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It is my firm belief that the customer might know more than the plumber. Therefore we as service plumbers should take advantage of their knowledge.I always like to commuicate when I arrive on site.
Lets look at a leak through a kitchen ceiling -- bath above.
I, before even going up to the bath would ask. Do you know what fixture was being used. If they replied the tub. I would ask "for a bath or a shower" If they replied shower. I would say "does this happen all the time?" Now they might say no only when my daughter takes a shower. Ok! In my mind I now now that there is no drain problem and probably no overflow problem. But because of people standing in different positions in a tub/shower, I will look for loose escheutions, or loose spouts, or a push on spout that is blowing water out the back through a oring. Shower door problems.
Just not placing a curtain properly or a groute problem.
Drain problems:
I ask did this block up suddendly? Or was it slowing down for a longtime?
Were you using the disposer? What were you disposing?
Another favorite did you have any work done by another trade?
Or another plumber? You'd be suprized how often a person drills a drain line for a small tube discharge from an appliance.
One time on a total stack blockage that question pinned the problem down. TV cable guy brought in a new line to the kitchen.
Drilled right through a copper 3" stack. Did not take long for the stack to block with toilet paper hanging off coax cable.
Another favorite is ... Is everthing blocked? The call did come in as water coming up a floor drain. Their answer might be no it only comes up when I use the washing machine.
Questions asked can often solve many proplems. Prior to you or your men having to eat crow when a mistake is made, because you did not ask questions.
This might be an interesting post to make a stickey out of.
I'm sure a lot can be added
Lets look at a leak through a kitchen ceiling -- bath above.
I, before even going up to the bath would ask. Do you know what fixture was being used. If they replied the tub. I would ask "for a bath or a shower" If they replied shower. I would say "does this happen all the time?" Now they might say no only when my daughter takes a shower. Ok! In my mind I now now that there is no drain problem and probably no overflow problem. But because of people standing in different positions in a tub/shower, I will look for loose escheutions, or loose spouts, or a push on spout that is blowing water out the back through a oring. Shower door problems.
Just not placing a curtain properly or a groute problem.
Drain problems:
I ask did this block up suddendly? Or was it slowing down for a longtime?
Were you using the disposer? What were you disposing?
Another favorite did you have any work done by another trade?
Or another plumber? You'd be suprized how often a person drills a drain line for a small tube discharge from an appliance.
One time on a total stack blockage that question pinned the problem down. TV cable guy brought in a new line to the kitchen.
Drilled right through a copper 3" stack. Did not take long for the stack to block with toilet paper hanging off coax cable.
Another favorite is ... Is everthing blocked? The call did come in as water coming up a floor drain. Their answer might be no it only comes up when I use the washing machine.
Questions asked can often solve many proplems. Prior to you or your men having to eat crow when a mistake is made, because you did not ask questions.
This might be an interesting post to make a stickey out of.
I'm sure a lot can be added
