John Lewis caused a leak and damage to my home

Alfrescodave

Aylesbury_Duck said:

NoHoneyBee said:

ThumbRemote said:

While waiting for John Lewis, start getting quotes for repairing the damage. 

It sounds like the fitter has done a poor job, and to cover their own back is going to continue claiming it's not their fault. They probably took the original photo cropped like that to hide the red pipe. If John Lewis refuse to co-operate, you'll have to send a letter before action then if necessary submit a small claims court case - though they'll probably just sort it before the small claims court as 'a gesture of goodwill'. 

Where is the leak? In the blue or red hoses? It's hard to tell from the photos how it's arranged. I'm guessing the blue hose is too short to reach where the other end of the red hose is connected to the main pipework, hence it's been used as an extension. That could mean JL have a defence, if they've connected up to what's already there. However if their blue hose doesn't reach the main pipework it shows that no-one else has messed with it since as their pipe could never have fit. 

I've taken my own pictures from behind the washing machine, the leak looks like it's coming out of the washing machine where the red pipe has been attached to it. 

It looks like that red hose is being pushed outwards by the white metal an inch below the connection.  That's probably enough to open a small gap and let water spray out in a very small quantity but over a long period of time.  If no one else has touched the plumbing or moved the machine, that's clearly an installation fault.

Thats a good explanation. OP can you run the washing machine and watch if any water does get past the connection when the machine is being filled. That would strongly suggest that the original fitting was at fault.

eskbanker

Alfrescodave said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

NoHoneyBee said:

ThumbRemote said:

While waiting for John Lewis, start getting quotes for repairing the damage. 

It sounds like the fitter has done a poor job, and to cover their own back is going to continue claiming it's not their fault. They probably took the original photo cropped like that to hide the red pipe. If John Lewis refuse to co-operate, you'll have to send a letter before action then if necessary submit a small claims court case - though they'll probably just sort it before the small claims court as 'a gesture of goodwill'. 

Where is the leak? In the blue or red hoses? It's hard to tell from the photos how it's arranged. I'm guessing the blue hose is too short to reach where the other end of the red hose is connected to the main pipework, hence it's been used as an extension. That could mean JL have a defence, if they've connected up to what's already there. However if their blue hose doesn't reach the main pipework it shows that no-one else has messed with it since as their pipe could never have fit. 

I've taken my own pictures from behind the washing machine, the leak looks like it's coming out of the washing machine where the red pipe has been attached to it. 

It looks like that red hose is being pushed outwards by the white metal an inch below the connection.  That's probably enough to open a small gap and let water spray out in a very small quantity but over a long period of time.  If no one else has touched the plumbing or moved the machine, that's clearly an installation fault.

Thats a good explanation. OP can you run the washing machine and watch if any water does get past the connection when the machine is being filled. That would strongly suggest that the original fitting was at fault.

OP's 12:20 post would suggest that the machine was pulled out to take this photo, and that, in doing so, strain on the red hose could have dislodged it from its installed position?

Boohoo

eskbanker said:

Alfrescodave said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

NoHoneyBee said:

ThumbRemote said:

While waiting for John Lewis, start getting quotes for repairing the damage. 

It sounds like the fitter has done a poor job, and to cover their own back is going to continue claiming it's not their fault. They probably took the original photo cropped like that to hide the red pipe. If John Lewis refuse to co-operate, you'll have to send a letter before action then if necessary submit a small claims court case - though they'll probably just sort it before the small claims court as 'a gesture of goodwill'. 

Where is the leak? In the blue or red hoses? It's hard to tell from the photos how it's arranged. I'm guessing the blue hose is too short to reach where the other end of the red hose is connected to the main pipework, hence it's been used as an extension. That could mean JL have a defence, if they've connected up to what's already there. However if their blue hose doesn't reach the main pipework it shows that no-one else has messed with it since as their pipe could never have fit. 

I've taken my own pictures from behind the washing machine, the leak looks like it's coming out of the washing machine where the red pipe has been attached to it. 

It looks like that red hose is being pushed outwards by the white metal an inch below the connection.  That's probably enough to open a small gap and let water spray out in a very small quantity but over a long period of time.  If no one else has touched the plumbing or moved the machine, that's clearly an installation fault.

Thats a good explanation. OP can you run the washing machine and watch if any water does get past the connection when the machine is being filled. That would strongly suggest that the original fitting was at fault.

OP's 12:20 post would suggest that the machine was pulled out to take this photo, and that, in doing so, strain on the red hose could have dislodged it from its installed position?

I was about to suggest that.


I fitted a new Samsung WM 2 weeks ago and in OP photo of hose you can see a nook/dent where the pipe can hang down so nearer flush to the machine.

On my old machine when I pulled it out you can see the pipe straining so maybe that's why it looks like that.

Don't take this the wrong way OP but there is a lot of gunk/ dirt/debris around and under the red pipe. Is that from the "leak" or something else?

NoHoneyBee

Don't take this the wrong way OP but there is a lot of gunk/ dirt/debris around and under the red pipe. Is that from the "leak" or something else?

We moved here 2 years ago, the washing machine we replaced came with the property so we haven't had to go back there before (I'm not sure how dirty it was prior to the leak!). It's definitely much gunkier because of the leak, as the whole under the washing machine is now wet and the leak has been ongoing for 8 months! 

NoHoneyBee

Thats a good explanation. OP can you run the washing machine and watch if any water does get past the connection when the machine is being filled. That would strongly suggest that the original fitting was at fault.

OP's 12:20 post would suggest that the machine was pulled out to take this photo, and that, in doing so, strain on the red hose could have dislodged it from its installed position?

The photos I've shared where it's been pulled out was when the fitter came to look at it on Tuesday. The water has now been switched off by the installer so I'm unable to run the washing machine now until it's been fixed. 

The issue is that they are refusing to accept they did the fitting as the red pipe is not theirs, but that doesn't mean they didn't just use the pipe that was already there. So I'm not sure how they can just refuse liability, when actually it's just proof that the installer should've replaced the pipes when they installed it. 

born_again

I  would agree with other poster, that they have just reused the old pipe to the washing machine. Given the 1st pictures & the join in the pipes.
Std pipes would not be long enough. Hence the extension.

Boohoo

NoHoneyBee said:

Don't take this the wrong way OP but there is a lot of gunk/ dirt/debris around and under the red pipe. Is that from the "leak" or something else?

We moved here 2 years ago, the washing machine we replaced came with the property so we haven't had to go back there before (I'm not sure how dirty it was prior to the leak!). It's definitely much gunkier because of the leak, as the whole under the washing machine is now wet and the leak has been ongoing for 8 months! 

I was referring to your new washing machine where the red pipe is connected to the inlet valve.

GDB2222

I’m afraid I have a short fuse, and I would issue a LBA as soon as I have costings for the remediation work. Then, when they ignore that, I issue proceedings. 

It’s pretty likely that the installer reused an old pipe because he didn’t have a new one that was long enough. But you don’t need to prove that. You just give your evidence, like you have here, that nobody has touched the installation. So if the pipe is defective as JL claim then that is because they used a defective pipe. 

mikb

GDB2222 said:

It’s pretty likely that the installer reused an old pipe because he didn’t have a new one that was long enough. 

I wonder if all this damage is the reason why there was a caution in the manual for my machine, which said "Use the hoses we have provided, do NOT re-use your existing pipes". 

Maybe they know that there is a possible reliability/compatibility problem between older/other manufacturer's connectors. 

Or simply, the older ones get worn out from being under compression for years, and at the minimum would need new seals putting on them?

GDB2222

mikb said:

GDB2222 said:

It’s pretty likely that the installer reused an old pipe because he didn’t have a new one that was long enough. 

I wonder if all this damage is the reason why there was a caution in the manual for my machine, which said "Use the hoses we have provided, do NOT re-use your existing pipes". 

Maybe they know that there is a possible reliability/compatibility problem between older/other manufacturer's connectors. 

Or simply, the older ones get worn out from being under compression for years, and at the minimum would need new seals putting on them?

The fittings are just plastic, so they don’t last forever.