Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

Install the app
How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

cr0ft

Plumbers Arms member
Plumber
Gas Engineer
Nov 10, 2008
3,311
1,782
113
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Member Type
Heating Engineer (Has GSR)
Went to a bathroom and rad replacement quote tonight, lady has had a new combi put in by another plumber. Obviously not impressed as she's not invited him back to quote.

I noticed a shower pump in the airing cupboard with the new combi. Problem is that the plumber who swapped the combi has left it connected so it's pumping mains water!! Isn't this illegal?

No TRVs or room thermostat fitted. He told her to control the house temperature with the mechanical timer and flow temperature dial on the combi!!

What would you do about this? Call the plumber and let him know the work he's done is illegal?? Or ignore that and just put it right yourself?
 
Went to a bathroom and rad replacement quote tonight, lady has had a new combi put in by a retard. Obviously not impressed as she's not invited him back to quote.

I noticed a shower pump in the airing cupboard with the new combi. Problem is that the cretin who swapped the combi has left it connected so it's pumping mains water!! Isn't this illegal?

No TRVs or room thermostat fitted. He told her to control the house temperature with the mechanical timer and flow temperature dial on the combi!!

What would you do about this? Call the thumbless feckwit and let him know the work he's done is illegal?? Or ignore that and just put it right yourself?

There you go Keiran, I fixed your spelling mistakes for you. No, don't mention it. It was my pleasure.

Explain to the customer, and ask what they want to do. Above all, take photos BEFORE you touch anything.
 
Not sure if its illegal. But bloody ridiculous that he hasnt at least linked out the connections. I would be more worried about the pump cracking if under constant mains water pressure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Show the customer the flaws and quote to put right. Telling the other plumber isn't going to achieve much IMO - she clearly didn't call him back for a reason, and he either didn't know or care about water regs, so he isn't going to care about putting it right...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Is the idiot a gsr as there's no excuse for not fitting controls . Tell her to ask for a free gas safe inspection.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Not a bad idea tbh. I don't feel comfortable grassing someone else up but this guy is one of these fools who is undercutting people like me who are doing the job properly.

Will mention that in the quote to her.
 
Might be a good idea to give her the number of the technical advice of the pump manufacturer and tell her to ask them is it okay for their model of pump to be connected to mains water?
That way you pass it over to them to tell her the bad truth.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Time to name and shame the plumber: -

http://www.freshplumbingheating.com/

IMG_0555.jpg

IMG_0556.jpg

IMG_0557.jpg

Looks safe from a Gas safety perspective but clearly another person whose done a quick Gas course with no clue about plumbing I'd imagine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Apparently he charged £1,400 including the boiler to take out an old open cylinder and tank from that cupboard and open vented boiler downstairs. That includes all parts lol.

He must be struggling for work or a fool.
 
Apparently he charged £1,400 including the boiler to take out an old open cylinder and tank from that cupboard and open vented boiler downstairs. That includes all parts lol.

if the customer isn't demanding the work gets done for that price what are the actual benefits for charging that and doing that work? sounds like he probably knew how it should be done but deliberately didn't and charged knock down price too. what's the point?
 
I told her we would have charged another grand on top but would have powerflushed the system properly (we are changing her radiators for her soon and I suspect the water is going to be as black as death itself) and fitted a magnetic filter. Oh, and used some bloody pipe clips too and removed the shower pump!
 
Loads of people doing work like this! They price low and deliver even lower but it's the custards who time and time again pay these idiots with the misbelief that they will get lucky and the cheap price doesn't always mean a lash!!

Wrong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Customers generally require the cheapest job going but expect the best which for some reason is a rule applied to trades but isn't applied to most other things in life. Its a vicious circle at the moment with supposed business men giving away their services too cheaply by cutting corners and customers not valuing the use that they get from their boiler etc ( until it breaks down). Too many people entered the trade with first thoughts of how to make a quick buck rather than carrying out a great service and making a few quid along the way. With people up here offering combi swaps for £850 then people will always take it when offered a proper job for double. Only reputation and word of mouth gets you the odd customers who want a proper job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

Official Sponsors of Plumbers Talk

Similar plumbing topics

We recommend City Plumbing Supplies, BES, and Plumbing Superstore for all plumbing supplies.