aaronread said:
While most folks seem to rate FiOS as a (slightly) better service overall for TV and internet, there have been many reports of Verizon FiOS installers doing a horrible job...up to and including
installations that catch fire and burn the house down. Jim, consider yourself a lucky guy you got a good one; if I ever get FiOS, I'll watch that dude like a hawk.
!!!!!!! OMG, Aaron. Funny, but not so funny. Here's why:
When the original Verizon FiOS installer came by the house, I made sure he scoped out the basement and did some calculating before he powered-up the industrial-sized DeWalt. I took him to the basement and showed him the electrical box and the incoming 440 with at least 100 Amp service. Told him to scope the existing cable, phone and AC feeds. "Make note of the incoming AC feed bending to the left before the box and that it doubles back along the outer joist line."
Guy says "yeah, I've seen stuff like this before." He's not impressed with my Al Borland act, I can tell. "And only three inches away, there's a 3" vertical copper breather for the plumbing," I add. Guy says, "yeah, I got it."
Being a radio guy, you automatically assume
something is gonna go wrong. Being the son and brother of military men, the adage "if nothin's goin' wrong, something's wrong" is in full play. So does the acronym FUBAR.
It's a beautiful sunny day, so I go outside and chat with the guy, an amiable and seemingly competent fellow. He fires up the ten ton, special Verizon-issue DeWalt, complete with mortar bit that looks like it could penetrate the Great Wall of China. The dude points to a spot on the outer wall. I say "Uhhh no, not there."
He looks at me and says, "There's enough space." I say, not at that vertical height, you're too close to the "Y" in the copper breather. He randomly picks another spot, I say "a little too close to the power." He says, mildly exasperated, why don't you mark it for me. I tell him, "you have two inches of wiggle room, high-low, left-right; drill here." Now it's on me and I'm good with that.
He begins drilling at a slight angle. I tell him "you gotta be level and straight on, remember, two inches... use the pre-existing feeds as a reference for your wiggle room." Dude drills, but the bit jogs about an inch to the left. I grimace and start praying. He cuts through, I hear no metal grinding and see no sparks flying and the guy is still standing, so he doesn't look like he took an AC hit. I go to the basement without him and see that the hole is 1 inch away from the copper breather. He cleared the AC double back by only a few more. "Nice job," I say, breathing a huge sigh of relief.
So Aaron, when I read a story like the one in your link, I'm thinkin' my vigilence might have prevented a similar catastrophe. There but for the grace of God go I.
