Sawdust in pool

[teamtree]

got a call yesterday from a customer in which we did some removals for about a month ago...he says he thinks he has a problem at his rent house and wants to know if I crushed his sewer pipes with my truck.

Well we did not have the truck in that part of the yard and we used mats to go into the yard. We also discussed the yard being wet and there would be some ruts but we would fix them. The only thing I had in his yard was a 34hp tractor that lifts about 1000 pounds so it would only weigh 4000 pounds.

He wants me to stop by and check out the problem.

 

[Treetom]

i think the caretaker is bustin' yer balls. perhaps he should have covered the pool his own self.

 

[teamtree]

We pruned a few limbs out of a big pin oak one time at a large company headquarters that was about 30ft from a fountain. The property manager told me he would contact the facility manager and see if he wanted to tarp it. No one showed up so we pruned the big dead limb and left. There may have been enough saw dust on the entire job to fill up a 32oz cup but some how a 5 gallon bucket of debris came off the tree and ended up in the filters. We took an ass chewing over it. The next time they tarped the fountain and I think as much or more saw dust got in the filters as it was windy and the tarps were not sealed to the ground. We are going to have to remove the tree this summer so I will have to get out some duct tape.

Here is a question.....anyone ever seen an attachment that goes on a chainsaw to catch the sawdust?

 

[tree md]

We pruned a few limbs out of a big pin oak one time at a large company headquarters that was about 30ft from a fountain. The property manager told me he would contact the facility manager and see if he wanted to tarp it. No one showed up so we pruned the big dead limb and left. There may have been enough saw dust on the entire job to fill up a 32oz cup but some how a 5 gallon bucket of debris came off the tree and ended up in the filters. We took an ass chewing over it. The next time they tarped the fountain and I think as much or more saw dust got in the filters as it was windy and the tarps were not sealed to the ground. We are going to have to remove the tree this summer so I will have to get out some duct tape.

Here is a question.....anyone ever seen an attachment that goes on a chainsaw to catch the sawdust?

I haven't seen one for a chainsaw but I did have to use a shop vac to vacuum the dust up onetime. It's what the customer wanted and I didn't ask questions. I just charged accordingly.

 

[Tree Pig]

Cover or no cover it should be no big deal empty the skimmers. A pool has a double protection system. Skimmer at the water intake in the pool and a skimmer prior to that water passing through the filter. Not to mention the filtration from the sand itself. Even if some sawdust got in the pool, I cant see much of it getting past the skimmers. Most likely they would just clog and slow the water flow and the BS caretaker would have to bend over remove and dump the skimmer problem solved.

 

[pdqdl]

You're being taken for a ride. I'm no expert on pools, but the claim by the caretaker that pay is forfeited by any amount of claim for damages is just bogus.

Catch the caretaker in a nice & quiet setting, make some vague gesture about "How can we solve this problem?", and see if he doesn't hint a little more directly at a kickback.

After that, the ball is in your court, but at least you know what the rules are to the game you have been playing.

 

[chip's-tree]

a good dunk

heck 20 yrs ago I would have baptized him in the pool until his check book floated up..

 

[tree md]

heck 20 yrs ago I would have baptized him in the pool until his check book floated up..

These days you need to do it in a more discrete manor but still the same concept...

 

[M.D. Vaden]

I usually tarp up pools and ponds as SOP.

I would want to see the mess first before anyone else fixes it. If the controlling party does not give you a chance to make amends, or document, then you have a leg to stand on in court. FWIW

Anyway you go about it, you probably lost the account with the caretaker.

I've done that on some ponds. Cover - that is. In most cases, we rely on the homeowners to clear the area of knicknacks and to prepare their own pool covering so we don't tamper with something we don't contract for. Often, they want to, or expect to clear their own stuff, or cover their own stuff. But extra preparation is available as long as they are paying for the service.

At least in the case of this thread, the guy hopefully won't be able to escape paying for the work if the work was contracted - does not seem so anyway. Reminds me of something similar that someone tried to do to our son. In his case, the work was for a contracting business. I told him to file a claim against them. And the Oregon contractors board ordered them to pay him, because their excuse or beef was a separate issue from the work he did.

Let us know how it goes. I alway like to review this kind of stuff to learn what is available and what's not, and what can be done and what can't.

At least the pool filters must be working.

 

[mckeetree]

I agree unless you dumped a truckload of chips in the pool, the filters might be clogged but I can't see that sawdust/chips would have wrecked it.

The caretaker needs to prove that only your dust caused a problem.

Keep the high road, if you come across as reasonable and professional, you may well keep the account.

I spent about half an hour the other day cleaning my dust out of a pool, the HO was cool with it all but I wanted to do what I could to mitigate the issue, other than a HUGE tarpaulin, there wasn't much I could do to keep the crap out, I had a small tarp that caught some small branches and twigs but the dust just drifted and blew in...ornamental spruce were leaning out right over the pool. I got to most of the dust before it got sucked into the filters.

I don't really want the account. I just want to get paid and get away from this guy. I called a pool company this morning and they told me $150.00 to back flush and clean the filters and $200.00 more to vac any debris out of the pool. Plus tax of course. I called the caretaker and told him I could
send them over and he tells me "No, we have a pool guy coming and he is going to assess the problem". I found out this morning that Donnie Nelson, Don's son, took the property over last Sept. Same difference though I have no way to talk to him directly. Also found out this morning the caretaker has stiffed other contractors. Oh well, live and learn. At least it's not like it was 23 years ago when I stated in this business when not getting paid would have just about put me out of business.

 

[pdqdl]

I would ask the caretaker how long he thinks he will get to hold the job if his boss gets hauled into court, liens placed on the property, piles of logs dumped into the pool, etc.

I would make sure that he knows that the boss WILL become personally involved, whether he likes it or not.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Just tell him you have a policy of placing leans on any property that does not pay.

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I don't really want the account. I just want to get paid and get away from this guy. I called a pool company this morning and they told me $150.00 to back flush and clean the filters and $200.00 more to vac any debris out of the pool. Plus tax of course. I called the caretaker and told him I could
send them over and he tells me "No, we have a pool guy coming and he is going to assess the problem". I found out this morning that Donnie Nelson, Don's son, took the property over last Sept. Same difference though I have no way to talk to him directly. Also found out this morning the caretaker has stiffed other contractors. Oh well, live and learn. At least it's not like it was 23 years ago when I stated in this business when not getting paid would have just about put me out of business.

I hate guys that operate like that. Time to start returning the mulch n logs at night in from of his driveway that he didnt pay to have desposed of. If he hasnt paid you to remove it, its only right you return it to him.

Get a bucket of white paint and write "PAY ME" on the road outside in BIG letters.

 

[Miket163]

I want some opinions on this situation. We did a removal today and everything goes good until the caretaker of the property calls me about an hour ago and says "Well, you got sawdust in the pool. Filters are stopped up and I am calling a pool guy out and looks like you get paid nothing." I told the caretaker some sawdust might get in the pool to which he had no reply. Now he says the pool had an electric cover and we should have used it. The owner is Don Nelson. He used to be coach of the Dallas Mavericks. I have to go through this caretaker and have no way of talking to Mr. Nelson directly.

Don is a douche...tell him that his care takers should have covered it...his is a multimillionaire he will pay.

 

[deeker]

I did a huge job last year on a rural property with over 200 trees to prune or remove. I was working in the back yard when the pool girl came to clean. She was HOT! Told her I was about to do a large tree right next to the pool next and asked if she wanted to wait until I finished the tree before she started cleaning. She said no problem. It was probably 25-26" DBH but I took it out in about 15 or 20 minutes. Roped 2 limbs from over the pool, free fell a couple limbs, topped it and dropped it in 2 or 3 cuts. She cleaned the pool with no problems at all and never said a word about the saw dust. Did I mention that she was HOT!

I think the caretaker was probably pissed about the saw dust. I doubt very seriously that it did any damage. Pools get all kinds of #### in them when it storms.

Any pics of the young lady?????

Otherwise, I have my doubts.

Kevin

 

[mckeetree]

Don is a douche...tell him that his care takers should have covered it...his is a multimillionaire he will pay.

Yeah I would like to talk to Mr. Nelson directly but I may not get the chance to. It is beyond me why that azzclown caretaker didn't close the cover. Landscape guy there told me the heck of it is the caretaker had been griping about the pool cover not working and had recently got it fixed so he could close it. We started the job exactly when we told him we would so no timing issue. His name is Mike Zabojnic. If you are in the tree business in this area and some guy with that name calls, RUN!

 

[tree md]

Any pics of the young lady?????

Otherwise, I have my doubts.

Kevin

Sorry, no pics. She runs a mobile pool cleaning service and I have met her on two properties now. We have exchanged cards for referral purposes but business is as far as it goes. She is married...

Mckeetree, It has been my experience that some caretakers can be self important pompous asses! If he thinks you are going to make waves he is likely to lament. I'd play hardball with him.

 

[Miket163]

Yeah I would like to talk to Mr. Nelson directly but I may not get the chance to. It is beyond me why that azzclown caretaker didn't close the cover. Landscape guy there told me the heck of it is the caretaker had been griping about the pool cover not working and had recently got it fixed so he could close it. We started the job exactly when we told him we would so no timing issue. His name is Mike Zabojnic. If you are in the tree business in this area and some guy with that name calls, RUN!

I mainly do Lawn Maintenance but do tree trimming and removal on stuff less than '60 (unless im out in the open) for most stuff in the arborist field i contract it out to y'all guys...the pros. But i will tell people to watch out for him. BTW what neighbourhood is don in?

 

[mckeetree]

I mainly do Lawn Maintenance but do tree trimming and removal on stuff less than '60 (unless im out in the open) for most stuff in the arborist field i contract it out to y'all guys...the pros. But i will tell people to watch out for him. BTW what neighbourhood is don in?

This is actually their house at Cedar Creek Lake, 60 miles east of Dallas. The house now belongs to Donnie Nelson, Don's son that is with the Mavericks. Chances are he is a super nice guy. I think he lives in Plano. Problem is I am insulated from the owner by the caretaker.

 

[treemandan]

I have to say if you were surprised by the phone call from the guy telling you about the pump being full of sawdust then its yo falt. I mean someone had to recognize what was happening and be aware enough to mention it to someone during the job? Where were you? Hell, it should have been dealt with beforehand.
But it happens, you can see the oil floating on top.