Help! New Bathroom Leaking - Who pays?

keystone

simonj007 wrote: »

Having removed the access panels on the side of the bath they can clearly see the leak is from under the bath where the waste water comes out - they say it's the 'soakaway'. What exactly is the soakaway?

Its called the waste as far as I am concerned its to that that the trap is fitted. For a change I was right.

What would it leak - not properly fitted?

Yes not properly fitted and not tested after fitting.

They have now gone away to get sealant and dust sheets!

Whats wrong with just doing it properly rather than just bunging a large dollop of silicone aroind it which is awhat I think you are suggesting. Take it all apart and remake the joints.

Is a leaking soakaway a common problem with a newly fitted bath?

Only if its incorrectly fitted.

Any soakaway info greatly received.

Answered above.

Cheers

keystone

simonj007 wrote: »

Soakaway I think is the waste trap?

Yes.

Cheers

simonj007

Thanks Keystone - yes you were correct.

They're already painting and stain blocking the damage downstairs so obviously have accepted full responsibility and liability.

In an ideal world should they fix the waste trap, test and leave it with us for a couple of days to have baths etc BEFORE re-fitting and making good the tiled access panels - OR if fitted correctly this time, it should be ok do make good and finish today?

Thanks.

keystone

Redo the joints. Run a load of water through it. If no leak no problem, button up and finish today. If its not leaking today then it won't be leaking tomorrow.

Understand your reticence but if you are concerned tell them just to leave the access panel out (assuming its just a frame with a few tiles on it and sealed in with silicone rather than the whole side of the bath) and then you'll refit it later when all is OK.

It would, IMHO, be unreasonable to expect them to make a further FOC visit just to do that but if it were me I'd be offering a quick "is everything OK?" checkup visit in a few weeks anyway.

Cheers

simonj007

Thanks again - I'll update later once I've spoken to them and they're finished.

simonj007

Here we go!!

The guy is now blaming the quality of the 'brand new' waste trap - so not his fault!!

Going to fix with a Jubilee clip he's just told my wife!

keystone

EDIT: Post Withdrawn As Written Whilst labouring Under False Impression That A Second New Waste was being fitted. Left for posterity though.

So he's broken the spigot on the back of the new waste trying to fit the "old" overflow pipe which is too small a diameter or the "old" overflow pipe is too large a diameter for the spigot on the new waste. The benefits of trying to fit two manufacturers bits together rather than replace the whole lot or just remaking the joints on the original properly - particularly in the confined space he is now working in. If he bought the new waste (particularly if it was a cheap one from a DIY shed and not from the same manufacturer as the original) then its his problem not yours and in any case he shouldn't be moaning about it to you 'cos thats just feeding your mistrust - idiot! My commenting isn't helping either but its by way of attempting to explain to you whats likely to have happened rather than pointing a finger

Just let him get on with it would be my advice and either be happy or unhapy with the end result when they say they've finished. Thats the time to get involved not before. Otherwise you'll find yourself heading for that oh so handy bottle of scotch mid afternoon.

Cheers

simonj007

We bought the bath waste and bath from Bath Empire -
Wastes built to last
BathEmpire wastes feature chrome plated caps and chrome plated popup plugs, therefore all of our wastes come with the BathEmpire 10 year warrenty.


______________
I'm going to see him now.

keystone

So has someone bought a new waste which is what you previous post implied?

Cheers

simonj007

Ok - he says its a poor quality waste (even though it was brand new with the brand new bath).

What has happened is the pipe from the overflow (push fit) had come away (fallen away) from the back of the bath overflow under pressure of the bath water...this then caused the leak.

My point is that shouldn't they have said at time of fitting that in their opinion it looked poor quality?

Yet - it was brand new!!

Do I go back to the retailer now and complain?

Who knows if it just wasn't fitted correctly in the first place and they're telling me this to cover themselves?

So this is why he's now secured it with a jubilee clip.