Originally Posted By: Tdbo
Had mine done about three weeks ago.
Fortunately, since I have no ceiling in my basement, it merely leaked on the floor. Plumber PVC'd the whole thing.
Problem solved.
However, if I paid a plumber, I'd make him come back and fix it right.
Very lucky! Based on what I've seen and what you guys are saying, I don't want this guy back in the house. I spoke with him this morning and was nice about not needing his services. The guy has been a pleasure to speak with on the phone.
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Not much to the job. Fix it and be done, I'd do the whole drain and trap to some good point where the pipe is clean to couple to.
But I think the ceiling repair will be the touchiest item. Why would he open it up like that?!? Should have found joists and cut the Sheetrock around there, either at the halfway mark, or the edge (so you could install blocking and screw a repair into that).
I wouldn't call that plumber back...
Good idea. The pipe runs exactly 2' to a 90* elbow, and then runs toward the wall, to right above the kitchen sink. It also elbows right near the heating duct for the bathroom, making it pretty tight quarters there. I'm also not sure a pipe cutter would even close to fit in there, so would the best spot to tie in all new PVC be right where the trap is now?
Sweat-out the old brazing and attached right there?
Originally Posted By: 285south
Yeah the pop-corn ceiling was invented by the Hades Company.
Haha, good one!
Originally Posted By: GiveMeAVowel
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
I couldn't get home, so we used a plumber recommended by our condo manager, who came over within an hour. He cut into the ceiling and immediately diagnosed the problem very confidently as the overflow line from the tub. He replaced the gasket and said that there were no other repairs needed.
One of the first checks I did was turn on the water in the shower and check for leaks. The leak was still there, right at the main drain fitting; it was where the first straight run of pipe threaded into drain elbow beneath the tub, not at the fitting itself. Come to find out, he didn't check for leaks at all before or after the work!
Condo manager getting kickbacks from that [censored] hack that calls himself a plumber? I'd let the "condo manager" know about the shoddy workmanship of his friend. LOL
My wife is on the board and seems to like the lady, and we've actually had her husband, an electrician, do good work for us, but yea, that kind of thing is always on my mind, especially since the plumber was so young. He was well-spoken, my wife and a friend who is more mechanically-inclined (but not a plumber) came over to oversee the guy and said he seemed competent.
It might just be, that due to it being an "emergency call," he didn't bring over the right tools or know what he was getting himself into? I wasn't the one who called him, because I was at work, so I don't know what he came expecting to find. I would assume he'd expect the worst and bring everything...
Originally Posted By: BRZED
That cheese ceiling may contain asbestos.
I thought about that, and also lead-based paint, since my condo was built in the 60's, but the section here was probably replaced relatively recently due to a similar leak that wasn't repaired properly, as you guys describe it should have been.
You can see the fiber tape and a bit of sagging in just one rectangular section from when this was previously done. I can see up to the wall of our second bedroom on the second floor a new section of drywall behind the fittings for the tub valves. The PO mentioned having a leak there, so I'm assuming that, based on the two observations, that the drywall in the section that is cut out is relatively new.
Originally Posted By: Plumber
The drain body screws into the shoe. Replace them both. Put pipe dope on the threads of the shoe when you tighten it.
The shoe is the elbow that the drain body threads into, with a gasket between it and the drain body? I looked online and the videos that I found showed the drain body inserting into PVC. I'm going to head to the store now to get some supplies, but what you're saying is that the drain body and shoe should be bought together? I guess that would negate the need to pull the drain body first and take it to the store to match it up, thread-wise, to a new one.
Originally Posted By: Rand
I'll call the plumber up and ask for a refund.
For all I know, the overflow gasket was deteriorated and leaking, and he made the mistake of latching on to that.
Originally Posted By: JTK
How old is the home? I'd probably cut the copper waste line just downstream of the copper trap and eliminate everything upstream. New waste and overflow, new trap and use a quality Fernco coupler or the likes to couple the new plastic to the copper. Either that or remove the copper drain line if there an accessible plumbing fitting further downstream.
Yeah, your plumber was a hack. I've never seen one leave such a crude drywall hole.. ever.
'60's. That sounds like the best option. Everything looks so old that I'm worried they will leak soon, too, just after I repair the ceiling. I've seen the rubber couplings used before, thanks for the reminder.
I do have a buddy who is going to help out, but what do you guys think, far as specifics? I'm pretty new to this, so any specific guidance, more than what you've already very graciously provided, I mean.
Is it as simple as measuring, giving the dimensions I need and having the pieces fab'd for me?
