Defense of Not Inspecting New Furnaces

Channel 3 did a story on how the City of Madison does not follow up on inspections of new furnaces because the contractors do not tell them they are done with the work. The city responds:

I want to take this opportunity to provide more information about the City’s construction permitting process.

Here’s how the system works:
· A contractor is required by ordinance to pull a permit to install a furnace, air conditioning or HVAC unit.
· A permit to install a furnace costs $25 on average depending on the size of the furnace. The City receives about $23,000 annually from furnace permits. (The $378,418.70 mentioned in the news report comes from all HVAC permits.)
· City ordinances (MGO 30.01) require contractors to arrange for an inspection of their work, just as they are required to do for all other permits. Contractors face penalties of up to $303 for a first offense and up to $1,311 for multiple offenses for failure to comply.
· City building inspectors usually schedule inspections within 48 hours of receiving a request.
· It is not true that City building inspectors “never follow up to check the work over” as stated by Channel 3. Whenever an inspector is in a neighborhood, s/he has a list of other permits in the area and will visit homes to conduct an inspection or leave a door card asking the homeowner to call to schedule an inspection (see attachment).
· Problems with furnace installations are very rare. Very few homeowners follow up even after we leave the door card. (The incident in Sun Prairie involved an installation of a furnace without a permit.)

There are several additional points I’d like you to know:
· While there are many conscientious contractors who do call the City as required by law, there are many who do not. Several of the contractors Channel 3 contacted admitted it was their responsibility to schedule inspections. It was telling that none of them would speak on the record about their failure to comply.
· There is sufficient staff to inspect all the roughly 860 furnace installations permitted each year. The City has six inspectors who are qualified to inspect furnace and other HVAC installations. This staff also inspects electrical and plumbing installations.
· The reason the City depends on contractors to schedule inspections is that, while the City is aware of the locations where furnaces are being installed, we are not aware of when the work has been completed. Many furnace replacements are not emergencies and it can take weeks or months from the time the permit is pulled until completion of the work for inspection.
· To allay further concerns, I am instituting a policy where the Building Inspection Division will send letters to all property owners who pull permits for furnace or boiler replacements urging them to demand an inspection before making final payment to their contractors.

Thank you,
George

George Hank
Director, Building Inspection Division

I was thinking this is one of those wink, wink, nod, nod good ol’ boy kinda things. But when I was thinking about why hasn’t the city hasn’t gone after contractors who do not report back, I was guessing that they probably don’t have staff to follow up. But Hank always says they have enough staff . .. but then can’t do the work that needs to be done. Not sure what is going on. I’m guessing he feels like that is what he needs to say . . . until he retires . . . or the Mayor does.