Plumber Snapped Pipe, Are They Liable?

Poor Ass on 07/08/2022 - 18:14

Plumber was called to swap over an existing leaking showerhead

In the process they managed to snap the little pipe sticking out of the wall which connects to the showerhead

The house is about 60 years old and in the recent 30 years the showerhead had been changed about 3-4 times

In order for the shower to work again. The shower tiles need to be removed for a new pipe to be fitted.

  1. Is the plumber fully liable as they broke it and they would have insurance

  2. Owner is liable because of age of the pipes

  3. Plumber and owner both share responsibility because of negligence and age of pipes

Poll Options expired

  • 128
    Plumber Liable
  • 17
    Owner Liable
  • 12
    Plumber and Owner share cost in repairs
Home & Garden

Comments

  • Nugs on 07/08/2022 - 18:20
    +6

    if you get free labour out of the plumber it would be a win
    .

  • apsilon on 07/08/2022 - 18:30
    +3

    Did they advise you of the risk? I wanted to have the shower taps and head changed and the plumber recommended not to do it as there's a good chance of the pipe breaking within the wall given the age so I've left them as is. Not pretty but they work.

    If they didn't then I'd say they have to take most of the responsibility. If they did and you said to go ahead anyway then it's on you.

    • Poor Ass on 07/08/2022 - 18:34

      I'm guessing your situation is by choice and not faulty?

      I actually don't think anything wrong with the pipe

      They probably over tighten and broke it

      • apsilon on 07/08/2022 - 20:01

        Yeah, in my case it was a choice but that's irrelevant. If he warned you that it could happen and you elected to proceed then the responsibility is yours IMO.

        • Poor Ass on 07/08/2022 - 20:03

          No warning and no recommendation

          • apsilon on 07/08/2022 - 20:20
            +2

            @Poor Ass: Then it's on him really but getting him to actually agree and pay is another story.

  • thatonethere on 07/08/2022 - 18:40
    +2

    They may say the pipe was aged and likely to break etc. If you are good at negotiating you have to kinda do a compromise - eg 50% labour.

    Otherwise end up with a poor job and them ghosting you

  • FLICKIT on 07/08/2022 - 18:50
    +2

    The joys of an old house :( you cant touch the wiring or plumbing without it all snowballing, at that age ALL the plumbing and electrical most likely needs replacing..

    • Poor Ass on 07/08/2022 - 18:53

      So what do you think should happen now?

      • FLICKIT on 07/08/2022 - 19:01
        +5

        Sorry but I think it's all on you… A plumber does this stuff day in day out, he has the training, experience, and "feel" to know how tight is tight enough, it's really not on him if your pipe wasn't capable of being tightened to what is needed for it to seal and such… Also, maybe the last plumber you had in over tightened and cracked it?… It really is just the joys of owning an old house IMO…

        (just my opinion)

  • [Deactivated] on 07/08/2022 - 19:50

    did he warn you of the risk? i'd say he is responsible.

    if he didn't warn you, i would question his skills / experience as a plumber, as an experienced plumber would know the potential for it to break and warn the customer beforehand.

    • Poor Ass on 07/08/2022 - 20:05

      No warning

  • Danstar on 07/08/2022 - 19:55
    +4

    What did the plumber say when it happened?

  • ECE on 07/08/2022 - 20:09

    Touch move 🤫😷

  • Worf on 07/08/2022 - 20:10
    +3

    What’s on the other side of the wall… can you access the plumbing pipes from the other side. Gyprock might be easier to replace than tiles.

  • Nutrino on 07/08/2022 - 20:26

    Can you prove he/she/non binary was negligent?… would it have happened to anyone changing the head?

    • bdubba on 08/08/2022 - 13:55
      -1

      Can you prove they were negligent?

      Not that hard lol

  • djones145 on 07/08/2022 - 20:45
    +1

    I think u need.
    .. judge judy

    • SF3 on 07/08/2022 - 22:20
      +2

      judge judy

      The people are real dim. The cases are real. The rulings are final..

  • BeamMeUp on 08/08/2022 - 07:39
    +2

    You try to fix one thing and something else breaks. Happens too often with old houses, they are full of time bombs with breakage occurring no matter how careful you may be. Question you will never know is was the Tradie careless. Owners issue for mine.

  • saltypete on 08/08/2022 - 09:06

    It's on the plumber to fix the pipe. He may be able to do a temporary fix, but your pipes are likely stuffed.
    Hopefully bathroom is not recently renovated.

    • Peck on 09/08/2022 - 00:07
      +1

      That is a 'pipe dream'!

  • George Washington on 08/08/2022 - 10:29

    50/50

    Old houses it is expected. Is the pipe facing an external wall they can enter and fix the pipe that way.

  • oscargamer on 08/08/2022 - 10:52
    +1

    Did it snap while taking off the old fitting or putting on the new one?

    I know which one the plumber will say, and that'll be at your expense. (Unless you were looking over his shoulder when it happened)

    • Poor Ass on 08/08/2022 - 10:53

      do not have that information

      but what are your thoughts?

      • oscargamer on 08/08/2022 - 10:54

        Huh?

        I wasn't there…..

        • Poor Ass on 08/08/2022 - 10:55

          Nah I mean what are your thoughts if it snapped while taking off vs snap while putting on… plumber or me or both

          • oscargamer on 08/08/2022 - 11:02

            @Poor Ass: Ah….

            Snapped coming off, that's at your expense.
            Going on, MAYBE at his expense.

  • 2esc on 08/08/2022 - 11:03

    This is a tricky one because how tight did the previous plumber tighten it? To get the shower head straight some might crank it further around instead of removing and starting again. Or did the previous plumber cross thread it? Was there corrosion? Sorry but I think the owner is responsible. Unless you had the same plumber for those previous times then that might be a different story.

  • Xistn on 08/08/2022 - 11:16

    I was here for the toilet jokes…. disappointed.

  • WT on 08/08/2022 - 11:29

    is there 1'' of pipe sticking out from the wall? or is it broken inside?

    • Poor Ass on 08/08/2022 - 11:35

      i believe the inside pipe snapped from turning the the sticking out bit

  • Peck on 08/08/2022 - 11:52
    +2

    The plumber then made a bolt for the door!! He is versatile!

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