Don't pull it!

Discussion in 'Plumbers' Talk' started by tightenit, Apr 8, 2010.

  1. tightenit

    tightenit New Member

    Went to a job about a month ago. Customer complains of smells from under floor. All laminate boards and quarry quartz bathroom tiles. I cut a hatch in a broom cupboard - underfloor 3" deep in the brown stuff. "That's where the smell is coming from" I helpfully advised the customer. Advised to get insurers in and a specialist company. They did.
    Went back today, clean as a whistle. The problem, a 32mm pipe boss into the soil run had been pulled out. The new bathroom fitters had pulled a short pipe up to fit the basin trap. They didn't know that the slack was due to the boss coming out. But the mess, wc discharging through the boss hole for 2 years. I won't be pulling any pipes for a while after this lesson.
     
  2. G Brown

    G Brown New Member

    I have seen that before, always a risk if push fit boss's have been used.
     
  3. Crowsfoot

    Crowsfoot Screwfix Select

    Reminds me of a job a few years ago. Customer had had environmental health out because the property was inundated with flies and they had been identified as sewer flies.
    Anyway I was called in and I removed the bath panel and hundreds of the little blighters swarmed all over me.
    I then took up a floorboard in the bathroom to find sewage all over the footings. The earthenware drain had been broken under the floor when a new suite was fitted some 6 months ago!!!
    Don't we get some ruddy jobs!
    Tappy,
     
  4. ThreadJacker

    ThreadJacker Active Member

    Interesting tighenit, they seem to be more trouble than they're worth these bosses.

    I suppose the bathroom fitter will be in deep *?

    [Edited by: admin]
     
  5. drew peacock

    drew peacock New Member

    but they always come up smelling of roses !
     
  6. tackleburger

    tackleburger New Member

    I pulled one out once myself but knew it didn't feel right hence I found out there and then. I pull the seal out and solvent weld them under floors.
     
  7. tightenit

    tightenit New Member

    Well TJ not sure where the liability would be.If the boss was loose that was the original installation I suppose. I'd guess perhaps a thousand pounds for two men for the day with all the space suits. Don't think the insurers would pursue for such a sum but then again...
    We all make mistakes, there was no way of really testing without going underneath, and nobody bothers doing that- after all out of sight out of mind.
    It would have taken a long time to become obvious by which time the fitters and their company would have gone out of business 3 or 4 times and for a grand it's probably not cost effective.All for the price of 32mm solvent weld coupling and an inch and a half of pipe.
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice