Image by Susanne Jutzeler, Schweiz, from Pixabay
I really couldn’t believe this, but I googled it and it was right before my eyes: If one wants to replace an electric water heater in New Jersey, one has to apply for a plumbing permit and an electric permit at the township.
And the only reason I did the googling was because M, the small business owner, replaced the electric water heater in his store two years ago. He didn’t tell me who replaced it for him, but somehow I suspect that he did it all by himself. And then the township came to inspect his store recently and slapped a list of violations on him–among them three are about the water heater.
“Are you sure I have to have permits to replace a water heater? I mean it is such a small water heater since we don’t use much hot water in the store anyway.” He asked in a incredulous tone of voice.
I was really surprised myself. I mean I just know people would get Home Depot or a plumber to replace their water heater for them. I have no idea there are permits involved. I guess the plumber or the Home Depot people naturally take care of all the township requirements.
And you won’t believe how much it costs to hire an electrician to straighten everything out to appease the township. You won’t believe it. I just got an estimate for the unfortunate store owner–almost two thousand dollars. I think he almost had a heart attack when he heard this.
And of course when I tried to complain of the expensiveness of this to others, I got a deluge of complaints back about how expensive things are. Everybody has a list of grievances about prices and inflation. So I became an unwilling receiver of many stories related with dysfunctional air conditioner, refrigerator with a bad freezer, washing machine trouble, dryer issues, basement flooding, frozen pipe last winter, each taking hundreds if not thousands of dollars to fix.
Well, let me watch something or listen to something, probably a TV show or a song, to get my mind off these daily annoyances.
Haoyan Do 
That’s what I call government mismanagement. They should at least control the prices for these essential services.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, my goodness. This poor store owner receives a bill of $1,500 for such a simple service of wiring the water heater. Can you believe that?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, I honestly don’t know how any small business can thrive today with all the costs. Legally just to put a pool in here in North Carolina where everything is a bit lax, it takes three inspections. No one does it because it is very liberal here. I love the woods and sounds but I feel like a ship out of the water around many people that are from the south anymore. I feel sorry for newly weds now how could they ever afford a house, crazy. We have our stories and poems to keep us company and happy. Blessings my friend. xoxo
LikeLiked by 2 people
First, the high costs, then the tedious processes. Life is really one hurdle after the other. I can feel this.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Well, so true. Whenever it is expected, it becomes tedious; whenever it is unexpected, it becomes shocking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that’s interesting to note. Does this apply to personal homes too? It really sucks if you’re a handy person, but don’t have the resources to get an official permit.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow. That is expensive and such a ripoff.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The repair cost is going through the roof. My friend told me that a rewiring of a home to accommodate a new air-conditioner will cost $2000. It’s quite unbelievable.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Wow, that is so expensive. I feel bad for him. I didn’t realise you needed permits to do things like that. It’s so odd to me.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I have heard about stories of people do firecrackers which are not allowed by the township, or people cutting their trees down without getting a permit first, people go fishing without a permit. There are really a lot of things that require a permit here. LOL.
LikeLiked by 2 people
A permit for cutting trees and fishing?? That’s so crazy lol.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, trees cannot be cut down even if they are on one’s own property. LOL. I should write a post about this. You know Asians have superstitions about a tree’s position and how it will affect their fortune. LOL. And businessmen are the most superstitious of all. And one businessman would go such a length to cut down a tree that he almost goes to prison for it because he wants to bribe the township zoning board.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol how bizarre. Indians have such superstitions too. I wonder where these superstitions stem from (no pun intended).
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha, just as usual, I can’t see the pun, but I know what you mean. We don’t know where those crazy superstitions are from.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m sorry for these misadventures. Even in Italy the costs for repairs are very high. Sometimes it seems more convenient to change the appliance: a behavior that really plays into the hands of consumerism
LikeLiked by 3 people
Oh, the cost is skyrocketing right now. One of my friends told me that to rewire a place to fit in an air-conditioner will cost nearly $2000. I mean everything is expensive right now.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have to agree with you. Unfortunately
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you. It is unfortunate…
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re most welcome!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Poor guy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, so true.
LikeLiked by 2 people