I'm looking for some input dealing with a plumber. Last Saturday the shower in my second bath clogged up and I called a plumber who came out to snake it. We do not have a clean out so he said that he could only use the medium size snake which meant the work was not guaranteed. I payed $95. I wend out of town on Monday and came back Friday. The following Saturday the shower clogged again. He came out today and cleared it but tried to charge me again. ($95 again). I told him I was not going to pay full price since it basically worked for two showers. What do you think it fair to pay? Should I pay the full price again since the work was not guaranteed?
Galvanized piping, cast iron, incorrect PVC piping systems cannot guarantee a thorough cleaning.
If the house is older where old piping is apparent, its a gambe like all the rest.
Here's what I tell my customers with drain problems:
"I clear drains on a regular basis, look at the size of my cable and look at the size of your piping. If I cannot get that cable through your piping then you have serious issues with the pipe."
I'm thorough when I clean a drain, I give it my best shot, but sometimes the piping configuration is the problem. If you don't want to pay for better access/larger cable, then I cannot control the circumstance you've created for yourself.
I had just this situation present itself on a kitchen sink drain where the customer called 5 days later saying it is clogged again. Here's part of the reason why:
Look at how that drain from the trap immediately goes up, 8 to 10" before entering the wall
He called, wanted to know how much it would cost to get the piping right. I wouldn't even give him a price, because I do not want to cut into month old cabinets, have to remove a high end sink faucet so I don't hit the tubing coming down from the faucet itself to open that wall.
He wants a complete job, I want what I do every day; touch the pipe and fittings and nothing else.
Anyone who has sat in a cabinet chopping through the back of one of those cabinets, along with punching holes through plaster and lathe, you know what is involved and this guy wanted nothing to do with any part of the task except write a check, be done with it.
I told him to get me proper access and I'll be able to run my larger cable, but I won't even chance that piping configuration with an aggressive blade, knowing how difficult it was to get 1/4" into the drain and not trail a vent, which it was doing from the go.
Never heard back from the guy but my time and effort was the charge. I didn't age that piping 30+ years and push food waste through that garbage disposal.
Wish things were different, but, I can't control F'd up plumbing by handymen who saved them a buck on the install. NMP
I'm not an attorney, but I think it is pretty clear that when this plumber takes you to small claims court, you will pay. It's really a no brainer. You might want to have a clean out put in so the larger snake can be used and you can get a guarantee on the work.
