Is this guy a real plumber? Blocked sink

[rainmouse]

Hi there, sorry for the long post. We are getting desperate here and could use some advice.

For about 5 weeks now the kitchen sink has been blocked which means we cannot use the washing machine or obviously the kitchen sink (we have to wash dishes in the bathtub which hurts our backs). We tried a plunger, caustic soda and Mr muscle foam unblocker and a 6 meter snake thing (it goes all the way in but doesn't hit the block) but asked the neighbours and none of them have blocked sinks. Our letting agency eventually sent out someone from Paragon Trade Services Has the Reliable Edinburgh Plumbers You Can Trust We tell him they probably need to use pressure to unblock it. He had no tools and had to borrow our plunger and snake, then flooded the kitchen running the taps, burned his hands on the caustic soda we put in days before but did warn him about, then said the problem was in the main pipe and went away again saying he had to talk to the agency about it.

He comes back almost three weeks later after repeated calls to agency and paragon-trade-services with a can of yellow goo. I again advise him that they need to use pressure or something to unblock it (but I'm not a plumber, what do I know) and we already tried corrosive chemicals, more will probably damage the pipe, besides the block is far away and the pipes are still full of now very stagnant water (its a complete blockage that doesn't seem to drain away much). He advises me that this stuff will work and that he will inject it directly into the blockage, interesting proposition from a guy who still has no tools. Well I was late for work so I had to leave but my partner was in the other room. She said he was rummaging through our belongings looking for tools then he just pours this yellow crap in the sink and fumigates the whole flat, it stinks and that was ten hours ago.

Kitchen is now utterly unusuable for food and my girlfriend has been sick from the smell. Guy left the flat a few minutes after catching a whiff of the smell claiming its again a block in the main pipe and that they need to 'jet it'. I'm assuming to 'jet it' means use some kind of pressure like I originally suggested to them over the phone? Is this guy a real plumber or just some bum-hat in off the street to get out of the cold and charge a fee for it? Can anyone advise what we should do?

 

[WaterTight]

I think you know the answer.

Get a reputable local guy, one that is happy to muck about with this kind of thing.

 

[Guest123]

First thing you have to do to prompt urgent action from your letting agency is to contact Environmental Health and then in turn get them to write a letter to your letting agency. They won't view it too kindly that their properties are classed as environmentally unsafe.

I'm assuming that you're in or near Edinburgh. With the recent (and serious) outbreak of Legionaries disease, I'd further threaten them into action by saying that you'll take this to the press.

Finally, it sounds as though your bockage is needed "jetted". Make sure that they use a specialist company like Dynarod etc. who'll also give the job a warranty. For some muppet to show up with out any tools is a joke and is not on. People like that give the rest of us a bad name.

Keep us posted as to how you get on and I wish you the best of luck and a speedy return to normality.

 

[secret squirrel]

The ''plumber'' you've had in is not a plumber, just a muppet.

 

[Howsie]

Disgraceful. Ask for money off your rent.

 

[secret squirrel]

Refuse to pay your rent until this is now sorted, you've been patient enough.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Refuse to pay your rent until this is now sorted, you've been patient enough.

i agree

 

[Guest123]

Disagree, don't give them ammunition. Try the environmental health approach first and keep yourself above board. You can always claim a discount on your rent after this.

 

[Koogatubac]

Its so suprising how these guys STILL has a job! When us real plumbers struggled to stay in work!!
FYI these chemicals u have used are basically rubbish lol, ive used a chemical called ONE STOP £10 a bottle. You can buy a bottle from B&Q However, been advised you need gloves and eye protection! (Pref a full mask!) its mostly sulphic acid, but has been tested on plastic pipes for blockages. Once you pour the chemical in it works its magic within 2 mins, and you will get gurgling and even splutters coming back through the hole. So stand back, follow the instructions tho! Its been a while ive used it!
Good luck and keep us informed

 

[PlumbBobBob]

be careful mixing chemicals you will probably get some sort of chemical reaction

 

[Guest123]

All these chemicals are not environmentally friendly and are hazardous to wildlife and pollute our rivers. Even the empty container is a hazard.

Do the job properly, not at the expense of the environment just to get a quick fix.

 

[billybob150811]

some chemicals when active produce heat but these often solidify in the pipe and your worse off than before trust your intuition on people some skinny people call themselves budda but there not the real one

 

[jase158]

Sorry but number one thing is to go and speak to the letting agency about this plumber, he should not be doing the work and he is obviously not qualified.
if they dont listen then speak to environmental health.

Once it is all finnished then speak to the agency about the way it was handled, the inconvenience caused and any compensation you want.

 

[glenno1]

That plumber is a (waste) of space,get a drain clearing firm in

 

[Guest123]

That plumber is a (waste) of space,

Groan.... LOL

 

[PlumbBobBob]

that plumber is probably not a plumber

 

[jase158]

oh and trading standards, he clearly says on website that he is a quality service plumber, he has not provided you with a quality service and i doubt he is a plumber.

 

[Koogatubac]

Yeah, the proper way is to open up the pipe and check, proper plumber will be able to inspect and remove trap etc and put all back together etc chemicals have became a quick job and thats still a chance that it wont work! Let a plumber do a full repipe on your waste i would happily do it!!!

 

[rainmouse]

Thanks for the numerous and rapid responses people. Contacting environmental health is definitely a great plan, especially as the legionaries outbreak isn't just in Edinburgh, but actually in the very area I live in (it's still ongoing with almost 100 confirmed cases and rising). Paying a real plumber is a certain option although we have recently moved into this rented property and we will have to pay for it ourselves if such is the case. I suspect the agents are trying to sweat us out, see if we will end up paying for it ourselves.

 

[Guest123]

Expect a bill of over £150 plus for a drain cleaning company to come out and clear it for you.

 

[jase158]

for that money i would consider getting a plumber in and replacing pipework or even change to 50mm to prevent it happening again

 

[glenno1]

Can you see the drain at which the sink waste terminates and if so is this clear

 

[Millsy 82]

Thanks for the numerous and rapid responses people. Contacting environmental health is definitely a great plan, especially as the legionaries outbreak isn't just in Edinburgh, but actually in the very area I live in (it's still ongoing with almost 100 confirmed cases and rising). Paying a real plumber is a certain option although we have recently moved into this rented property and we will have to pay for it ourselves if such is the case. I suspect the agents are trying to sweat us out, see if we will end up paying for it ourselves.

I suspect its the landlord not the agents I work for a few agencies and they cant do anything without landlords say so otherwise it would get done alot quicker as they would just say yes. Be nice to them and explain your concerns and how inconvenient it is and get them on your side if you kick off they will not help as much.

As for chemicals they are worse than useless I have used a couple in the past and always ended up removing all the pipework.

 

[JCplumb]

Check your tenancy agreement and see where you stand. I am a landlord and my tenancy agreement states that I have to fix problems such as this in a 'reasonable time' otherwise the tenant is within their rights to not pay rent for the time they are inconvenienced.
Lack of payment from yourself would probably be the quickest way to get this rectified. I know letting agents will panic if they have to tell the landlord why he's not getting all his money this month.

 

[Helpfulplumber]

Don't get it jetted, pumping loads of water in a blocked system will not help!!!! If it's bothering you just pay and claim it back. Sounds like it needs stripping down and manually clearing out, letting agents have odd job men not plumbers. Sometimes it better to pay and get on with your lives, it sucks but not as much as a house that stinks. What ever you do don't withhold rent, it breaches your contract which will be expensive! Good luck.

 

[Phil]

Plumber obviously not dealing with a full deck, don't let him back in house.

 

[Guest123]

Plumber obviously not dealing with a full deck, don't let him back in house.

Or 2 cans short of a six pack.

I wonder if the "plumber" was in fact the letting agency guy himself trying to save a few quid? He didn't have any tools or knowledge of what he was doing. Just a thought.

 

[CES]

Paragon probably sent the workshop donkey round to show face. Its the Edinburgh trades holidays so the real ones will probably be sunning themselves abroad.

EDIT: Just saw this has been going for 5 weeks..!! Get on the Phone to Environmental health and Trading standards. The letting agent is duty bound to inform the landlord and the landlord is duty bound to correct any defects in the property within a reasonable time. "Reasonable" is the key word of course but I would assume 5 weeks is taking the proverbial..

 

[petercj]

Sounds like he might be into WMD if he's not careful!

 

[jtsplumbing]

Just tell letting agent you are calling someone in and will deduct cost from rent, make sure that you provide a invoice from repair Co.

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

Just tell letting agent you are calling someone in and will deduct cost from rent, make sure that you provide a invoice from repair Co.

Not always help. Had to replace pump on my boiler, it was over weekend, couldn't get hold of landlord or agent. Haven't got paid for it even if I gave them receipt from merchant and pictures what I've done. So be careful or you may end-up with empty pocket.

 

[rainmouse]

Can you see the drain at which the sink waste terminates and if so is this clear

Sorry I cannot. I am two floors up and I've followed the drain but it goes into the floor. No pipes come from the flat above so I presume its not just going into the main at that point or the neighbours below (currently unoccupied but asked landlord and no mention of blockage there). Asked neighbours above and to the side but nobody else is blocked. Stripping the pipe may be difficult depending on where it goes after that. I got the bendy 6 meter snake thing in close to where it goes into the floor but didn't hit the blockage. Thats why we initially tried putting some horrible chemicals in there but really regretted it.

To be fair we were lucky the cocktail of stuff the contractor guy added didn't catalyse with the chemicals already in there and create dangerous reactions.

 

[rainmouse]

Check your tenancy agreement and see where you stand. I am a landlord and my tenancy agreement states that I have to fix problems such as this in a 'reasonable time' otherwise the tenant is within their rights to not pay rent for the time they are inconvenienced.
Lack of payment from yourself would probably be the quickest way to get this rectified. I know letting agents will panic if they have to tell the landlord why he's not getting all his money this month.

The agreement cites repairs such as drain blocks to be done 'as soon as reasonably possible' which means they are in breach of this but I'm not sure what we can do about that. The contract also stipulates we are not allowed to withhold or deduct anything from the rent and have a big list of expensive charges for any late payements. hmm I wonder if I can send them similar charges for late repairs.

 

[rainmouse]

Don't get it jetted, pumping loads of water in a blocked system will not help!!!! If it's bothering you just pay and claim it back. Sounds like it needs stripping down and manually clearing out, letting agents have odd job men not plumbers. Sometimes it better to pay and get on with your lives, it sucks but not as much as a house that stinks. What ever you do don't withhold rent, it breaches your contract which will be expensive! Good luck.

Reaching it may be a problem. It goes into the floor under the kitchen units, possibly into the wall once under the floor and as we are on the third floor, presumably goes down from there. Drain in the toilet or the one in the shower room are unaffected.

 

[Phil]

mmmm....

I can imagine a long and tortuours run of near horizontal 40mm push fit that will easily blow apart under the floor if pressure is used.