HELP ASAP kitchen flooded!

[svrichards]

Hi,

Im new here but have come back to a complete disaster.

We are in the process of our house being rewired, new bathroom fitted, whole new combi boiler (in kitchen) and re skim. We went away on holiday on the 22nd December and left the house with out electrician and plumber to continue the electrics and fitting the new boiler.

We were informed that the boiler had been fitted and all plumbering in working order on the 23rd December. Both the plumber and electrician were not in the property since that date.

We arrived back last night and went and visited the property this morning and found the kitchen flooded. The water was coming through by the stop cock under the kitchen sink which supplies the outside tap. We managed to turn it off however as no one has been in the property we do not know how long this has been going on for.

When we walk in the kitchen the ceramic floor tiles are bubbling and water seems to still be present since mopping it earlier today it does not seem to have dried. However we do not have any heating as the boiler is now not working either so not sure how to dry it out.

Our electrican has been contacted and he will be back tomorrow with his plumber but REALLY need advice before they come as do not want to be told everything will be fine and in 6 months time we have to replace everything.

Can we please have advice for what the potentical problems may be caused by this and ways in which we can prevent/fix them.

Who is liable for the cost of sorting this problem out? Plumber or us?

Thank you in advance

Victoria

 

[1john]

Contact your insurance company, the tradesmen cant be responsible for your burst pipe. Are the tiles laid over a concrete floor of a wooden one? Are the kitchen cabinets in place, have they become water damaged?

 

[svrichards]

Also PLEASE dont read and run ANY advice would be great

 

[scatmanjohn]

You need your insurance company (if you have insurance) to send a drying company.

 

[svrichards]

Hi,

I believe it is on a concrete floor (just bought the house) and the cabinets are in place and at the moment because of water we couldnt have a close look.

The pipes which burst are ones which the plumber has put a new tap on and new piping but what seems to be old fittings. Before we left this tap was perfectly fine no leaks etc when water turned on.

 

[seco services]

The pipes which burst are ones which the plumber has put a new tap on

has the pipe burst or failed due to bad workmanship ?

 

[svrichards]

Yes we have insurance through Lloyds...

 

[svrichards]

the water was spraying out from the join in the joint of the tap not a crack or split in the pipe. Sorry didnt make this clear.

Prior to the new boiler being fitted and pipes there were no problems, only since it has been worked on, eg new tap etc So im not sure, personally i would say workmanship.

 

[seco services]

So im not sure, personally i would say workmanship.

then take some pics and leave till he comes and tell him your going through his public liability insurance.
contact your insurance they can then deal with him.

 

[HERTS P&D]

the water was spraying out from the join in the joint of the tap not a crack or split in the pipe.

I would say the leak on the joint has been caused by the low temperature in the house, if the joint didn't leak then you could of had a burst pipe. (was your heating left on?)

Hard one to call to blame the plumber on this one. The water mains should have been turned off.

Don't forget we have had the coldest December in 120 years.

At least you have insurance.

Andy

 

[alex444]

The pipe doesn't have to be split or cracked to burst, cold weather and expansion in the pipework can push brass compression fittings off the pipework, even if not all the way off, it can still be enough to let the water out at full pressure, I would also say you'll have a hard time blaming the plumber, as the weather lately has been exceptionally cold.

 

[Nige F]

the water was spraying out from the join in the joint of the tap not a crack or split in the pipe.

I would say the leak on the joint has been caused by the low temperature in the house, if the joint didn't leak then you could of had a burst pipe. (was your heating left on?)

Hard one to call to blame the plumber on this one. The water mains should have been turned off.

Don't forget we have had the coldest December in 120 years.

At least you have insurance.

Andy

With you on this - but ideally the supply to the outside tap should have been isolated and drained - because the tap froze outside and the water then pushes back to inside the house and meets the non return valve which it pushes off - house itself could be warm @ all times with the heating running fine and mains water left on . £million . Question is who should have done the turn off/ drain Plumber or householder