Question about plumber's responsibility for a leak that didn't show up right away - Page 3

>I would not expect it to be covered.

>> Hi. I very recently noticed some mold in the den under the master
>> bathroom. The mold was up by the ceiling where it meets the wall -
>> tthe tub is above that so I knew it wasn't good. The bathroom above
>> was remodeled about four years ago and all of the plumbing was
>> replaced.
>> I opened up the ceiling and the sheetrock was wet and moldy, so I cut
>> it out, cleaned up the mold as best I could, located what was leaking
>> and called the plumber.
>> There was a copper T in the riser supplying the sink branch. The T
>> was leaking where the horizontal line came in. I don't know how long
>> the leak had been dripping, but for the amount of green crud on the
>> outside of the T it must have been for a while. You could see that
>> the solder at the T was rough and not smooth like it usually is when
>> the solder and fitting are hot enough.
>> The plumber came out and took a look and agreed that it was the T that
>> leaked and there was no other damage that caused the leak. When the
>> remodeling work was done I did not have a contract with the plumber,
>> it was a verbal agreement (I know that's not recommended!) and
>> everything went fine.
>> That's the background, now here's my question.
>> Is there an implied warranty of some sort that covers concealed work
>> and problems that don't immediately show up? I know new houses have
>> warranties, and that a standard contract usually has a one year
>> warranty covering the work, but this is an older house, and there
>> wasn't a contract. In any event I don't think an entirely new
>> bathroom plumbing system should leak from the supply lines in just a
>> few years.
>> So, who's responsible for the repair costs? I'm not particularly
>> concerned about the sheetrock, painting and the few tiles I had to
>> remove at the tub to access the plumbing. It's more of a question of
>> whether the plumber should take care of the plumbing repair on his
>> dime as it was his work that caused the problem.
>> It was due to an honest mistake - his mistake - and I know he is a
>> good plumber. I thought that he would take care of the repair since
>> his work caused the problem and I would not be billed. In return I
>> would not bill him for the damaged sheetrock, painting and tile that
>> had to be removed as I have a relative that does general construction
>> and handyman work for me. In mentioning the situation to some friends
>> they said that the plumber would probably hit me with a hefty bill for
>> the plumbing repair.
>> If he does send me a bill, what do I do? Do I just pay it without
>> question? Pay it and give him the bill for the other repair work
>> necessitated by the leak? I really have no idea what legal area this
>> would fall under and whether there is some standard procedure for a
>> concealed problem showing up a few years down the road.
>> I have no intention of taking this to a lawyer or small claims court,
>> and I live in NY if anyone knows the specifics in my state. I am just
>> curious what people's opinions are on this type of thing and if
>> someone could provide some guidance on how to approach the topic with
>> the plumber if he does in fact send me a bill.
>> Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>> Nick

> Hi. I very recently noticed some mold in the den under the master
> bathroom. The mold was up by the ceiling where it meets the wall -
> tthe tub is above that so I knew it wasn't good. The bathroom above
> was remodeled about four years ago and all of the plumbing was
> replaced.
>
> I opened up the ceiling and the sheetrock was wet and moldy, so I cut
> it out, cleaned up the mold as best I could, located what was leaking
> and called the plumber.
>
> There was a copper T in the riser supplying the sink branch. The T
> was leaking where the horizontal line came in. I don't know how long
> the leak had been dripping, but for the amount of green crud on the
> outside of the T it must have been for a while. You could see that
> the solder at the T was rough and not smooth like it usually is when
> the solder and fitting are hot enough.
>
> The plumber came out and took a look and agreed that it was the T that
> leaked and there was no other damage that caused the leak. When the
> remodeling work was done I did not have a contract with the plumber,
> it was a verbal agreement (I know that's not recommended!) and
> everything went fine.
>
> That's the background, now here's my question.
> Is there an implied warranty of some sort that covers concealed work
> and problems that don't immediately show up? I know new houses have
> warranties, and that a standard contract usually has a one year
> warranty covering the work, but this is an older house, and there
> wasn't a contract. In any event I don't think an entirely new
> bathroom plumbing system should leak from the supply lines in just a
> few years.
>
> So, who's responsible for the repair costs? I'm not particularly
> concerned about the sheetrock, painting and the few tiles I had to
> remove at the tub to access the plumbing. It's more of a question of
> whether the plumber should take care of the plumbing repair on his
> dime as it was his work that caused the problem.
>
> It was due to an honest mistake - his mistake - and I know he is a
> good plumber. I thought that he would take care of the repair since
> his work caused the problem and I would not be billed. In return I
> would not bill him for the damaged sheetrock, painting and tile that
> had to be removed as I have a relative that does general construction
> and handyman work for me. In mentioning the situation to some friends
> they said that the plumber would probably hit me with a hefty bill for
> the plumbing repair.
>
> If he does send me a bill, what do I do? Do I just pay it without
> question? Pay it and give him the bill for the other repair work
> necessitated by the leak? I really have no idea what legal area this
> would fall under and whether there is some standard procedure for a
> concealed problem showing up a few years down the road.
>
> I have no intention of taking this to a lawyer or small claims court,
> and I live in NY if anyone knows the specifics in my state. I am just
> curious what people's opinions are on this type of thing and if
> someone could provide some guidance on how to approach the topic with
> the plumber if he does in fact send me a bill.
>
> Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Nick

> Handplanes wrote:

> > Hi. =EF=BF=BDI very recently noticed some mold in the den under the mas=

> > bathroom. =EF=BF=BDThe mold was up by the ceiling where it meets the wa=

> > tthe tub is above that so I knew it wasn't good. =EF=BF=BDThe bathroom =

> > was remodeled about four years ago and all of the plumbing was
> > replaced.
> > I opened up the ceiling and the sheetrock was wet and moldy, so I cut
> > it out, cleaned up the mold as best I could, located what was leaking
> > and called the plumber.
> > There was a copper T in the riser supplying the sink branch. =EF=BF=BDT=

> > was leaking where the horizontal line came in. =EF=BF=BDI don't know ho=

> > the leak had been dripping, but for the amount of green crud on the
> > outside of the T it must have been for a while. =EF=BF=BDYou could see =

> > the solder at the T was rough and not smooth like it usually is when
> > the solder and fitting are hot enough.
> > The plumber came out and took a look and agreed that it was the T that
> > leaked and there was no other damage that caused the leak. =EF=BF=BDWhe=

> > remodeling work was done I did not have a contract with the plumber,
> > it was a verbal agreement (I know that's not recommended!) and
> > everything went fine.
> > That's the background, now here's my question.
> > Is there an implied warranty of some sort that covers concealed work
> > and problems that don't immediately show up? =EF=BF=BDI know new houses=

> > warranties, and that a standard contract usually has a one year
> > warranty covering the work, but this is an older house, and there
> > wasn't a contract. =EF=BF=BDIn any event I don't think an entirely new
> > bathroom plumbing system should leak from the supply lines in just a
> > few years.
> > So, who's responsible for the repair costs? =EF=BF=BDI'm not particular=

> > concerned about the sheetrock, painting and the few tiles I had to
> > remove at the tub to access the plumbing. =EF=BF=BDIt's more of a quest=

> > whether the plumber should take care of the plumbing repair on his
> > dime as it was his work that caused the problem.
> > It was due to an honest mistake - his mistake - and I know he is a
> > good plumber. =EF=BF=BDI thought that he would take care of the repair =

> > his work caused the problem and I would not be billed. =EF=BF=BDIn retu=

> > would not bill him for the damaged sheetrock, painting and tile that
> > had to be removed as I have a relative that does general construction
> > and handyman work for me. =EF=BF=BDIn mentioning the situation to some =

> > they said that the plumber would probably hit me with a hefty bill for
> > the plumbing repair.
> > If he does send me a bill, what do I do? =EF=BF=BDDo I just pay it with=

> > question? =EF=BF=BDPay it and give him the bill for the other repair wo=

> > necessitated by the leak? =EF=BF=BDI really have no idea what legal are=

> > would fall under and whether there is some standard procedure for a
> > concealed problem showing up a few years down the road.
> > I have no intention of taking this to a lawyer or small claims court,
> > and I live in NY if anyone knows the specifics in my state. =EF=BF=BDI =

> > curious what people's opinions are on this type of thing and if
> > someone could provide some guidance on how to approach the topic with
> > the plumber if he does in fact send me a bill.
> > Any and all replies will be greatly appreciated. =EF=BF=BDThanks.
> > Nick

> Why don't you call the plumber back to take look at it and see what he
> says. Only he can tell you if he'll fix it at no charge.
> --
> Art- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

>> Why don't you call the plumber back to take look at it and see what he
>> says. Only he can tell you if he'll fix it at no charge.
>> --
>> Art

>
> the plumber already fixed it but no bill yet, around here the bill is
> presented at coompletion of the job