Comments for Plumbing

Comment on How to Fix a Slab Leak by Steve

Steve — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:23:53 +0000

Honestly, I have not had any experience with it, one way or another. I am skeptical, as a rule, but nothing beats good homework

Comment on Why Plumbing Info? by Mark Billings

Mark Billings — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:57:09 +0000

Hello Steve,
Reading your story sounded like I was reading about myself. I too am a 42yr old plumber in the bay area who started at drain patrol and moved through the ranks of other local companies. I found myself being the one who could fix what others could not. So I started my own company called Trademark Plumbing Co. In 2001. But recently I have been looking for something else to do in the plumbing arena and I like what your doing. I would love to meet with you to get some real insight. The kind that doesn’t come from a website.
Contact me and we can discuss future opportunity for both of us.

Thanks
Mark

Comment on How to Fix a Slab Leak by Bill

Bill — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:46:37 +0000

We have had several slab leaks…what is your opionion on the epoxy liner process?

Comment on Sewer Main Replacement – What you Should Know by Donna Mcdonald

Donna Mcdonald — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:01:30 +0000

I think every one should read this , it help me out a lot and could save me in so many ways, thank you maybe now i wont be so sucked on! I must look like a big sucker and they take as much as they can THANK YOU

Comment on How to Fix a Slab Leak by Cody

Cody — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 12:14:13 +0000

Hi Steve, Thanks for sharing your expertise. I would like your advice, we thought we may have a sewer leak so I had my plumber come out and he put a balloon in the clean out and filled with water and the level immediately dropped 6-8 inches and held. He did this a few times and it did the same thing. He told me he would have to come back to isolate it and worst case, that would cost $700. I asked about a camera and he said you couldn’t find a leak that way.

So the next day I called a company who specializes in leak detection, they came out the same day with a camera and found the leak within 15 minutes and then they used some tool like a metal detector for water to supposedly pinpoint the location, which was in the middle of the floor in the master bathroom.

They then said that if I had them do the work they would confirm the location by isolation and the total repair job would cost $2,400.

So my question is does all this sound reasonable to you and what do you think about epoxy lining the pipe without having to dig up the slab?

I sincerely appreciate your site and help, I, like most other homeowners, feel helpless when it comes to stuff out of our comfort zone.

Cody

Comment on What is an Emergency Plumbing Repair? by DAVID O

DAVID O — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:19:52 +0000

SHOP AROUND BEFORE SIGNING ANYTHING PEOPLE!

Comment on Sewer Main Replacement – What you Should Know by DAVID O

DAVID O — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 07:18:33 +0000

I wish I found this site earlier…I really think what you’re doing is honorable and informative to average joes like myself.

Instead of comparing rates, I kinda just agreed to the plumber’s recommendation of replacing all the old cast iron pipes under the house since they are old and aging. They quoted $7000 to replace all the cast iron pipes under the house, seems kinda steep but relented anyways. I wish I hadn’t signed that 3 day right to cancel waiver!! Requires a little digging in soft sand in the crawl space under the house to expose the old pipes, basic one story 1950′s home…is the given quote on the higher end?

We also found tree roots in the pipes leading away from the house via camera. They quoted $2000, although it seems like all they need to do is replace that portion and they did recommend a cleanout access point…that seemed steep to me, so I declined their offer. At least I can shop around for this job…

Comment on How to Fix a Slab Leak by Steve

Steve — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:39:39 +0000

Awesome. Yea, you don’t see service like that much these days. Thanks for sharing.

Comment on How to Fix a Slab Leak by Mark

Mark — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:34:29 +0000

Okay now that I’ve spent some time on your site I have to tell you why we feel some loyalty to our plumber even though his quote to fix the slab leak made us sick:

This winter I came home, the day before a business trip, to find the hot water flex hose had sprung a leak, blasting through the heater wall into the garage, flooding it and part of the master bath closet. I couldn’t get a new flex hose back on(previous owner had a garden hose bib ending the line above the tank), and in a panic to make sure my wife had hot water during my absence, I googled “24 hr plumber” in my zip. Called the one closest to me, and long story short, the guy is licensed, etc., comes over at 9 pm and gets the flex hose on for me.

He then tells me he hates flex hoses and he wants to put a copper line in instead when I get back in town. I say “okay”,so how much do I owe you for this after hour gig? he says “let’s worry about that when you get back from your trip and we can do this up right. For now your wife has hot water. Call me when you get back in town.”

Can you believe that? I called him and he did the job for $200. I’ve been loyal to him for that reason alone. Maybe I am a sucker, but you never hear of anything like that any more.

Sorry, I just had to share that story.

Comment on Tankless Water Heaters by Steve

Steve — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:26:42 +0000

Well, if you do not have a recirc system now, you should notice little, if any difference in the amount of time the water takes to get to your faucets/showers/etc. You will likely see a change in your energy bill, though. All day, while you are not using the hot water, your tank is reheating it, just to let it get cold again… and it is doing that several times every day. You should be able to save some money by going tankless. will it be enough to pay the electrician (should you need a bigger breaker), and cover the cost of the new heater? Probably… over time.