They came, they drilled, they went
September 7th, 2008 Posted in Mundane musings
The chaps turned up before I’d run out of towels, drilled a hole in a kitchen cabinet and fixed the leak.
That was the good bit.
It didn’t cost me anything because of that two free months’ cover that Angular Water gave me, too.
That was the excellent bit.
Then they told me the internal pipework had to be condemned because it’s in a shocking state. All of it.
That was the not-so-good bit. In fact, a rude word may have slipped my lips at this point. Appropriately enough, it rhymed with “duck”.
September 7th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Sorry to hear about that. Is it possible to condemn pipework? At most it’s an irritation (of being ankle deep in water) but surely not a hazard? I guess if you’re unmetered then Angular Water might just be non-plussed.
Ah well.. if you need a lot of work done at least it means you can “think big”. Why not throw in the electrics/data/AV if all the walls in your house are about to be drilled by power tools?
There is always the theory of course that the 2 month “free” cover is a ruse to get people to come around who will “condemn” your pipework on the spot and start printing money - metaphorically. At the risk of being accused of spending your money, a second opinion is surely called for.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:08 pm
I have, indeed, been “thinking big” since the visit (although the water pipes in question are restricted to just one corner of the abode.
The idea that this was a con of some description but the insurer have said they wouldn’t cover the pipes until they were replaced - meaning there’s no point in my paying for the cover when the free period ends. Adding to this the advice I was given to get quotes from local plumbers rather than have the chaps who un-flooded me to quote as the locals would be much, much more economical leads me to suspect it’s not a con, either.
I shall, therefore, be seeking a second, third and fourth opinion.
September 7th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
It’s a shame to be so cynical.
September 8th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Think big. Re-wire, re-pipe, re-model, even. I mean, so long as you’re going to have to put holes through everything - in that corner you mentioned - it might be worth looking at the corner in a whole new light.
You know, so long as you’re going for it.
September 9th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I’m guessing that moving is out of the question - the estate agent could always pitch it as property with a “built in water feature”.
Otherwise go for a local plumber, yes they normally are cheaper, or DIY?
September 19th, 2008 at 10:28 am
What was the reason for condemning them?
Are you still on old lead pipes or something?
Our water problem was due to contamination from oil getting into the (oil-permeable) plastic pipes. Great work, Angular - put oil-permeable plastic pipes in a village where every house has a fucking oil-tank. Twats.
Give our recommended plumber a bell to quote for it - he put in our new copper-walled oil-safe supply pipe (main to house, over 60′ of front garden) including use of a mini-digger to take up the (thankfully gravel/earth) driveway for £2,500 .