Bathroom Renovation Concerns, Help Please!

[Radioman]

Depends who the sparks is registered with, there are 2 bodies, but you should be handed the certificates before paying up.
http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/building-regulations/england/

He will be registered with either NAPIT, ELECSA or NICEIC, but the forms are similar and should be lodged within 7 days of completion ( I think)

 

[pw75]

Hi Radioman, as all the electrics were already there does the form/registration still have to be provided/completed as I certainly wasn't given anything by the electrician?

Just an update in general, all work is now completed, bathroom looks good but there is a lack of attention to detail in a range of places. Most of this looks superficial like paint needing touching up, tiles still dirty and needing good clean, doors scuffed, etc. I've done most of this myself now but not really what I expected to have to do considering money spent.

Obviously this is only what I can see so hopefully what I can't see is of good quality, relatively hopeful as I did see bits and bobs as they were going in and tried to look and check what I could over time so fingers crossed.

The damage they caused wasn't all repaired as promised, I had to do a range of painting myself but getting rid of them and having the bathroom completed compensated me to be honest!

Thanks to all who replied as it is very helpful and reassuring to have people giving advice and helping when you are going through these problems.

 

[Radioman]

Tell me exactly what work the electrician did in the bathroom, associated circuits and whether the circuit was protected to the level of revision 17. As someone got a belt from a dodgy circuit it would appear that the circuit was not protected or wired correctly.

Any installation or replacement of fittings that already comply need not be notified. For example if there are already downlighters installed that comply to IP 60 or IP65, in other words are fire rated, have an Earth circuit, are protected by an RCB or RCB and are being replaced like for like or a spur to an existing circuit then that should not need to be reported. That is making an assumption that what is already there complies and is safe.

Your contractor has stated that work would be done to revision 17 so I would expect it to be certified and reported even only to cover himself from future legal issues.

 

[pw75]

Hi, my understanding is that he has checked and made sure the electric shower is installed correctly (we already had one there before that was removed and replaced) and he has moved the main switch for the shower from the bathroom wall and now just placed it in our cupboard in the bathroom so it is hidden aesthetically. He has also installed a new extractor fan that we never had before.

He has installed new spotlights (we didn't have these before) and I'm not aware that anything else was dealt with via him. He did check our earth wire and it was wired fine but had been left by previous owners of the property on a painted pipe, due to this he just tested it all and moved it further back on the pipe that wasn't painted.

Thanks

 

[pw75]

I wonder if anyone can help me with a slight concern I have with our new bathroom toilet.

After flushing the toilet it feels to me like there is a noise/vibration that comes from maybe under the floor or from near the toilet.

It isn't anything major but due to how many issues we had with the bathroom I am a little bit concerned. I have tried to Google it and the nearest I can get to is maybe a 'water hammer effect'. I'm not really sure if it is that as it isn't anything major but you can feel a vibration in the floor after every flush. As soon as the flush has finished there are no further vibrations but I am just a bit concerned.

Does anyone have any advice or opinions?

 

[Riley]

Will probably just be the new filler on the loo. Get installer back

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Pipes not clipped also prob

 

[pw75]

Ok thanks, due to issues we had with the installers little bit loath to reach out to them again but guess I might need to.

I think I will test it again tonight and pay more attention to when the 'thud' happens and then I can go back to them with as much info as possible.

To me it seems to flush and when the flush has finished it then has a small 'thud/vibration' occur. However I will try to work out if the thud/vibration occurs straight after flushing or if it only occurs when the toilet cistern has finished filling back up.

Thanks

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If it is water hammer try closing your basin taps fast from fully open does it happen with these

 

[pw75]

Ok I'll try that when back home but as far as aware only happens on toilet flush.

 

[Radioman]

Based on the above description I would expect a Part P certificate to be supplied, this will be a detailed list of the work carried out, parts supplied, location and a listing of the measurements taken during the testing. Especially important would be the position of the equipment to ensure that they complied with the zones listed in Part P. Also that the fan has a 2 pole isolator positioned outside zone 2. The shower isolator should also be accessible without hinderance. You should also check that the downlights are IP 65 etc etc. That's why the Part P cert is so important.
I've lost count of the number of times we have discovered hidden issues when doing the Part P checks. For example a property that had all the Earth wires in situ but the bonding was not connected to the property earthing pole. Or sockets where earth and neutral where reversed.

The vibration you mention is probably not water hammer as that is associated with the the cistern filling not water exiting the cistern. What it could be is a faulty air admittance valve which allows air into the waste to prevent air locking. It could be boxed in.

https://youtu.be/0RhLt18NPpk

 

[pw75]

Yeah it seems difficult to determine what the problem could be as seems it could range from a lot of different areas. I'm going to try to work out exactly when it occurs but it definitely only appears to be when toilet is flushed and a few seconds after the flush.

 

[pw75]

Sorry just a further reply and something I will test when I get home, someone I know has said that a small 'thump' when using a half flush on new toilets is normal as the flush valve would be closing with the cistern still half full of water so a 'thump' is to be expected.

They asked me to check a full flush to see if the noise continues as a full flush would have the flush valve closing under its own weight.

Does this sound true to anyone? I'm going to try the full flush when I get home to see if it stops the problem but thought I would ask peoples opinions on here as well.

 

[oz-plumber]

When you flush, turn the cistern stopcock off.
That way you will know whether it is a water supply problem - water hammer - or a cistern related problem.

Sometimes during flushing, particularly if you have a plastic 90 bend below the outlet of the toilet, that can make a noise as well.

It is true that sometimes with half flush the cisterns do make a noise, due to the weight of the water helping to close the valve, where as full flush the cistern is generally empty and the closing of the valve is not as abrupt.

See how you go

 

[pw75]

Ok thanks, I'm going to try the full flush and see if that has a thud after as maybe that really is all it is.

The thud isn't loud and there isn't any banging or rattling of pipes just something I haven't experienced before and due to issues I had with installers just makes me wary.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[kay-jay]

What area do you live in. Hopefully not rural with plastic pipes beneath the floor.
Mice and rats are buggers for chewing through plastic pipes and causing massive leaks.

 

[pw75]

No don't live rural.

Tried full flush and still makes a noise but my partner although can hear the flush doesn't feel any vibration and she thinks it just sounds like a normal toilet flush so think I will just monitor and see how things go.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

if you were to put your general location, there may be someone local to you who could come and have a look to put your mind at rest.

 

[pw75]

I live in North Kent, tried to listen harder when flushing and definitely seems to be from cistern so assuming it is the filler making the noise.

Hopefully will be ok as partner doesn't feel any vibrations so will keep an eye on it.

 

[pw75]

Just had a word with the supplier of the toilet and explained the problem, they are adamant it is normal and is the valve closing off in the cistern so hopefully all fine.

 

[ash85]

Any update since then?

I want to get my bathroom renovated in this way. How much it will cost me, I wonder?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

alot to get it done right

 

[PlumbBobBob]

I hope you don't get it done to US standards, electrics over the basins!