off and got home I immediately stripped off and showered. Had a call one time where chickens were living in the house. Hard to get the smell out of your nostrils.
I use the essential oils that the nurses use in retirement homes it helps. You rub a little right under your nostrils when you can tell the day is going to be tough.
I had one in a trailer that was dimly lit. As I’m walking down the hall, I could hear the floor crunching beneath my feet. This lady had a bunch of birds that she used to let fly around her house. It was a mixture of bird seeds and bird shit. Yeah, I stripped down when I got home and showered.
Good lord, all of that going on, but just sit there and watch TV. I know you are glad to get out of there. Thank heaven it was something easy. nice video
I've been in the business going on 43 years Andi have seen some pretty disgusting homes. Everything from roaches behind the t-stat to an elderly person walking in front of me and just stopping in her tracks to take a dump on the floor. I've seen it all
When I first started in HVAC, conditions like these, unfortunately, was more of the rule than the exception. Very thankful that I do not have to deal with conditions like that anymore. There are some disgusting people subjecting themselves and children to a very unhealthy environment.
Thanks for being there so that we didn't have to be, honestly I felt like I needed to go take a shower after watching you working there... and I wasn't even there with you. Much respect for you going in like a soldier and getting it done.
Curtis, its not for us to judge others ,trust they paid the bill. You were man enough to see the job through and I hope they treated you with respect. Even so , a vid was made exposing these house holders living conditions,which they allowed. Credit to you for not just walking off on arrival, ALL part of being self employed, Ps thanks for info about you work light, which I tracked down in UK. You never know what’s behind that front door. Be lucky Uk ,London
Yep, glad I’m doing more commercial now. You definitely remember those homes. I will never understand how people can live like that, especially with kids.
This is more common than youd imagine. Ive been to homes that were in very expensive neighborhoods and this trashed inside. One of them asked me to take my shoes off so i dont get the carpet dirty. I wanted to say im going to put my shoe covers on to keep my shoes clean🤣
...and this is why Firefighters wear strips of rubber around the bottoms of their bunker pants. You enter clean... but the mice and the German roaches try to grab a free ride out of the house, from the heat.
I've been in several like this and worse. The last one had bedbug's, I didn't know how they would sneak up your paint legs as you were working on the furnace like you did. I have always just done the job and moved on but after having to strip down and take my clothes to a laundry mat before going home I had a discussion with the president at the company and was told I don't have to deal with these kind of condition. I have dealt with cockroaches, multiple piles of cat and dog crap on the floor, stench that could gag a maget. Falling through the house trailer floor and even being threatened while working at houses like these. That's why I have gotten away from residential calls as much as possible.
yeah i did residential security systems for a year and thankfully never dealth with a house in this bad of condition but def a few hoarders and dog poop behind the TV
Sadly my next door neighbors are the same way. House is filthy, smells horrible in the heat and humidity of summer. How can people live that way? Who raised them? Hope you gave them a competitors business card. 😉
Our house is nice and clean with a hvac service. Guys, guys, dream attic both our systems are in the attic that is well lite and has finnashed floors withnacces off the bedroom all youndonis open the door and walk in.
I have the same problem with my next door neighbor I used to help them out with repairs, NO MORE EVER the house has 4 dogs they never ever clean the place no remodeling the window curtains are from 1980s also the back yard is full of dog shit .
My husband is this way. If not for me, the house would be a pig sty. I wish I'd been more cognizant of his habits before marriage. Afterward there's lots of conflict. Not fun.
Props to you Curtis. I personally would have left. The 2 worst I was in were #1 us 2 techs puked in the basement from the ammonia smell from that many cat litter boxes and #2 the persons house had that much stuff in it there was a path from the front door to the basement door and property 75% of the basement floor was covered in cat crap.
I used to work for a high end company that would quote these jobs super high so we would not get the work. Then I changed jobs and and that company took any work that came in. Truly horrible conditions in some of those houses. As a professional, I treated everyone of those jobs the same. Honestly , some of the poorer conditions had some of the nicest people I had to deal with. I try not to judge. Everyone needs to be comfortable. I just used drop cloths to work from and wore PPE.
At least it was easy. I've seen way worse than that. About 30 years ago I worked for a construction co. and the owners had bought a property for a rental. This place was stacked floor to nearly the ceiling with stuff from the previous residents, there was a path throughout the whole house. I couldn't believe anyone could live like that. I did used to have a 90-year-old man who lived like that for a customer. I got him help and now he's moved.
I heard that you can bring cockroach eggs back to your auto and home when you enter houses like that. Let us know. I worked in a TV repair shop years ago and you could smell the rotting food from the roach nests inside the appliances. We had to open the smelly TVs outside to keep the roaches out of the shop. It didn't stop them 100%. We had a roach problem. The shop owner would change his shoes before getting in his car to avoid any roach eggs finding their way back to his house.
Currently working in the EMS Field and hoping to score a job in HVAC soon. These conditions dont phase me anymore. All i can say is I wish people open windows more often, especially for smokers. Having a carpet crunch under your feet, poop smell, bed bugs, ect. Im fortunate to leave and finish an EMS call within the hour. But you may be there longer in HVAC
My daughter TRASHED a house that I provided for her to live in RENT FREE. It was HORRIBLE. I had to Evict her and rehab (FLIP) the house. Your video brought back PTSD that haunts me when I see those HORRIBLE CONDITIONS. I really truly feel for you. Love the channel and your Videos
Unfortunately that happens a lot. You think you're helping and you end up just enabling and the line between the two gets real blurry. Sorry you had to go through that.
I won't repeat what everyone else said about the general conditions of the house, but I amazed you didn't pull out that little brush and leave a pile of dirt in the hall after cleaning inside the unit. Guessing this may be a rental property.
That domicile is a place you wear booties over your foot-wear, not for fear of leaving marks on their flooring... but of the flooring leaving marks on you :)
I have been in places like that so bad roachs crawling everywhere in broad daylight. I would not set my tools down. Dont know how some can live like that.
@HVAC GUY true 😆 I don't do as much refrigeration anymore. More office buildings, warehouses, and industrial sites that can get nasty too. Keep up the good work, Curtis.
Like Mikey says, if you touch it, you own it. I'm surprised you didn't vacuum out the filth from that fire hazard. The filter probably hadn't been changed in years. Hopefully they won't call you next week and blame you for the fire that erupted the next day.
I suspect from the condition of that place there are some mental health issues at play. I think I wold have vacuumed the dust and debris out of the unit, even if it seemed like a pointless exercise given the surroundings....probably would have vacuumed the floor in front before sitting on it as well! )
this is not as bad as i thought it was going to be, i went into a house that smelled like urine and when i asked to accesses one of the rooms to see how the air flow was i found that that room was the dogs pee room the floor was covered with pee... i left after that , i was there for air balancing but that's the least of their problems
Years ago when i first got out of hvac school i was doing apt maint,one of the buildings we paid the water bill for spiked one month,had to go door to door looking for leaks.This apt. I went in the cat 💩was stacked 2ft high in litter box,i looked to my right on the bed and it was completely blanketed top to bottom in cat💩.The stuff we walk into sometimes,its crazy how some people live.
Had an install a couple of days ago where it literally smell like 💩 so bad that i was getting lightheaded. The owner had litter boxes full of poop everywhere even in their rooms
One of the many problems would be a clogged filter. I can see that from where you are working. But that's just one of many. I cannot believe that its only been not working for 2 weeks. But far be for me to think that the owner would tell an untruth!!!!!
Hey, brotha. I went to a call yesterday and when the lady opened the door a wave of cat piss hit me so hard I couldn't breathe. I went to mess with the thermostat, and it was covered with roach poop. I turned to talk to the lady and as she sat there talking I watched a roach crawl up her shirt. All I wanted to do is run! On top of that she said she was a nurse. 👀. We see some.crazy stuff out there.
The worst I’ve come across was the house with a water source heat pump in a utility room, along with two overflowing litter boxes, and the cats had begun to go on the floor around the litter boxes. Can’t understand how people can live like that.
I feel your pain, I was called to check a heater in a house. I showed up. I should have left as soon as I got there, I would have except they had kids. Puppies in the living room, dog shit everywhere. Glad is was just a tripped safety. Checked everything out and got the hell out as soon as I could. That place is on the don’t go back list.
Well.... that's a luxurious pigsty with AC and heating... So sad some people are living in these conditions. I would never touch anything without gloves in there!!!
I had a call, where this dude had cats everywhere, and fleas were eating me alive. They got all on my clothes and in my work truck. Had to buy and put a raid bomb in the truck to kill them all
been an Electrician for 37 yrs only had 2 really discussing jobs were i was gagging, went into basement to look at a service change and the whole basement floor was dog shit. Never went back!!
I was replacing a faucet and drain. 30 minutes into the job this cat comes out from the cabinets behind all the bath accessories scaring the shit out of me!
I wish i could say that kind of condition was abnormal. But i would say about 1/5th of the modular homes i go to with downflow units like that are a MESS. The floors, walls, but especially the elec-furnace. I've had dozens that I have had to litterally pull apart and clean the blower, electrical, and casing, before i could even do a CFM check on the evaporator. Scoops in the blower are practically flat on those types of jobs due to the buildup. Even have one we go to regularly that have roaches in the furnace every time. And people breathe that in. uhg.
I worked in conditions like that installing Satellite TV. The people that lived in houses like the one you are showing lived in evil conditions that I would not tolerate. When I was faced with leaking drain pipes that smelled awful in a crawlspace, I was tempted to quit and become a subcontractor (so I could refuse jobs that were hazardous to me). Eventually, I was forced to do this to protect my health! One leaky smelly drain, and I was out of there!
Visit Rockford Illinois you’ll see homes like this all the time. I’ve been in way worse too. One call I went to lady had 7 cats, 2 dogs and a goat living in the house. Call was for water in duct work. Guess what..it was cat piss. The cats were peeing over the registers.
One point in my life I did pest control and unfortunately I seen worse then that. 🤢 one example was a house I pulled up to and literally could smell the roaches from outside. Once I went inside and started spraying the roaches ran me out of the house. If a didn’t see 300O German roaches I didn’t see one.
I have to install in Horder situations all the time it's terrible... My last one had over 400 pounds of dogshit like 5inches tall everywhere. I should of told them no and left. It's mobile homes 99% of the time.
Years ago, the boys brought a big console TV in for shop repair. Winter, they said the house had no heat. Time passed and we had flies through the shop... the cabinet was warming and the little fellers were waking up. Someone leaned on the cabinet to study the animals (yech) and his hands stuck to it!
I've seen some dirty jobs during my years in the trade but never saw a place like that! You need to charge another $ 200.- and vacuum the entire system. That blower motor is due for replacement pretty soon!
Those jobs makes for a very good reason to keep a few pictures of 24 by 24 cardboard, in back of the van. To sit on. There's no telling what nasties are on the floor. And rubbee gloves. There's no telling what all nasties have traveled through those vents. Aa of now you'll have it on the bottom of your footware, on your hands and the sit of your pants. Now it's on you floor board, tools and Keys steering wheel, shipping column. And the sit in your van. Which will now all be transferred to your home.
I'm wondering if you don't ask for initial diag and drive time payment in advance - cause I know back in the day just how bad it was for Mediatech to get anything working there.
Ouch..not much to say about that except ..Wow..it’s hard to imagine living like that, but just having had a fire, the firemen came through, downed a ceiling, I had to go through a huge nightmare to get everything put back, or at least repaired..ppl take four walls and a ceiling for granted, if they were homeless for a while they might have more appreciation to take care of what they have..
I did a package unit conversion on a trailer. the crawl space wasn't bad. However the homeowner had two kids that had 2 dogs and what i counted to be 5 cats in a small trailer. They had two litter boxes that were full and as soon as you walked in the door it smelt like animal feces and pee. There was cat crap all over the floor they'd just walk over it instead of cleaning it up. trash all over the place. I wanted to quit that day.
Been there , seen that.. used to work for sears. went to a house and it had Cats all inside that had never been Out side. I got sick and called my supervisor and he said to just Leave
This looks like a hidden camera show where they are trying to see your response to the surroundings or what is happening.. Could have been a great commercial for a vacuum cleaner company.. This would have been the before picture and the after would have been fantastically cleaner.
Hey Curtis, been there done that. Too many times. Ever wonder what kind of sickness we can get from working in these conditions for years and years. No gloves. No respirator , I been in some homes that it would be wise to wear a NASA HAZMAT SUIT WITH OXYGEN. I'm going to be almost 70. Been retired for a few years and now can barely walk without a cane because of my back , hips, and knees. Knees and hips MRI,S SHOWED NO CARTILAGE LEFT. JUST BONE ON BONE. Sometimes I wonder if carrying compressors up ladders for 35 years was worth it.
Homeowner: "Ah...we forgot to pick up this morning." You're a better man than me, I would refuse to take a job under conditions like that. Sorry Mr. Customer, find somebody else. 😝
I would have had one look at that unit, and walked out. Touch it, and it could have gone south in a hurry. That poor thing needs to be replaced. I hope he apologized to that new transformer!
Wow. That was interesting... surprised you didn't let the smoke out of something by accidental contact in that one.. wouldn't be surprised if ya brought a new pet or 2 home with ya.
Omg that’s nasty for sure I’ve been there I landed up with asthma for a little bit from a dirty house there was just a small trail from the front door to the area we had to work they were boxes and garbage almost as high as the ceiling
PPE, aka shoe covers used to protect their home except in this case, use them to protect your shoes!
Too funny.......my side hurts!
Not to mention disposable paper over trousers...
That's definitely the kind of house you wipe your feet on the way out.
Hazmat suit and full face respirator!
This house was a mess. Curtis's understatement of the year!
As expected that inside unit matches how the house looks inside.
I bet that air handler was still cleaner than their bathroom!!
You're not kidding!
Many moons ago, I was self employed residential electrician. Worst place to make a call, by far, was west side of Jackson, MS. Cheaply built homes, and you can believe many had 2x2's for ceiling joists. By extension, the owners and tenants were low income; to include the typical standards of living.
But I did make a point to take those calls. I'm a very small person, weighed about 120 at that time. I saw that as something shy of a duty, to prevent a normal-sized electrician from possible injury.
I eventually discovered more tangible rewards in answering those kinds of calls. Suffice to say: it's the small improvements in living conditions that can be most effective at inspiring people to make even more improvements. In the long run, an overall increase in spiritual well-being.
Unfortunately, the above was not true for the majority of calls. But I'm a glass-half-full person, so I'm glad for even the small numbers.
It's one thing to be low income, but no one has to live like that. I grew up dirt poor with an alcoholic father who never held a steady job. In spite of that, our house was always clean, and thanks to my hard-working mother (gone many years now) we always had nutritious food on the table and I had clean, decent clothing for school.
Back in the early 70’s while in high school, I worked weekends for a locksmith. I got to go on a lot of residential jobs with him. I saw a lot of things I wasn’t used to and gained an appreciation for the care and attention my parents put into our home. Gotta say however, that place you just serviced was pretty horrendous by any standard.
🎉🎉🎉😢🎉ZZZ😢
I have worked in homes like that WAY too many times. Each time I was surprised how some people live. EVERY time I left one, I went home and scrubbed from head to toe. And I'm not a germaphobe. I just always felt dirty. That doesn't mean they're not " nice" people, just live dirty is all. Laziness I guess. Like pack rats. You still did a great job, got them going and got out. So glad I got out of residential and wk commercial for the last 15+ years. Much respect Curtis.God Bless
I’ve been on a few of these where the crawl space or basement is more kept tidy then the house itself. I’ve seen house over ran by cats where the stench is unbearable but all you want to do is help. Good work for sticking it out and doing what you can.
On the opposite, I don't want to help, I just say I'm terribly allergic, I can't do the job and, say sorry and leave.. I'm ain't sticking around! I'm not the only HVAC tech
Cats are the tip of the iceberg. Imagine running into a huge wasp nest or spider infested crawl space 😂
I’ve been in electrical for 26 years now, have done a decent amount of service calls in my time. Most places I’ve been in are pretty clean, but the ones like this really stand out. One of the worst places I’ve ever been in awhile was probably close to a million dollar home. We had to add a circuit for a humidifier for my HVAC friend, and the breaker panel was in the big walk in master closet. It took us almost an hour to clear stuff out so we could get in there to work. Dirty laundry, and just crap everywhere. I couldn’t wait to get out of there, went straight home and took a shower and changed clothes.
I do not move furniture/junk. I have the customer do it or I don't work. I'm not a fucking mover.
I definitely don’t move anyone’s shit. “I’ll come back when this fucking garbage is out of my way”
Did you burn your clothes too?
@@jkmarshall3553 probably should have!😂
@@CA-lk6fd No doubt! 🤣
I think you got there a day before the Maid's got there ... Your a good person Curt and you bravely go where no other man dares to go ... Thx for posting ... 👍
That's true, I wouldn't.
I think the maid got fired, 30 years ago.
The maid is in there somewhere, just haven't found her yet.
I have had a few like this that I cannot forget. I worked in a restaurant that was so overrun with bugs that when I got home I took all of my clothes off outside (below grade entrance) and threw them in the washer then jumped into the shower for a long time. Another was a University that was so bad in the kitchen that I refused to work on the unit and so did their maintenance staff.
I feel the feeling! I've been the hvac guy for 37 years and i have been there soooo many times. And you did thr right thing. Just put your head down and get it done. Then drive to the nearest gas station and wash your face and hands 23 times!!!! Keep on doin it like you're doin it and stay safe.
I have had those calls where when I got off and got home I immediately stripped off and showered. Had a call one time where chickens were living in the house. Hard to get the smell out of your nostrils.
They are the real McCoys...😸✌️🙏💪☯️🤔
Vicks vapor rub under nostril.
I use the essential oils that the nurses use in retirement homes it helps. You rub a little right under your nostrils when you can tell the day is going to be tough.
When I had like that. Get home strip in the garage and run to the shower
I had one in a trailer that was dimly lit. As I’m walking down the hall, I could hear the floor crunching beneath my feet. This lady had a bunch of birds that she used to let fly around her house. It was a mixture of bird seeds and bird shit. Yeah, I stripped down when I got home and showered.
Good lord, all of that going on, but just sit there and watch TV. I know you are glad to get out of there. Thank heaven it was something easy. nice video
Terrible, I wouldn't worked on this but you drove a long ways your'e good people.
Nothing feels better than finding a package unit around back at a place like this.
I've been in the business going on 43 years Andi have seen some pretty disgusting homes. Everything from roaches behind the t-stat to an elderly person walking in front of me and just stopping in her tracks to take a dump on the floor. I've seen it all
Excuse me what
Eeeeww!
She craps on the floor and I’m out the door...👋
Sounds like some mental illness stuff right there
When I first started in HVAC, conditions like these, unfortunately, was more of the rule than the exception. Very thankful that I do not have to deal with conditions like that anymore. There are some disgusting people subjecting themselves and children to a very unhealthy environment.
Thanks for being there so that we didn't have to be, honestly I felt like I needed to go take a shower after watching you working there... and I wasn't even there with you. Much respect for you going in like a soldier and getting it done.
No matter how your life is going, the one thing you can do is keep a clean home.
worked for a guy doing floor covering he would always it's not that expensive to be clean.
No kidding. Being poor doesn't mean you have to be a filthy slob. I bet that customer wouldn't be alive if breathing wasn't an involuntary action.
Curtis, its not for us to judge others ,trust they paid the bill.
You were man enough to see the job through and I hope they treated you with respect.
Even so , a vid was made exposing these house holders living conditions,which they allowed.
Credit to you for not just walking off on arrival,
ALL part of being self employed,
Ps thanks for info about you work light, which I tracked down in UK.
You never know what’s behind that front door.
Be lucky Uk ,London
Yep, glad I’m doing more commercial now. You definitely remember those homes. I will never understand how people can live like that, especially with kids.
I'd be too embarrassed to have anyone from outside come into my house, if it looked like this.
Me too
This is more common than youd imagine. Ive been to homes that were in very expensive neighborhoods and this trashed inside. One of them asked me to take my shoes off so i dont get the carpet dirty. I wanted to say im going to put my shoe covers on to keep my shoes clean🤣
If your house looks like that you will never be embarrassed because you have lost all sense of what is right and wrong.
...and this is why Firefighters wear strips of rubber around the bottoms of their bunker pants. You enter clean... but the mice and the German roaches try to grab a free ride out
of the house, from the heat.
@@blue03r6The amount of self control you’d have to have to not slap that person
I've been in several like this and worse. The last one had bedbug's, I didn't know how they would sneak up your paint legs as you were working on the furnace like you did. I have always just done the job and moved on but after having to strip down and take my clothes to a laundry mat before going home I had a discussion with the president at the company and was told I don't have to deal with these kind of condition. I have dealt with cockroaches, multiple piles of cat and dog crap on the floor, stench that could gag a maget. Falling through the house trailer floor and even being threatened while working at houses like these. That's why I have gotten away from residential calls as much as possible.
yeah i did residential security systems for a year and thankfully never dealth with a house in this bad of condition but def a few hoarders and dog poop behind the TV
Sadly my next door neighbors are the same way. House is filthy, smells horrible in the heat and humidity of summer. How can people live that way? Who raised them? Hope you gave them a competitors business card. 😉
Lol.
Our house is nice and clean with a hvac service. Guys, guys, dream attic both our systems are in the attic that is well lite and has finnashed floors withnacces off the bedroom all youndonis open the door and walk in.
I was thinking if that were me, I'd leave and tell them any further problems, don't call me, I won't take the call!
I have the same problem with my next door neighbor I used to help them out with repairs, NO MORE EVER the house has 4 dogs they never ever clean the place no remodeling the window curtains are from 1980s also the back yard is full of dog shit .
My husband is this way. If not for me, the house would be a pig sty. I wish I'd been more cognizant of his habits before marriage. Afterward there's lots of conflict. Not fun.
Props to you Curtis. I personally would have left. The 2 worst I was in were #1 us 2 techs puked in the basement from the ammonia smell from that many cat litter boxes and #2 the persons house had that much stuff in it there was a path from the front door to the basement door and property 75% of the basement floor was covered in cat crap.
Watching that video made me itch! Looks like it wouldn't have been unusual to see a turd in there, vinyl gloves for sure...🪲🪰🦟
Fun video!😀
I used to work for a high end company that would quote these jobs super high so we would not get the work. Then I changed jobs and and that company took any work that came in. Truly horrible conditions in some of those houses. As a professional, I treated everyone of those jobs the same. Honestly , some of the poorer conditions had some of the nicest people I had to deal with. I try not to judge. Everyone needs to be comfortable. I just used drop cloths to work from and wore PPE.
I have had these kinds of calls. Bless your Heart.
At least it was easy. I've seen way worse than that. About 30 years ago I worked for a construction co. and the owners had bought a property for a rental. This place was stacked floor to nearly the ceiling with stuff from the previous residents, there was a path throughout the whole house. I couldn't believe anyone could live like that.
I did used to have a 90-year-old man who lived like that for a customer. I got him help and now he's moved.
When I walk into a shit show like that, I bring a nice piece of cardboard and a 2x2 kneeling pad. I feel your pain. Nice job.
Reminds me of the days I had rental properties
I heard that you can bring cockroach eggs back to your auto and home when you enter houses like that. Let us know. I worked in a TV repair shop years ago and you could smell the rotting food from the roach nests inside the appliances. We had to open the smelly TVs outside to keep the roaches out of the shop. It didn't stop them 100%. We had a roach problem. The shop owner would change his shoes before getting in his car to avoid any roach eggs finding their way back to his house.
Oh cockroaches are a blessing compared to bed bugs...
Currently working in the EMS Field and hoping to score a job in HVAC soon. These conditions dont phase me anymore. All i can say is I wish people open windows more often, especially for smokers. Having a carpet crunch under your feet, poop smell, bed bugs, ect. Im fortunate to leave and finish an EMS call within the hour. But you may be there longer in HVAC
My daughter TRASHED a house that I provided for her to live in RENT FREE. It was HORRIBLE. I had to Evict her and rehab (FLIP) the house. Your video brought back PTSD that haunts me when I see those HORRIBLE CONDITIONS. I really truly feel for you. Love the channel and your Videos
Unfortunately that happens a lot. You think you're helping and you end up just enabling and the line between the two gets real blurry. Sorry you had to go through that.
@@MegaDysart Thank you for the information and excellent content the you provide. I enjoy your channel and learn from your experiences and repairs.
Bummer. Shows that handouts aren’t appreciated…
is she an addict? no excuse to live in filth
I won't repeat what everyone else said about the general conditions of the house, but I amazed you didn't pull out that little brush and leave a pile of dirt in the hall after cleaning inside the unit. Guessing this may be a rental property.
That domicile is a place you wear booties over your foot-wear, not for fear of leaving marks on their flooring... but of the flooring leaving marks on you :)
I have been in places like that so bad roachs crawling everywhere in broad daylight. I would not set my tools down. Dont know how some can live like that.
It only takes one, and you’ll have an infestation. Hope one didn’t get a ride home with you
You are a good man Curtis!
I can smell it with my eyes.
Not me buddy. Hope you're updated on tetanus. Tax refund season in sowega. Gotta love it
I see that their doors are indeed working. However, the invention of the hinge very much simplified the actual use of doors everywhere.
I could tell how excited you were about it by your body language when you started taking the panels off the inside of the furnace.😮
This is why I'm glad I'm in commercial
Commercial includes kitchens, and I’ve seen some nasty stuff there too.
@HVAC GUY true 😆 I don't do as much refrigeration anymore. More office buildings, warehouses, and industrial sites that can get nasty too. Keep up the good work, Curtis.
Like Mikey says, if you touch it, you own it. I'm surprised you didn't vacuum out the filth from that fire hazard. The filter probably hadn't been changed in years. Hopefully they won't call you next week and blame you for the fire that erupted the next day.
Thank you Curtis for showing us the Disgraceful way how some people live, i bet you jumped straight under the shower on arriving home 👍😉
I suspect from the condition of that place there are some mental health issues at play. I think I wold have vacuumed the dust and debris out of the unit, even if it seemed like a pointless exercise given the surroundings....probably would have vacuumed the floor in front before sitting on it as well! )
Looked like one of the houses from a Hoarders TV show
Next on Horders: A/C down, Hoardings UP!
this is not as bad as i thought it was going to be, i went into a house that smelled like urine and when i asked to accesses one of the rooms to see how the air flow was i found that that room was the dogs pee room the floor was covered with pee... i left after that , i was there for air balancing but that's the least of their problems
Years ago when i first got out of hvac school i was doing apt maint,one of the buildings we paid the water bill for spiked one month,had to go door to door looking for leaks.This apt. I went in the cat 💩was stacked 2ft high in litter box,i looked to my right on the bed and it was completely blanketed top to bottom in cat💩.The stuff we walk into sometimes,its crazy how some people live.
Had an install a couple of days ago where it literally smell like 💩 so bad that i was getting lightheaded. The owner had litter boxes full of poop everywhere even in their rooms
I’d have walked right out… no friggin way I would work in there. You are a good person to even entertain going in there.
You have my sinceries sympathy.This one deserves HAZARD PAY!!!!😮
Everything at that location needs to be replaced
One of the many problems would be a clogged filter. I can see that from where you are working. But that's just one of many.
I cannot believe that its only been not working for 2 weeks. But far be for me to think that the owner would tell an untruth!!!!!
That furnace looks like it could be a fire hazard I'm just curious why you didn't take a vacuum cleaner and cleaner out 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱👍👍👍👍🔥🔥🔥
Hey, brotha. I went to a call yesterday and when the lady opened the door a wave of cat piss hit me so hard I couldn't breathe. I went to mess with the thermostat, and it was covered with roach poop. I turned to talk to the lady and as she sat there talking I watched a roach crawl up her shirt. All I wanted to do is run! On top of that she said she was a nurse. 👀. We see some.crazy stuff out there.
The worst I’ve come across was the house with a water source heat pump in a utility room, along with two overflowing litter boxes, and the cats had begun to go on the floor around the litter boxes. Can’t understand how people can live like that.
Try a hoarders house with crap from floor to ceiling and to boot guy had gangrene on his leg.
I feel your pain, I was called to check a heater in a house. I showed up. I should have left as soon as I got there, I would have except they had kids. Puppies in the living room, dog shit everywhere. Glad is was just a tripped safety. Checked everything out and got the hell out as soon as I could. That place is on the don’t go back list.
Hey There ! I don't want to freak you out but....as I was watching the video I seen some coodies crawl up your pant leg.
Your the best!
Wow Curtis ,that TV racket would drive me up a wall !!!!
Makes you really appreciate those clean houses we go to for sure.... I get lots of calls like that here in Central Va
Well.... that's a luxurious pigsty with AC and heating... So sad some people are living in these conditions. I would never touch anything without gloves in there!!!
Hand sanitizer after these jobs
I am blessed to be in the position to walk away from stuff like that. God love you sir-
I had a call, where this dude had cats everywhere, and fleas were eating me alive. They got all on my clothes and in my work truck. Had to buy and put a raid bomb in the truck to kill them all
been an Electrician for 37 yrs only had 2 really discussing jobs were i was gagging, went into basement to look at a service change and the whole basement floor was dog shit. Never went back!!
gotta love these jammed in a closet furnace installs that have near zero access
You made it out alive, I know that place was a roach motel with all those crumbs on the floor.
Amazing people live like this.
Even the furnace wanted to leave.
This brings back memories. Sometimes you just get settled in front of the unit and a cat jumps out at you from behind the unit.
I was replacing a faucet and drain. 30 minutes into the job this cat comes out from the cabinets behind all the bath accessories scaring the shit out of me!
I wish i could say that kind of condition was abnormal. But i would say about 1/5th of the modular homes i go to with downflow units like that are a MESS. The floors, walls, but especially the elec-furnace. I've had dozens that I have had to litterally pull apart and clean the blower, electrical, and casing, before i could even do a CFM check on the evaporator. Scoops in the blower are practically flat on those types of jobs due to the buildup.
Even have one we go to regularly that have roaches in the furnace every time.
And people breathe that in. uhg.
I worked in conditions like that installing Satellite TV. The people that lived in houses like the one you are showing lived in evil conditions that I would not tolerate. When I was faced with leaking drain pipes that smelled awful in a crawlspace, I was tempted to quit and become a subcontractor (so I could refuse jobs that were hazardous to me). Eventually, I was forced to do this to protect my health! One leaky smelly drain, and I was out of there!
I did cable installs and dealt with all of that.
Wow that was a one rough brother.
Visit Rockford Illinois you’ll see homes like this all the time. I’ve been in way worse too. One call I went to lady had 7 cats, 2 dogs and a goat living in the house. Call was for water in duct work. Guess what..it was cat piss. The cats were peeing over the registers.
Looks like rentals I work, well did work, on !
I trust that you have had all your shots! Regards
One point in my life I did pest control and unfortunately I seen worse then that. 🤢 one example was a house I pulled up to and literally could smell the roaches from outside. Once I went inside and started spraying the roaches ran me out of the house. If a didn’t see 300O German roaches I didn’t see one.
I have to install in Horder situations all the time it's terrible... My last one had over 400 pounds of dogshit like 5inches tall everywhere. I should of told them no and left. It's mobile homes 99% of the time.
We could smell it from here.
Hello from Siesta Key Florida
Years ago, the boys brought a big console TV in for shop repair. Winter, they said the house had no heat. Time passed and we had flies through the shop... the cabinet was warming and the little fellers were waking up. Someone leaned on the cabinet to study the animals (yech) and his hands stuck to it!
I've seen some dirty jobs during my years in the trade but never saw a place like that! You need to charge another $ 200.- and vacuum the entire system. That blower motor is due for replacement pretty soon!
Need to have some ppe on this one
that was a mess how was it even running or caught on fire. be bless and safe.
Very good curtis 😊 we're running a new liquid line to a condensor in our trade school it's hard bit I'm not letting it stop me
Explain how it’s difficult. Does it go underground? Genuinely curious.
@travisbarfknecht3010 there were alot of bends to make if u seen u woukd know what I'm talking about !
That is awesome!
@@HVACGUY thanku 😊
Hazardous duty pay is what you need for places like that.
If he got paid at all
Those jobs makes for a very good reason to keep a few pictures of 24 by 24 cardboard, in back of the van. To sit on. There's no telling what nasties are on the floor. And rubbee gloves. There's no telling what all nasties have traveled through those vents.
Aa of now you'll have it on the bottom of your footware, on your hands and the sit of your pants.
Now it's on you floor board, tools and Keys steering wheel, shipping column. And the sit in your van.
Which will now all be transferred to your home.
I'm wondering if you don't ask for initial diag and drive time payment in advance - cause I know back in the day just how bad it was for Mediatech to get anything working there.
Ouch..not much to say about that except ..Wow..it’s hard to imagine living like that, but just having had a fire, the firemen came through, downed a ceiling, I had to go through a huge nightmare to get everything put back, or at least repaired..ppl take four walls and a ceiling for granted, if they were homeless for a while they might have more appreciation to take care of what they have..
I did a package unit conversion on a trailer. the crawl space wasn't bad. However the homeowner had two kids that had 2 dogs and what i counted to be 5 cats in a small trailer. They had two litter boxes that were full and as soon as you walked in the door it smelt like animal feces and pee. There was cat crap all over the floor they'd just walk over it instead of cleaning it up. trash all over the place. I wanted to quit that day.
Been there , seen that.. used to work for sears. went to a house and it had Cats all inside that had never been Out side. I got sick and called my supervisor and he said to just Leave
This looks like a hidden camera show where they are trying to see your response to the surroundings or what is happening.. Could have been a great commercial for a vacuum cleaner company.. This would have been the before picture and the after would have been fantastically cleaner.
Been there, done that ! Nasty crawlspace gas furnace in mud, almost as bad as roach infested house (worst)hang in there cause retirement is worth it 👌
OMG, Yikes!!! That place was a tetanus shot waiting to happen!
Hey Curtis, been there done that. Too many times. Ever wonder what kind of sickness we can get from working in these conditions for years and years. No gloves. No respirator , I been in some homes that it would be wise to wear a NASA HAZMAT SUIT WITH OXYGEN. I'm going to be almost 70. Been retired for a few years and now can barely walk without a cane because of my back , hips, and knees. Knees and hips MRI,S SHOWED NO CARTILAGE LEFT. JUST BONE ON BONE. Sometimes I wonder if carrying compressors up ladders for 35 years was worth it.
I have been in worse. Surprised the place didn’t go up in flames!
Correction… RUN
Homeowner: "Ah...we forgot to pick up this morning."
You're a better man than me, I would refuse to take a job under conditions like that. Sorry Mr. Customer, find somebody else. 😝
I have refused to work on peoples equipment before...I have even encountered dirty diapers, *NASTY*
I would have had one look at that unit, and walked out. Touch it, and it could have gone south in a hurry. That poor thing needs to be replaced. I hope he apologized to that new transformer!
Wow. That was interesting... surprised you didn't let the smoke out of something by accidental contact in that one.. wouldn't be surprised if ya brought a new pet or 2 home with ya.
Omg that’s nasty for sure I’ve been there I landed up with asthma for a little bit from a dirty house there was just a small trail from the front door to the area we had to work they were boxes and garbage almost as high as the ceiling