Faucet break

[miksar]

I go to turn the water off at the faucet to un hook my hose that is connected to the tm and the valve keeps on a turning without turning the water off. Oh crap, it's late on a Saturday afternoon, I gotta try and fix this for this little old lady. I can't leave the water turned off until Monday when a plumber is available. So I spend 2 hours trying to find the part and trying to fix it for her. But a new faucet was needed and was beyond my capability to install it. So I rigged up a temporary fix so she wouldn't be without water. So today I received a letter from this sweet little old lady asking me to pay her plumber bill because he told her it was because of my "negligence " that the faucet broke. Any opinions?

 

[Lee Stockwell]

What was "broken" on said faucet? Most outside hose bibs are less than $15, freeze resistants are $35 or so. It would be easy to replace unless thru an unaccessable wall or into crappy pipes behind.

I'd want the "broken" faucet in hand before I paid.

 

[Jay_wat]

i heard that many a time,,, its easy to replace,,,if so then why call a plumber? yes,the part(s) themselves can be inexpensive,,but the time/know how to do the job right,,the first time,, between doing plumbing and carpet cleaning,,carpet cleaning is much easier to show perceived value for the client! the plumbing shop i worked for had a price guide for everything,,and yes,,prices were HIGH,,but that was the company's set up. some aspects of plumbing i miss,,some i dont!

so the hosebib turned on when you first hooked up to it? some hosebibs can be repaired.. as stated before,,ask to see the damaged item and the bill.

 

[Bob Savage]

Lee,

If a carpet cleaner doesn't believe he is a plumber, then he shouldn't touch it!

Does a CC'er know how to sweat a copper faucet? Does he search endlessly for a rebuild kit when he isn't sure just exactly what it's gonna' take to fix it?

The service call from the plumber is "what cost"; not the "part(s)".

How much is the bill?

If it is within reason, pay it, and move on. Even though you probably didn't break it, you are the "bad guy".

 

[miksar]

I took the faucet apart hoping it would just need a washer, but the screw holding the washer was busted. So I bought a new faucet to replace it but I realized the old one had to be cut off and new one soldered on. I might try to repair my own but not a customers. Anyway it just bugs me that the plumber told the lady it was my negligence that caused it to break when all I did is turn the stupid thing. The customer was a referral from one of my best realtor clients. I know I'll just have to bite the bullet and pay it. Just irritating. $135.00

 

[Lee Stockwell]

Agree with Bob, if you don't have the ability, don't touch it. I can and probably would have fixed it quickly.

If I break something, and know I did, I fix or pay for it. In this case I'm not sure he "broke" anything.

However I carry onboard water and don't hook up to faucet that look suspect: "floating connection", stripped or missing handle, broken freeze-resist, or faucets that are spewing from bad washers before I start. Just things you notice after a few decades of experience.

all part of our education...

 

[Jay_wat]

thats rather cheap,,, up here it wouldve been around 250ish,,,,, now that i got back into carpet cleaning i carry my own water.

 

[Connor]

Just irritating. $135.00

Dude, that's a win.

 

[Jay_wat]

Just irritating. $135.00

Dude, that's a win.

very much agree!!

 

[Lee Stockwell]

You will pay. However I'd want to KNOW if the plumber was telling the truth...from what you said it seems like just the stem needed replaced.

 

[idreadnought]

A plumber is not going to just replace a stem. Plus the charges are mostly service call related minimums anyways. Unfortanantly it broke when you used it so you have to bite the bullet and pay it. I have been lucky in 20 years of cleaning. Only once did I have an issue with a faucet I used. Luckily I had a screw on plastic valve with me so I was able to at least keep the water on. I told the client and he said oh yeah that things doesn't work right, dont worry about it.

 

[Steve Toburen]

Yeah- pay it and move on. Bummer.

As I always say, "Run your business based on the emotions of your customers- BUT never make business decisions emotionally."

Steve Toburen
www.SFS.JonDon.com

PS Speaking of faucets all of you might just check out this QuickTIP we sent out a little more than a year ago. If it will save you flooding one lower level my time here will have been well spent:

http://sfs.jondon.com/8390/resources/qu ... his-spring

 

[Jay_wat]

that price sounds like a hosebib repair to me,,,,enough to cover his trip out,,and time/material on the job,,,,

 

[ACE]

THat sucks.

Your smart to pay the plumber and put it behind you. Otherwise, that sweat old lady would be badmouthing you forever. I have seen retirees spend countless hours complaining and trying to recover a few dollars they feel they have been cheated out of.

 

[Connor]

Also, if your repair ever failed, you'd be on the hook.

 

[rwcarpet]

Also, if your repair ever failed, you'd be on the hook.

I've had a few that wouldn't turn off. I was usually able to turn it off in the basement, but some older houses, the valves inside are cooroded.