Qualified plumber failed to diagnose and repair simple fault with kitchen tap

RDNA2

Hi

About a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the water pressure from the hot side of my kitchen mixer tap wasn’t as strong as it usually is. The flow I was getting was still useable, so I presumed it was something temporary and that it would eventually pass. However in the last week, the water pressure from the hot side became significantly weaker. It would intermittently go from a weak but still usable stream to a thin stream that was so weak it failed to start the boiler up.

I noticed that when I opened the tap fully, it actually reduced the stream of water. Only when I opened the tap half way could I get something that was just about enough to use – but this was still noticeably weaker compared to what I had. All the taps in my home including the cold water side of my kitchen mixer tap were fine in terms of water pressure. Something was obviously wrong with the hot water side of my kitchen tap.

I thought it could either be some kind of blockage in the pipe work responsible for delivering the hot water or something that was faulty inside the hot water knob itself. I leaned towards the latter, especially when I noticed that when I opened the tap fully it would have the opposite effect of reducing the amount water of coming out.

So I arranged for a plumber from a well known London plumbing company to look at the tap. Upon arrival I explained the problems I was having with the hot water side. When he turned the hot tap on the stream was weak compared to the cold side, but it was still useable. I explained that it would intermittently go from weak but useable to a thin dribble-like stream. He took all this onboard and told straightaway said that it must be an airlock in my water tank (I live in a flat).

I explained that I was directly connected to the mains and that I get my hot water from my combi boiler. He then had a brief look at the shut-off valves and the pipe work under the sink. After this he said that the flow from the hot water side is always going to be weaker than the cold water side because it has to go through the boiler. He said that there was nothing I could do about the weak flow and pointed out that my taps were really old (they are 16 years old). He said the only thing he could recommend was to replace the tap unit completely but that I would also have to replace the sink to ensure that everything was fitted properly. He said that the fact that everything is so old is the likely reason why I am experiencing intermittent pressure drops.

At this point, he had still not inspected the hot water tap’s knob. So I decided to ask him if the valve inside the tap could be corroded or clogged up. I once again explained how the further I opened the tap the weaker the stream became.   Finally he decided to remove the cap on the tap knob and he removed the knob itself. He looked at it and said there’s nothing wrong with it. He put it back together before telling me that the whole unit (tap and sink) needs to be replaced.

He quoted me over £500 for the new tap, sink and labour. I accepted his judgement despite my doubts and told him I would consider it when I had the money. He put “new taps and sink” as the recommendation on the invoice and I was charged £125 for the time he spent at my home.

That evening the hot water pressure continued to get weaker, and the following day the stream remained so weak that the boiler failed to start and I couldn’t do any washing up.

So this time I decided to call a local plumber. He came over. I described the symptoms and within 10 minutes he diagnosed and repaired the problem. It turned out that the valve inside the hot water tap’s knob was clogged up. The second plumber simply removed it, cleaned it, re-greased it, and put it all back to together. The hot water pressure was immediately restored. It’s been two days now and the pressure has not dropped. I paid £80 to get it repaired by the second plumber

 

So it’s obvious to me that it was a small problem that could have been easily fixed by the first plumber. I didn’t need a new tap and sink. I can only speculate that either the first plumber wasn’t sufficiently qualified to diagnose the problem (I personally find this hard to believe as he is from a plumbing company that advertises on TV), or he deliberately chose not to identify fix the problem in an attempt to extract more money from me by suggesting unnecessary work.

I feel as if I handed over £125 to the first plumber for nothing. It is especially painful as I am on a very low income.  In my view, considering the straightforward nature of problem, I think he could have fixed it during his visit, which would have saved me from having to call out a second plumber from a different company.   

I don’t think it is right that the first plumber is able to get away with just taking money from me without fixing a problem that he could have fixed. I just feel as if I have been misled.

 

Is there anything I can do to recover some of the money that I gave the first plumber?

 

Any useful advice appreciated.

 

 

pinkshoes

Personally I would be writing to the first plumbing company and stating that you told the plumber what was wrong, suggested it was a problem with the valve and asked them to take a look, and that their plumber stated it was fine and quoted £500 for a new sink. State that as you were sure it was the valve you got a second plumber to take a look, who indeed found the valve clogged and cleaned it out, so no new sink/tap required.

I would then write that on this basis, you would like a refund of the £125 that you paid for their call out given their plumber they sent was incapable of recognising such a simple problem which you had already asked them to investigate, and therefore you feel the charge was unfair given the incompetence. State that if they are not willing to refund, then you will certainly be letting others know the poor experience you had with their company.

PS - given you had a good hunch what was wrong, next time have a look on Youtube for a DIY video and have a go! 

ComicGeek

"well known London plumbing company" - now you know how the owner has made their millions, you didn't get a plumber around you had a salesman....

born_again

Wo is this "Well known London plumbing company"?

Do they state they have a call out charge?

Aylesbury_Duck

Probably the one run by Rod Stewart.

JJ_Egan

Stopped his busking with our monica  then and got a job at last .