Just get a better toilet! - Plumbing Zone

GrumpyPlumber · 06-18-2008, 01:22 PM

This ones for the books.
I did an estimate yesterday for a referral from an existing customer.
It's a pending home sale and they needed an estimate on how much it would cost to repair the downstairs bath that had obviously been diy'ed
Real estate agent was present and when I informed her that the slab had to be drilled and a sewage ejector installed...she insisted I was wrong and that all they needed to do was put in a more powerful toilet. (classic)
As you all can imagine, there's no vent for this group...I simply filled the lav and let everyone watch the water level in the toilet slowly drop as the lav drained.

I betcha you guys might be able to figure out what the other problem(s) are...

22rifle · 06-18-2008, 01:28 PM

If you put in an ejector you will have to vent to atmosphere too huh?

Nice tee on it's side too.

BTW, what about those toilets sitting on an ejector? Would that work here?

Doncha hate working with real estate agents on a home sale? Everything you say is a strike against their interests so it's this big tug of war thing going on.

Killertoiletspider · 06-18-2008, 01:50 PM

I guess backpitch is better than no pitch?

Song Dog · 06-18-2008, 03:05 PM

Funny, she has the solution, just get a better toilet. Its not the problem. I love it (not really) when someone who doesn't have a clue knows more about what i do, than I do.

In Christ,

Song Dog

threaderman · 06-18-2008, 04:21 PM

No primer, and is that C.I. or concrete? If so it looks like the hub is supporting the weight of the pipe ,which is a no-no.Also,no ferncos allowed inside the structure ,it should be no-hubs/mission bands.Any one else here call them mission bands?I would think the northern plumbers have or do.

threaderman · 06-18-2008, 04:24 PM

I like to keep the spigot end of a fitting running down-stream as well,if possible.

GrumpyPlumber · 06-18-2008, 06:03 PM

The san-tee on it's side, the obvious back-pitch in the photo, the fernco clamps with no sleeve, no supports on the 4" PVC , no venting...and yes, I mentioned the "quick-Jon" as well but was immediately shot down by the all knowing R.E. agent who told me a flushometer or power flush would resolve the back-pitch.

When the R.E. agent started talking to me like I didn't know what I was talking about, I just said f-ck it and quoted the most expensive alternative...I was hired by the buyer to give them an honest appraisal for negotiating the price down.

The agent might have gotten the Quick-Jon alternative...but seeing as she knows so much more than me I figured she could estimate that option.

smellslike$tome · 06-18-2008, 10:07 PM

As soon as she started disputing my word I would have retrieved my state certified master plumber certification card from my wallet and said something like, "lady you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and unless you can show me one of these with your name on it you need to shut your mouth and leave the plumbing diagnostics to a professional. Anything less than what I have said is necessary will simply be more hackery of the sort that has created this nightmare to begin with. Now do we need to get the city out here to offer their second opinion on what needs to be done because it's the inspectors job to protect home owners, both old and new, by insuring that certain minimum building standards are met with respect to building construction which would certainly include plumbing among many other things. I've got them right here on speed dial and I'll be happy to call them for you?"

Of course I would never have thought of such an awesome response as that while I was standing there. It would have come to me in the middle of the night after I had fumed about it all evening

.

marc in calgary · 06-19-2008, 12:27 AM

that sounds about right for me too.
They're called ferncos here in Canada, I find the easiest way out of this sort of situation begins with the statement... "Plumbing code mandates that we do bla bla bla..." and when realtors "back talk" to me, I state again, "The Plumbing Code..." once they realize they're not arguing with me, but with "the powers that be" they'll also get that I'm not above calling the real estate board here to talk trash about a plumber wan-a-be.
and then they'll not be able to sell a house stating there is a bathroom in the basement, why? because it isn't approved.

well, good thing I'm not running for election.

Herk · 06-21-2008, 11:04 PM

In a case like this, it might just be prudent to call in an inspector and have him red tag it and then it won't be habitable until it's fixed properly.

06-18-2008, 03:05 PM	#4
Song Dog LeMarr Plumbing, Inc. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Carlinville, IL Posts: 771 My Photos	Funny, she has the solution, just get a better toilet. Its not the problem. I love it (not really) when someone who doesn't have a clue knows more about what i do, than I do. In Christ, Song Dog __________________ Don't Franchise! Teaching my kids to hunt and shoot-PRICELESS!

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06-18-2008, 01:28 PM	#2
22rifle Master Plumber Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,053 My Photos	If you put in an ejector you will have to vent to atmosphere too huh? Nice tee on it's side too. BTW, what about those toilets sitting on an ejector? Would that work here? Doncha hate working with real estate agents on a home sale? Everything you say is a strike against their interests so it's this big tug of war thing going on.

06-18-2008, 01:50 PM	#3
Killertoiletspider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2,411 My Photos	I guess backpitch is better than no pitch?

06-18-2008, 04:21 PM	#5
threaderman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oklahoma city,Ok Posts: 376 My Photos	No primer, and is that C.I. or concrete? If so it looks like the hub is supporting the weight of the pipe ,which is a no-no.Also,no ferncos allowed inside the structure ,it should be no-hubs/mission bands.Any one else here call them mission bands?I would think the northern plumbers have or do.

06-18-2008, 04:24 PM	#6
threaderman Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Oklahoma city,Ok Posts: 376 My Photos	I like to keep the spigot end of a fitting running down-stream as well,if possible.

06-18-2008, 06:03 PM	#7
GrumpyPlumber Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MA Posts: 572 My Photos	The san-tee on it's side, the obvious back-pitch in the photo, the fernco clamps with no sleeve, no supports on the 4" PVC , no venting...and yes, I mentioned the "quick-Jon" as well but was immediately shot down by the all knowing R.E. agent who told me a flushometer or power flush would resolve the back-pitch. When the R.E. agent started talking to me like I didn't know what I was talking about, I just said f-ck it and quoted the most expensive alternative...I was hired by the buyer to give them an honest appraisal for negotiating the price down. The agent might have gotten the Quick-Jon alternative...but seeing as she knows so much more than me I figured she could estimate that option.

06-18-2008, 10:07 PM	#8
smellslike$tome residential service Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 1,811 My Photos	As soon as she started disputing my word I would have retrieved my state certified master plumber certification card from my wallet and said something like, "lady you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and unless you can show me one of these with your name on it you need to shut your mouth and leave the plumbing diagnostics to a professional. Anything less than what I have said is necessary will simply be more hackery of the sort that has created this nightmare to begin with. Now do we need to get the city out here to offer their second opinion on what needs to be done because it's the inspectors job to protect home owners, both old and new, by insuring that certain minimum building standards are met with respect to building construction which would certainly include plumbing among many other things. I've got them right here on speed dial and I'll be happy to call them for you?" Of course I would never have thought of such an awesome response as that while I was standing there. It would have come to me in the middle of the night after I had fumed about it all evening .

06-19-2008, 12:27 AM	#9
marc in calgary Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: marc in calgary, really? Posts: 4 My Photos	that sounds about right for me too. They're called ferncos here in Canada, I find the easiest way out of this sort of situation begins with the statement... "Plumbing code mandates that we do bla bla bla..." and when realtors "back talk" to me, I state again, "The Plumbing Code..." once they realize they're not arguing with me, but with "the powers that be" they'll also get that I'm not above calling the real estate board here to talk trash about a plumber wan-a-be. and then they'll not be able to sell a house stating there is a bathroom in the basement, why? because it isn't approved. well, good thing I'm not running for election.

06-21-2008, 11:04 PM	#10
Herk Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: S.E. Idaho Posts: 800 My Photos	In a case like this, it might just be prudent to call in an inspector and have him red tag it and then it won't be habitable until it's fixed properly.