[nanci2539]

Six months ago a friend and neighbor enclosed her lanai with glass. The company took care of pulling the permit, etc. After it was installed, an inspector came out and gave it high marks for installation.

A few months ago, her husband and a friend installed one of those AC splitters. The friend was a retired HVAC person so within a day, AC was installed.

Yesterday, a field appraiser from the Sumter County Appraiser's office came by her home saying that they have record a lanai was enclosed and they needed to check to see if an AC was installed. My first impression was she should not have let him on her property because unless they actaully see it, there's nothing they can do about it because they need permission to enter a your property.

The appraiser went around back, noted the compressor and told her he had to note it. Basically, this would affect her taxes. I told her that it really only amounts to a few hundred more on her tax bill (I hope I'm correct on this)

But, she's convinced that some jealous neighbor turned her in but my husband is saying it's normal for appraisers to come out months after to check on stuff like this. It just seems too suspecious to me and her - why after six months would an appraiser come out if he wasn't tipped off.

My friend is very upset not because she got "caught" but more because she thinks someone was nasty or jealous enough to "turn her in". And where a permit wasn't applied for, can this come back to bite her even though her friend was in HVAC before he retired.

Comments appreciated

[784caroline]

If the Lanai was enclosed with glass they needed to pull a permit at that time. AC may or may not have been part of the permit. Regardless it does take many months for Sumter county appraisers to visit a completed work site and it is very unlikely the visit was associated with a neighbor calling in teh AC job.

Now the bigger question is did the AC job (Split System) need a permit? When we enclosed our lanai in glass included in our plans was to add AC/heat to the new room..but we simply added it to our existing AC/furnace system. To do this we needed a complete AC environmental study submitted to and approved by the county. OUr job was completed in April and we still have not seen an appraqiser but we expect to soon.

I guess your friend quickly realized that with glass and Florida heat yoiu need AC in the lanai area or else the humidity becomes unbearable and you will not be able to use this area and eventually grow mold . Believe me the additional comfort they will gain with both glass and AC will be worth the couple of extra bucks she pays in taxes.

BTW..not letting a county appraiser in to review work completed under a permit is NOT the answer. When you say can they do nothing im not so sure about that. The homeowner is ultimatley responsible for getting all permits (even if the builder or contractor does this for you) and allowing access. If you start fighting the appraiser who is doing his job, they can reallly get sticky in finding you out of compliance and its a road im sure you do not want to go down. Besides if something would ever happen that would result in a fire and the mechanical equipment or electrical connection was not under permit or inspected, you could face MAJOR contested insurance claims. Would someone really want that to save a couple of bucks for property taxes????

[The Shadow]

In my old neighborhood in another state the property appraiser typically did all his appraising with his feet on his desk. When a new appraiser took office he toured every house in the city. People knew they did not have to let him. The people that disallowed his appraisal automatically had the tax bill doubled. At that point the home owner would invite the assessor to pay a visit.

As far as not having a permit to install AC, I could demonstrate that about only one in five homes in TV get a permit for replacement units. To do that look at the homes for sale in TV that say new AC in 200X then check the building permits on line.

[SABRMnLgs]

We just open our front door and within an hour our lanai is cooled off enough to make it habitable. We have vinyl windows.

[784caroline]

SHADOW
Replacement AC units are a different story for there are no new Electrical Box (Circuit breaker) connections. The installation is done with existing wiring.

SABRM

A glass enclosed lanai is tighter than vinyl. With glass and no AC, the potential problem really occurs when you are not around and have no circulation in a closed up lanai area thats building high humidity in summer days.

[nanci2539]

Thanks for your replies - I sent them along to my neighbor and she seems content that nobody turned her in as she puts it. But now she's worried that she didn't pull a permit when her husband and friend installed the AC and it wasn't part of the installation of the glass enclosure. Can she get in trouble for this.

[The Shadow]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

Thanks for your replies - I sent them along to my neighbor and she seems content that nobody turned her in as she puts it. But now she's worried that she didn't pull a permit when her husband and friend installed the AC and it wasn't part of the installation of the glass enclosure. Can she get in trouble for this.

Will she get in trouble, my crystal ball is in the repair shop but I think not. The reason the property appraiser is one department and the permits are the building department. Cops do not deport illegal aliens and the border patrol does not give out tickets. Tell your neighbor no need to sit on the lanai wearing a ski mask.

[784caroline]

I agree with The Shadow..will she get in trouble..NO. However that said be aware if there is ever a problem or a serious incident at the home that is traced to the electrical box or the AC unit wiring and the insurance company finds no permit was issued or inspection done, the insurnace company would have cause NOT to pay the homeowner for damages and return your premiums . Im not saying that would happen but it is a risk you are taking.

[Rob Stevens]

As close as homes are in TV I'd hate to think that my neighbor was doing major electrical work that wasn't inspected. Granted this was just AC work but I would think that the next buyer of that house would appreciate knowing it had been done according to code. I'm glad I don't live my life trying to scam $100 here and $100 there. Do things right the first time and you'll never be disappointed.

[nanci2539]

Rob, I don't want to make a big deal out of this BUT you don't know my friend so let's be nice okay. She wasn't trying to scam anybody - her husband's friend is a retired HVAC mechanic and has installed splitters and AC units for 40 years. They had a qualified and licensed electirican do whatever electrical work needed to be done. They just didn't pull the permit for this part of the job. Everything else was according to code.

Was she trying to save money on her taxes, of course she was but she wasn't trying to scam anyone. Even with her friend doing the work, she paid a lot of money, it wasn't cheap.

If you knew this person Rob, the first thing that would not come to your mind is she is out to scam anyone. She made a bad judgement call on this. I truly feel both of them regret it now.

Oh, the part I left out was her friend was visiting and he isn't a resident here so that's why they did it without the permit. He installed it as a favor and isn't licensed in the state of FL. So, I'm thinking this was one of the deciding factors for them to go this way.

[downeaster]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

ret it now.

Oh, the part I left out was her friend was visiting and he isn't a resident here so that's why they did it without the permit. He installed it as a favor and isn't licensed in the state of FL. So, I'm thinking this was one of the deciding factors for them to go this way.

Problem number 1: Not licensed in Florida. It doesn't matter that he has been doing this for forty years. Florida license required.

Problem number 2: It was done without a permit.

Problem number 3+: They have been mentioned in prior posts here.

My advice: I think she should talk to a licensed electrician.
Find out what it would take to undo and redo this job. It isn't going to be cheap but it could come back and bite her someday. It is not something I would want hanging over my head.

[784caroline]

WHy would the job need to be redone if it was done properly to begin with. All I think she needs is to pull a permit, get with a licensed electrician and explain the situation, have him inspect the job or do what he needs to at the electrical box for inspection purposes, have the county inspect and then the electrican reconnects. Should be less than an hours time for an electrican and the cost of a permit.

[nanci2539]

Thanks for the replies - I've given her the kinder responses so at this point, she can make the decision on which way to go.

[ricthemic]

Another option:
A standalone package AC (not a window unit). Requires two to three connections. Plug it into 115/120 VAC outlet. Install one condenser air exhaust typically four inch diameter transition and third a 3/8 inch poly condensate discharge line outside.
Very popular units utilize conditioned space air for package air cooled condenser then exhaust this air to the outside through flexible hose connected to the above mentioned four inch exhaust. Simialar to a clothes dryer exhaust.
No permits, no electrical (assuming there is an outlet on lanai) no refrigeration piping no outside condenser unit or pad.
Unit is portable if you want to put it in the garage for non ac season or even take it with you when you move.
thousands of dollars saved in labor and material.

[Rob Stevens]

I stand by what I said. Stating a personal preference is not being 'not nice'.