Leaking hot water cylinder and plumber trouble

[stevefo]

In Dec 2004 we had a new hot water cylinder installed by a corgi reg plumber. In Sept 2005 we noticed a very slight leak coming from the seal where the immersion fits in - we can feel its wet with our fingers, and occasionally there is water sitting under the cylinder which has run down the side of the jacket. I've tried to tighten it and its as tight as it will go.

So we called the original plumber in who had installed the HWC and he said because it was so slight it may scale itself up - and if its still a problem in a months time to get him out again.

In Oct 2005 still had the leak so called him up again, he came round and said it needed changing. Anyway to cut a long story short after about 10 phone calls to him and every excuse under the sun its now March 2006 and he still hasn't come to change it.

Since we spotted the leak within 1 year we expect to have it changed free - is this reasonable?

What is the next line of attach to get him to come round - stroppy letter copied to trading standards/corgi?

Or should I just bodge it up with fernox leak sealant and forget about it?

Many thanks,

Steve

 

[Agile]

Its easier to bodge it with LSX.

However, I dont quite understand exactly what needs to be "changed".

If the immersion heater boss is leaking slightly then it needs to be partly unscrewed and a little PTFE tape or sealing compound put in and then retightened.

You should politely remind him to come and do it when he has a moment.

Tony

 

[JohnD]

It is reasonable, but he's obviouslt the sort of guy that can't be bothered to do good quality work if he doesn't get paid extra for it.

Tell all your friends and neighbours what he's like, and ask if any of them know anyone better.

Give the Fernox LSX a try, if it doesn't work you'll be no worse off.

I doubt you need any new parts unles the origibal bodger damaged anything - just removal and refix.

 

[corgiman]

My opinion is that you have given this person a reasonable chance of rectifying his mistake and he has not responded in a reasonable manner, you could do worse than report him to your local trading standards office.

They should contact him and ask why he left you.

as for the leak contact another plumber and forward the cost to him

 

[punchjoshua]

report the person to corgi.

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

CORGI?

why?

Never known cylinders to leak gas.

Dave

 

[Softus]

What's with all this squealing to CORGI and Trading Standards? Neither of them will be the slightest bit interest in fighting your battles for you.

Firstly, there's nothing to indicate that the original installation was faulty. Of course it's poor show that the guy hasn't come back to sort it out, after saying that he would, but you've given him a chance so now it's time to get someone else.

If it turns out that fault lies was the original guy, then you have the right to charge him, but you'll go through a whole load of grief for comparitively little gain.

However, I don't believe that it's the IH joint - far more likely to be a pinhole in or near the IH boss. Even though it's only a year old this is far more plausible than a leak being sprouted after so long - most joint leaks DO heal themselves with scale.

I recommend that you gently hack off the insulation around the boss to have a good look at what's going on. It will be pretty easy to spot where the water is coming from.

If it is a pinhole I would relieve the pressure on the cylinder by shutting off its cold feed, then let the wound dry out, then plaster it with LSX and let it set before turning the water back on. I've done this on many a pinhole and in some case bought years of life from an otherwise scrap cylinder.

 

[punchjoshua]

so what your saying is have a go at it yourself(and if it all goes wrong).

 

[Expertboy]

so what your saying is have a go at it yourself(and if it all goes wrong).

leg it

 

[Softus]

so what your saying is have a go at it yourself(and if it all goes wrong).

Have a go? Have a f***ing go? Are you having a laugh? The only "go" that I suggested he "have" is to diagnose the fault and apply a leak sealant as a temporary fix.

In what way can that "all go wrong"?

 

[corgiman]

What's with all this squealing to CORGI and Trading Standards? Neither of them will be the slightest bit interest in fighting your battles for you.

its not squealing soft its just trying to get a decent service (except CORGI as they would give a toss) its people like flood macplumber that give us all a bad name, he has been given a chance to sort it and hasnt tough **** to him

the TS can and probably will kick his arse

why should he get paid and get away with a shonky job??

 

[Softus]

its not squealing soft its just trying to get a decent service (except CORGI as they would give a toss) its people like flood macplumber that give us all a bad name, he has been given a chance to sort it and hasnt tough s**t to him

Come now cm; here's the only information we have about the technical ability of this plumber:

In Dec 2004 we had a new hot water cylinder installed by a corgi reg plumber. In Sept 2005 we noticed a very slight leak coming from the seal where the immersion fits in - we can feel its wet with our fingers, and occasionally there is water sitting under the cylinder which has run down the side of the jacket. I've tried to tighten it and its as tight as it will go.

Now imagine that you who installed it, that there's a pinhole in the cylinder boss, and that the customer has been rude to you. Get my point now? We have only one side of the story and it's a pretty sketchy picture at that.

the TS can and probably will kick his a**e

Nope - this is not what they do. Have you ever contacted the TS and tried to get them to take up an issue with a trader on your behalf?

why should he get paid and get away with a shonky job??

He was paid because he did the work. Whether or the work was good enough has yet to be seen - we don't even know what the fault is yet!

 

[Soggy_weetabix]

2 points here...

A customers unsatisfied with his or hers plumbers work, hence
customers looking for backup due to dissatifaction if their work.

Advise on what action to take, be it CORGI TS or any other body who we seem fit.

C, mon. A drip from a cylinder. Get man back to fix and if you cant, get a plumber that can - and charge first man on job.

Then take charges if bill is not paid.

It is a matter of princible but you really will get nowhere with CORGI or Ts

David

 

[corgiman]

here here soggy!!

soft to answer your points

corgiman wrote:
its not squealing soft its just trying to get a decent service (except CORGI as they would give a toss) its people like flood macplumber that give us all a bad name, he has been given a chance to sort it and hasnt tough s**t to him

Come now cm; here's the only information we have about the technical ability of this plumber:

Hairy muff never thought of that



Quote:
the TS can and probably will kick his a**e

Nope - this is not what they do. Have you ever contacted the TS and tried to get them to take up an issue with a trader on your behalf?

Yes they do and yes I have a (not very nice and I werent there for long believe me) company I worked for had them on their back took em to the cleaners and well deserved it was to,

Quote:
why should he get paid and get away with a shonky job??

He was paid because he did the work. Whether or the work was good enough has yet to be seen - we don't even know what the fault is yet!

Again Hairy Muff



(hairy Muff is ryhming slang for fair enuff for those godless foreigners and northerners )

 

[Softus]

A customers unsatisfied with his or hers plumbers work, hence
customers looking for backup due to dissatifaction if their work.

I disagree - the customer has not expressed the slightest hint of dissatisfaction with the work, merely with the non-attendance to resolve a problem. The problem might be a faulty cylinder, or a corroded cylinder, or an installation fault, or something else.

Then take charges if bill is not paid.

What does this mean?