need a plumber - problem with shower

milliemonster

We moved into our house in March the shower is now leaking substantially in that although you turn it off (which is very hard as its really stiff) its still running, it is so bad this morning its almost like the shower is on full, I am going to have to turn the water off!

Its a mixer shower I think with one of those starburst type shower heads, the whole unit those is buried in the wall behind the tiles so only the shower head and lever to switch it on is exposed.

I need to call a plumber but as we live in a new area that I don't know and I have never used a plumber in my life for anything before, I have no idea who is reputable or how much this job should cost

can anyone give me any ideas so I don't get ripped off?

adaze

It could be that the valve is sticking/ broken. You should be able to change this with out taking off tiles etc... Try unscrewing the tap head (the one that switches it on, not the hot/cold) and see if there is a valve that you can then unscrew and repair/replace. Try this site - DIY Not.

That would be my first step anyway. If it is anything more serious then the tiles may need to come off, i.e. if its got blocked.

milliemonster

unfortunately the only tap that turns on the shower also adjusts the hot/cold, you basically turn the handle anticlockwise till is starts spraying and then turn it further round to get the hot water to feed through.

My dad is normally very good at DIY but he has told us not to touch it as we could easily damage the springs inside that adjust the hot/cold and we'll never get it back on again.

I have just had a plumber pm me who says it will cost £40 -60 per HOUR, is he kidding?, I must be in the wrong job, if it's going to cost that much I may aswell just go out and buy a new fitment and get my dad to fit it for me

ormus

talking to a local sparks last week and he now charges 45 quid per hour.
re the shower valve. yes its prob cheaper to buy another one and replace it.
put some 15mm service valves in the lines, to help with any future maintainance.

EliteHeat

milliemonster wrote: »

I have just had a plumber pm me who says it will cost £40 -60 per HOUR, is he kidding?, I must be in the wrong job, if it's going to cost that much I may aswell just go out and buy a new fitment and get my dad to fit it for me

Well, if you can't sort it out yourself then you clearly are in the wrong job, but, to be fair not many plumbers would need advice for this sort of problem. Luckily for you your dad can sort it all out for you.

If you are buying a new shower unit, you would be best advised to get an exposed unit with industry standard 150mm centres. That way you can remove the thing if necessary without causing any damage to your tiles etc.

Don't expect it to be a quick job and hopefully you can match up your tiles.

P.S. It might be worth looking at the shower doctor website.

Martini

Why does everyone think that £50-60 an hour is unreasonable!
We have to get to you in our vans (which are kitted out with expensive tools and parts) which may take 20-30 minutes. Have the knowledge to fix it. Pay income tax, fuel and tax again, public liability insurance, van insurance and vehicle excise duty (another tax) and we may actually have a little left to live on. An hour at someone's home is usually at least 2 out of a day!
If you don't like paying what you think are high charges then it is possible to fix it yourself. If you "mess up" though, be prepared for a bigger bill!

milliemonster

Martini wrote: »

Why does everyone think that £50-60 an hour is unreasonable!
We have to get to you in our vans (which are kitted out with expensive tools and parts) which may take 20-30 minutes. Have the knowledge to fix it. Pay income tax, fuel and tax again, public liability insurance, van insurance and vehicle excise duty (another tax) and we may actually have a little left to live on. An hour at someone's home is usually at least 2 out of a day!
If you don't like paying what you think are high charges then it is possible to fix it yourself. If you "mess up" though, be prepared for a bigger bill!

erm excuse me but I have to pay for my car to go to work, I have to pay to insure it, tax it, put fuel in it, pay tax on the fuel I use and the time it takes me to go to work and come home isn't classed as work time and I don't get paid for that either but I don't get paid £40 odd an hour!, like I said I am OBVIOUSLY in the wrong job!

I simply wanted to know if I was going to get ripped off, it's ok saying its £40 an hour but what if I get some idiot who decides to string that out into a full days work???

milliemonster

Al_Mac wrote: »

Do you know the type of shower and when it was fitted. It sounds like our Eurobath one, we had fitted three years ago. They've just sent us a replacement and paid to have it fitted, £211.50, for what sounds like the same thing.

Unfortunately no as we only moved into this house in March, but the whole bathroom is relatively new, about 2 years old

andyhop

milliemonster wrote: »

erm excuse me but I have to pay for my car to go to work, I have to pay to insure it, tax it, put fuel in it, pay tax on the fuel I use and the time it takes me to go to work and come home isn't classed as work time and I don't get paid for that either but I don't get paid £40 odd an hour!, like I said I am OBVIOUSLY in the wrong job!

I simply wanted to know if I was going to get ripped off, it's ok saying its £40 an hour but what if I get some idiot who decides to string that out into a full days work???

a works van is used for work only,even before i step in your door i have had to spend £££ without even knowing it could be fixed, i go on the basis of no fix no charge so could be out of pocket

then theres the time spent in the evenings invoicing and doing my accounts

i am a plumber by trade, you seem very uptight about £40 per hour but after tax and expenses i am lucky to see £20, i can go and work for a agency with no hassles for £16......

then theres my tools, which btw are essential to do repair work, i choose the best items that i know will help in the doing the job the most cost effective to the customer, my tools carried in my van are worth more than the average price of a new family hatchback

i will come and fix you shower for minimum wage,providing you pay for my fuel, tools and have all nesscerery insurances

have a nice day:beer:

EliteHeat

andyhop wrote: »

i will come and fix you shower for minimum wage,providing you pay for my fuel, tools and have all nesscerery insurances

What is interesting is the comment that even the OP does not earn that sort of money. The clear implication being that being able to fix the shower is a task suitable for some kind of menial low life who is hell bent on ripping the general public off, for what is basically going to be a few minutes work with a hammer and possibly a bigger hammer.

It really doesn't matter though. You can talk until you are blue in the face about all of the costs associated with running your own business, but since you are likely to be talking to an office bod, they will not have any idea of what you are talking about.

Remember that they probably get paid:-

• If they turn up or not
• If they are well or sick
• If they are there or are on holiday, at the dentists etc
• If they do the job well or badly or not at all
• If they decide to talk for hours about big brother, corrie etc etc
• If they are on a training course learning about that important new excel gizmo, telephone techniques or diversity training etc etc

Whereas you, you poor sap, have to compete for every job, get paid nothing if you don't work, get ripped off by rogue householders and are perpetually suspected of if not actually, then surely wanting, to go through the house owners underwear draw - especially if it's a lady.

So, you cannot win and I would suggest that for the sake of your blood pressure, that you give up trying.

Canucklehead

Hi


I also noticed the fatal phrase 'so I don't get ripped off'. Instant turn off.;)


Corgi Guy.