Plumbers are great!!!

[HappyHippyDad]

Today I was in a customers house. I had to take up some chipboard flooring in the bathroom. I set the circular saw so that it will cut to the right depth and not too deep.... I think some of you have already guessed where this is going .... and start cutting.

Now in the five years I have been working as a domestic installer I have never had an accident because I plan, I'm slow because I plan, but that's ok because I don't have accidents.... until today.

Anyway, I start cutting and suddenly water starts spurting up into my face, it's a hot day but I fail to enjoy the cool water covering my head. I panic, there's no way to get to the pipe as the boards are down. I nearly always work alone, but for some reason this time a plumber was working in the house at the same time. He was actually in the bathroom with me at the time! He sprung into action, fitted some pipe to a downstairs radiator to drain it, during which time I'd got the boards up (looking horrified at the lake of water) and stuck my thumb on the tiny hole.

I absolutely sxxx myself!!!

The outcome was a small amount of water coming through the ceiling which dried and that was about it. The client was cool about it and the plumber fixed the pipe refusing any kind of payment. If he hadn't have been there I could have been in a whole heap of trouble and my PL insurance would have had its first outing!

So.... I'm ready for abuse but I stand by my claim, plumbers are great!

 

[HappyHippyDad]

You naughty boy, no one 'cept a gas safe should be messing around with gas pipes

Tel has amnesty. Gas safe is not retrospective and in 1897 anyone was allowed to do it... hence Tel is qualified!

 

[telectrix]

i'll not rise to that bait:

 

[Midwest]

Tel has amnesty. Gas safe is not retrospective and in 1897 anyone was allowed to do it... hence Tel is qualified!

This here appeared below your post HHD


is this telelectricalelex in his younger days?

 

[Lou]

Not the best day!

 

[Wilko]

2 x Kibosh's ordered! Bring it on water pipes!! I'm prepared for you .

Bish, bash, Kibosh!!!!

Good idea - even if having them means you'll never need them

 

[NDG Elecs]

HHD, put a disclaimer on your paperwork. Something along the lines of care will be taken etc but occasionally problems do arise which are hitherto unknown, and these are, or may be, chargeable.
If the plumber wasn't there at the time I probably still wouldn't have bothered with my insurance. After the pipe was fixed it is easy enough to replace a bit of the ceiling below and get a plasterer in to skim. Obviously it depends on the extent of the damage etc.

My biggest gaff was hole sawing a couple of millimetres in to the main incoming gas supply. That could have worked out bad!! I also had a plumber on site at the time who sorted it. Still don't like them though!!

 

[Midwest]

HHD, put a disclaimer on your paperwork. Something along the lines of care will be taken etc but occasionally problems do arise which are hitherto unknown, and these are, or may be, chargeable.
If the plumber wasn't there at the time I probably still wouldn't have bothered with my insurance. After the pipe was fixed it is easy enough to replace a bit of the ceiling below and get a plasterer in to skim. Obviously it depends on the extent of the damage etc.
QUOTE]

That wasn't my experience, with the repair of the damage. In my case, the escaping water was from the central heating system, and therefore oxidised or whatever.

The ceiling was damaged in various places, and some marks on the floor. I had considered repairs myself, but decided to use my insurance company. I'm glad I did.

My client made a claim for whole ceiling replacement, complete redecoration of the room, replacement of three piece suite (as they couldn't obtain similar), replacement of carpet. They also wanted compensation, for inconvenience etc.

Arrival of loss adjuster. Agreement was made on ceiling being repaired and redecorated. Armchair & carpet professionally cleaned. I finished off my work FOC, and replaced the CH 3 port valve FOC, which went faulty two weeks later and my client insisted was as a result of the draining down of the system.

I'm probably paying higher PL fees to date, but I think I would of had a higher repair bill, if I hadn't involved the insurance company. It depends on who your dealing with, as the customer is always right

 

[NDG Elecs]

Ouch! On your occasion insurance for was the correct way. Out of interest Mid what was the excess, and what does your PLI cost now? It would be good to know for future reference what the impact of making a claim is.

 

[Squid]

being as how plumbers are mainly using plastic, i don't see why they shouldn't drill joists >2" deep and thread pipe through.

Trouble is the ends/connectors/seals can degrade over time the plumber I used for my build said he only uses copper.

 

[Midwest]

Ouch! On your occasion insurance for was the correct way. Out of interest Mid what was the excess, and what does your PLI cost now? It would be good to know for future reference what the impact of making a claim is.

Think the excess was £100, and from what I've seen others getting their PL for, guess I'm paying £100 a year more. The claim is notifiable for 5 years, so I'll saved in the long run.

 

[NDG Elecs]

My PLI is around £80 I think, bit hard to tell as the policy also cover indemnity and tools cover.
So after five years you have probably paid around £600 more? Good to know for future reference. Cheers.

 

[Midwest]

Sorry my post got wrapped up with NDG post, so here it is again for clarity.

That wasn't my experience, with the repair of the damage. In my case, the escaping water was from the central heating system, and therefore oxidised or whatever.

The ceiling was damaged in various places, and some marks on the floor. I had considered repairs myself, but decided to use my insurance company. I'm glad I did.

My client made a claim for whole ceiling replacement, complete redecoration of the room, replacement of three piece suite (as they couldn't obtain similar), replacement of carpet. They also wanted compensation, for inconvenience etc.

Arrival of loss adjuster. Agreement was made on ceiling being repaired and redecorated. Armchair & carpet professionally cleaned. I finished off my work FOC, and replaced the CH 3 port valve FOC, which went faulty two weeks later and my client insisted was as a result of the draining down of the system.

I'm probably paying higher PL fees to date, but I think I would of had a higher repair bill, if I hadn't involved the insurance company. It depends on who your dealing with, as the customer is always right

 

[Rpa07]

Found this right in the middle of a lounge wall in a builders built house of fun! Doing an accessory to accessory RFC extension and had to negotiate the dot and dabs, if it hadn't have snapped my pilot on the hole saw I wouldn't have thought something was amiss and would just have carried on. Strong material I'm glad to say - no harm done thank the Lord.
Rude though - had to change my route!

Damn that reminds me as I need to restore my Fathers 18" Record monkey wrench must be over 50 years old now.

I have many of my dads tools used everyday that are 50 or 60 years old - engineering style tools that never wear, King Dick, Diamond, Bluepoint and now being on commercial I get to use my Snap on stuff from the late 80s.

Good idea - even if having them means you'll never need them

That's called insurance, when you got it you don't get things go wrong but when they do, you are covered by a higher power - much like my Faith!

 

[telectrix]

had a similar customer years ago. insisted on replacement carpets throughout groung floor ( could not match pattern) although the water damage was easily rectified by cleaning. he insisted that the carpet was beyond repair as the water had inhibitor in it. the only thing beyond repair was all round all the corners where his cat had clawed it to bits.

 

[NDG Elecs]

King dick is a blast from the past! I recall having them as a kid in my bike repair box!