Plumbers: Every one I know hates them because ...

[Amethyst]

It's hard to find the gold nuggets when you're new in town; I started by contacting a local property manager and paying them to watch over our house while we were still out of state. They recommended certain plumbers, landscapers etc. and we started with those people as soon as we moved in.

I will call back the tradespeople and mechanics who explained and taught while they were working. They should describe what they're going to do, why it costs so much (X part costs $250; Y repair takes two men three solid hours due to factors Q and Z) and answer questions willingly.

I don't trust or like the ones who act like they think I don't know anything. Sometimes, indeed, I don't, but I'm obviously interested and ready to learn. Also not interested in Mr. Strong and Silent, who doesn't like talking to customers. Who knows what he's actually up to? Sorry, but if your job entails coming into people's homes, you'd better learn to put your introversion aside.

 

[Amethyst]

Was he from a plumber family? In MD we had wonderful well service. The grandpa serviced our well starting when it was dug in 1989. By the time we moved, the grandsons were coming to our house. They still had the (now deceased) grandfather's notes, and referred to them! They were prompt, explained everything, very up front/no sugar coating, weren't cheap but we felt their prices were fair.

I've used this plumbing company in the past and always had good luck with them. My next door neighbor recommended them to me awhile back, as she's used them for ages.

However, they are a somewhat small outfit. I don't know if they'd be equipped to handle the main pipe that runs from the street to the house. I have a feeling that might require more of a specialist, but I'm not sure.

**Edit: Also, just wanted to mention, when I called this particular plumber, I did have to leave a voicemail, but he called me back within the hour. Also showed up exactly when he said he would. And, even though the job ended up being a lot worse than originally thought (I only knew of one leak, which was a really bad one close to the shutoff valve, but I think he ended up fixing 7 or 8), he still finished fairly quickly, and the price was reasonable. So, the good ones are out there!

 

[Amethyst]

Now you've got me remembering other trade-family stories...we lucked into a local electrical company when we needed some fixtures installed around 2000.

Fifteen years later, we called one of those big, by-the-hour outfits that had a coupon.
They sent out a clown - he only lacked a funny suit and floppy shoes, I swear. Did the work, we had to pay, but we weren't happy with the service at all.

Next time we needed an electrician, I called the previous company just to see if they were still in business. The electrician who came out was the son of the previous one, and was just like his dad. Very good manner, prompt efficient service.

 

[Andre1969]

I don't know if this guy came from a plumber family, but he was 42, and said that he got recruited by the company when he was around 21, right out of trade school. I think the company has been around since 1971. The original owner passed away, and the guy who came out, was actually the current owner!

That's something I thought that was pretty cool...the owner, actually doing hands-on work.

 

[fh2000]

I had the same leak, from what OP described (I did not read the whole thread, so someone may have chimed in on this already). This appears to be a common problem with older houses like mine.

I first called the city. They checked it and not their problem. I then called a plumber. They did not even check where the leak was, and quoted $5000 to reroute my main line to the house. I thanked them and said no.

I then called another plumber who used a day labor to dig behind the meter. Five hours later, they reviewed that 2 feet after the meter, the diverter pipe to sprinkler system leaked. They used glue and teflon tape to put it back. Cost me: $1000.

Few years later, it leaked again. This time, I knew where to look. So, I dug it up myself and reviewed that the glue and teflon was not good enough. I called another plumber. He used a pressure tightening connector on the main copper and sprinkler PVC pipe. No glue, no tape. He said further ground movement should not cause it to separate again. Cost: $250. It still holds today after another 5 years.

I have called the same plumber few more times with other problems and they are reliable and cost is reasonable. You may have to do trail and error few times to find the one you trust, just like finding the right car mechanics.

 

[Music Lover]

Ironically I just got a call from a customer with a situation that fits this thread nicely. He called and said that he wanted me to come out and give him a price on fixing the power out to his shed. He didn't know anything about why it quit working or how it worked in the first place. I explained to him that I would have to come out and spend some time diagnosing why it doesn't work then go back and put together an estimate which could take an hour and it still may be a guess if the underground wires are broke. I tried to educate him that this was more of a service call type of job rather then something you put out for competitive bids. I told him to find an electrician that he really trust and have him come do the job by the hour. He then said that he had been calling people all week and I was the only one that he had actually talked with. He like many others is under the impression that he absolutely must get several bids for around a $200-$400 job. I am certainly not going to go over there and spend possibly a half of a day educating him on how to fix his problem. After all that is what we get paid to do. Sadly I am guessing no one else will call him back either.

He is probably sitting around griping to his buddies on how he can't get anyone to come out or call him back.

It helps if you are a good customer. I'm undergoing a major reno and called in a highly recommended plumber for a quote once the project was underway. I was adding a new bathroom upstairs (by demolishing 2 closets), replacing pipes behind the wall in an existing bathroom, and adding a half bath in the basement. This is what I did BEFORE calling the plumber:

- demolished the 2 closets and marked where fixtures would be located
- pulled shower surround off existing bathroom to expose the plumbing
- marked the location of basement bathroom (walls not built yet)

I then called the plumber and we walked through the project. I also told him that there would be new framing for both new bathrooms, that he only needed the rough in done to shut off valves as I would install fixtures myself at a later date, and that I would re-cement the basement floor after the drains were done. I also said that if there was anything in the way just tell me and I would take care of it before they showed up.

So before the project starts the plumber knows that although it is a reno he will be working with new framing, he doesn't have to re-cement 30' of basement floor, the existing pipe that has to be replaced is visible because the wall has already been opened up, and the locations of drain lines from upstairs have been marked in the basement for easy reference. He also knows that I'm willing to do anything he requests to make the job easier.

 

[indiajust]

I rented a trencher to turn over my driveway strip and convert to garden, bury conduit for electric and phone service, and conduit for water service. My neighborhood had meters between the sidewalk and the street. I pulled the conduit right to the meter and extended under crawlspace. 4 months later in the spring after all the yard work was done I pulled a reel of pex from end to end without disturbing the dirt. Took me an afternoon to disconnect the old hodge podge and yank/tear it out, and install backflush prevention valve with large shutoff valve. Put all the PVC/tubing/copper/rotted leaking valves/fittings.... into the recycle bin and had a beer.

 

[rk911]

can't recall ever having so severe an issue with a plumber that it rises to hate or even not re-hiring the plumber again. at the moment we have two plumbers...one very local for routine issues and a second used by our contractor as we remodel the house room-by-room. both are excellent.

 

[Gevans17]

Water leak

How has YOUR luck been with plumbers?

I have a water leak between my water meter out by the street and the house that needs to be repaired. Everybody that I ask for a plumber recommendation gives me 3 or 4 plumbers that they would not recommend, so that's now getting to be upwards of 30 plumbing companies that are not recommended.

So I eventually got a plumbing company to send people out. They arrived late, so the day was scorching hot. They decided they would not take the job and left. Their diagnostic skills also left a lot to be desired.

I am pretty handy when it comes to fixing things, but I would pay to get this leak fixed. Nevertheless, I have to do this myself.

Confounding the situation is that I learned that water meters actually do not measure correctly when the flow rate is low such as with the leak I have. In fact, they often measure zero flow when the flow is less than say 5 gallons an hour. It seems like plumbers should know this, but the crew that came out was clueless about this.

Other confounding issues are that shut-off valves can be leaky, too.

So I contacted 811 and once the utility folks check out where I am going to dig, I'll have at it. Wish me luck!

Any luck with your plumbers with difficult-to-diagnose soaking wet spots in your yard with 6 inches of water and a trickle draining in to the street?

Had same thing at my house. Leak somewhere between the meter and the line entering the house. I asked the man from the water Dept where he would start digging? He said start digging where it enters the house. He was right. Dug down about 2 feet and found a gusher that was flowing under my slab. No wet spots on the ground

 

[gooddog]

One of my rentals sprang a lead at the water line coming in to the house. My wife met a plumber and he quoted her a "minimum of $800 to $900" to fix the issue, with it "probably being in the $1,300" range. I went over and spent two hours and a grand total of $5 in parts to fix it. The worst part - this guy is considered the best plumber in my small town.

 

[Arizona1]

I’ve always been willing to pay what it costs.
I don’t dislike plumbers in particular, I’m just constantly disappointed with the work I’ve paid for. The last service I paid for was a windshield replacement last year. Highly recommend on yelp. After they got it out they tried to say the frame was rusted out and needed remedial repairs. I asked to see it. It had a brown place on the frame that wiped off to paint with my wet finger. On the way back 20 miles the top of the windshield started coming out. I called and told them I was on my way back and they said it was hard to hear me. I said there was an inch gap in the top of my windshield. The manager agreed with me it was a bad job.
Luckily I grew up pretty poor and had to learn how to just fix most things.
RV repair has been the worst ripoff. Marina work is second.

 

[427Vette]

One of my rentals sprang a lead at the water line coming in to the house. My wife met a plumber and he quoted her a "minimum of $800 to $900" to fix the issue, with it "probably being in the $1,300" range. I went over and spent two hours and a grand total of $5 in parts to fix it. The worst part - this guy is considered the best plumber in my small town.

Where was this problem? Outside underground or inside where the line comes in?

 

[LOL!]

... I went over and spent two hours and a grand total of $5 in parts to fix it. The worst part - this guy is considered the best plumber in my small town.

My leak was about the same, but less than $3 in parts. I already had a PVC cutter and the PVC primer & cement. I'm going to use the $1,000 savings for a nice present for myself.

A further benefit is that I now know the paths of both my neighbor's and my water lines to our houses.

 

[msanniee]

F and A if you need one in San Francisco Bay Area. Found him by luck after my place was in escrow. Then I had an issue. Without him escrow would not have closed.

 

[Pointby2]

Woke up to find the kitchen floor flooded. One of the hoses to our kitchen faucet was leaking. I tried to turn off the water and the shut off valve broke off in my hand. Decided I didn't want to deal with it so we called a plumber. Two guys came over and said the parts they had wouldn't work so they went to Home Depot. They replaced one shut off and said they faucet wasn't repairable and left. I asked if they replace BOTH shut offs like I'd asked, but they only did one, since the other worked. Brilliant.



Next day, I bought a new faucet and tried to install it. Turned the water on, and the other faucet broke off immediately.



The new faucet we bought took a different size shut off anyway, so I had to buy two new shut offs and install them myself along with the new faucet. By the time I finished the plumbers returned. (I'd placed an angry follow up call in the morning since I paid them $200 to do essentially nothing)


The old faucet that couldn't be fixed? A ten dollar hose from Amazon and it's perfect.

 

[JJpop]

I've had the same plumber for 15 years. Yeah, I'm pleased. Called him Saturday about a leaky valve. He came Sunday at 10am.

Took him about 30 seconds to fix the valve, and he charged me $40. But, hell, that was my stupidity not his!

He did not charge you 40 bucks for 30 seconds work.He had to schedule your work and drive there and back,etc.With that being said that was cheap compared to California.
I thinks plumbers are overpaid and that is a big reason people are negative.

 

[ponyboy]

The new faucet we bought took a different size shut off anyway, so I had to buy two new shut offs and install them myself along with the new faucet.

Was this copper? Was it 3/4" that was the odd size? 1/2" is standard. They do make 3/4" to 1/2" couplings...they're less than $3 at lowes.

Plumbing isnt difficult. I have existing copper so I have no interest in pex. When we gutted our shower, I was going to go with pex for the hookup...but I could not sweat the pex fitting to the copper pipe. It just kept pulling off. Tried 3 different fittings, different heat, they were prepped properly, not sure what the deal was. Went with copper...no issues, no leaks.

You want to talk about trash shut off valves...try out those compression fitting ones. What a disaster. Originally bought 3, all 3 leaked...took them back, bought the ones you sweat on (solder on.) No leaks. I guess they made those compression ones for people who cant use a torch...good luck with those. Does that mean I cant use a wrench to tighten properly? lulz

 

[zedd]

Was this copper? Was it 3/4" that was the odd size? 1/2" is standard. They do make 3/4" to 1/2" couplings...they're less than $3 at lowes.

Plumbing isnt difficult. I have existing copper so I have no interest in pex. When we gutted our shower, I was going to go with pex for the hookup...but I could not sweat the pex fitting to the copper pipe. It just kept pulling off. Tried 3 different fittings, different heat, they were prepped properly, not sure what the deal was. Went with copper...no issues, no leaks.

You want to talk about trash shut off valves...try out those compression fitting ones. What a disaster. Originally bought 3, all 3 leaked...took them back, bought the ones you sweat on (solder on.) No leaks. I guess they made those compression ones for people who cant use a torch...good luck with those. Does that mean I cant use a wrench to tighten properly? lulz

Was down in the crawlspace the other day looking for something. Looked up at the PEX work our plumber had done, both simple water supply and hydronic lines. Steve Jobs must have been inspired by my plumber's work. Truly, nothing excessive nor unnecessary but direct with a sense of elegance. Perhaps it's just me but I'm moved by work done well.


So, there's pex and then there's PEX. The shark bite et al stuff you find at the big box stores and then there's the commercial/professional grade stuff that the pros use.



As an example, I've used the compression ring system that uses a special ring compression tool. Ah yeah. That works well out in the field (literally) where I don't care about leakage. The pros use a special grade of PEX and tool that actually expands the PEX over the non-retrictive fittings - no leak, no flow restriction.


I'm a retired IT guy and can relate to plumbers on the plain that 1) when everything is going well nobody really appreciated what went into making it so behind the scenes and 2) when all s**t does break loose there was someone to call that would make it right again.


Plumbers of the world - I salute you