Replies

1. 
   shelternerd | Jul 07, 2007 03:56am | #1

   He's most likely not insured to cover damage from Errors and Omissions. He may offer to compensate you for the water damage or he may not that would be a warrantee issue and is probably covered by state statute. In NC we are required to warrantee all work for one year from occupancy. Certainly he owes you the repair of the leak. Good business sense would have him compensate you for the water damage or offer to have his painter repair the damage. Mold and mildew claims are anybodies guess.

   ------------------

   "You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."

1. 
   BillHartmann | Jul 07, 2007 08:52am | #4

   Why would that be covered by E&O.I would think that a general liability policy would cover this kind of problem.And if was a bad solder joint (or similar) then he would be liable for the damages that is caused (if within a reasonable time frame based on state law)..
   .
   A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.

2. 
   RedfordHenry | Jul 07, 2007 03:58am | #2

   Hmm, a year later?  Considering that the leak is at an access panel, it was likely eyeballed when he turned the water on and deemed good at the time the work was completed.  If it were two weeks or even a month after the work was completed, I'd say that a fair plumber would take care of damages.  But a year later is another matter.

1. 
   rasconc | Jul 07, 2007 06:43pm | #8

   He said he had it done last year, not necessarily a year ago.  Could have been 7 months, 7 days, etc ago. (;-)

1. 
   jaystl | Jul 08, 2007 03:37pm | #9

   Just took another look at it.  Looks like it's leaking from a hairline crack in a compression fitting.

   The repair was done 11 months ago.

1. 
   rich1 | Jul 08, 2007 04:39pm | #10

   The fitting broke.  Not the "plumbers" fault. Is he a plumber or a handyman?

   Just wondering why a compression fitting was used.

1. 
   Dinosaur | Jul 08, 2007 06:37pm | #11

   Could be any one of a number of reasons to use a compression fitting: Might be a sink/toilet cut-off valve feeding a Speedway hose; might be a joint between old (ie: water-filled) pipe and new (empty) so it's faster (ie: less expensive for the HO) to use a compression union or Sharkbite than to drain the whole existing system so you can sweat it.

   I use compression-type cut-off valves instead of sweat-on types when roughing in as that allows me to run the pipe long and then cut it to the proper length later once the 'rock is up without having to de-sweat and re-sweat. I've never had one of those connections go bad or leak.

   Then again, I always use type L even if M would meet code, so I've got some beef in the pipe I'm compressing....

   Dinosaur

    

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not broughtlow by this? For thine evil pales before that whichfoolish men call Justice....

2. 
   rich1 | Jul 08, 2007 08:18pm | #12

   I agree with all of the above.

    

   Just wondering why the op had a compression when it sounded like the system was drained to replace a bunch of galv pipe.

    

   And I am starting to love those sharkbites.  Especially when replacing recirc lines in commercial jobs.

    

3. 
   DanH | Jul 08, 2007 10:03pm | #13

   Waddaya mean "not the plumber's fault"?? He should be shot and his abused corpse hung on a tree in the front yard, as a warning to future repairmen.
   So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin

4. 
   rich1 | Jul 09, 2007 12:22am | #14

   Town square might be better.

   Hate to have all the neighbourhood dogs feasting on my bones.

5. 
   IMERC | Jul 09, 2007 04:22am | #15

   just pike the head...

   won't smell so bad....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

3. 
   maverick | Jul 07, 2007 05:16am | #3

   around here (ct) you must warrantee your work for a 1 year period minimum. in my opinion it makes good business sense to just fix a callback no matter how long its been if the problem is related to workmanship

   anyway, call the guy and give him the chance to make good

4. 
   brownbagg | Jul 07, 2007 03:33pm | #5

   It properly be "Hey buudy a joint leaking" Ok be out today. He comes he repair leak and leaves no charge. Plaster you on your own.

   Now if you want paster repair, mold remendation and cash to boot for pain and suffering, you just aint going get it.
1. 
   davidmeiland | Jul 07, 2007 05:44pm | #6

   You can always hire the attorney on the back of the phone book. But I agree, he fixes the leak, you fix the wall... that's the generally accepted deal. If he ruined your entire living room, grand piano, and collection of antique sheet music, then you file an insurance claim.

   Warranty on a copper sweat fitting should be more than a year, unless you're in a location with copper-eating water.

5. 
   plumbbill | Jul 07, 2007 06:04pm | #7

   Was this a plumbing contractor?

   Or was it a guy that came recommended, no permit, no contract etc etc etc.

   Standard workmanship warranty is one year, do you have a receipt when the work was done?

   If it is bad copper or fitting, copper has a 50yr warranty, but I'm pretty sure that just covers the cost of fixing the fault, not any damage that the fault caused.

   Covering the cost of other damage, is a bit tricky. How long was the leak happening, did you call for the fix in a timely manner etc etc etc----- those questions will be asked & twisted in any arbitration or court claim.

   My opinion is like others here----- plumber fix's the leak, & you fix the plaster, due to time between work completed & leak noticed.

   The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax.

   -- Albert Einstein