[skoronesa]

Many members on this forum don't understand the unpleasantries and bad people I have to deal with. Some think the problem is my attitude, nope!

By the way this is only in th last 4 months, and I do not get to see their entire house for other winner stuff or even fix 99% of it.

I have seen houses like that but am fortunate that most of our customers aren't like that. I have one customer who thinks they are handy and for about a decade would try anything. Inevitably they'd end up calling us or another trade to fix the mess, but at least they had fun trying.

I’m so glad I’m not a service plumber. I don’t know how you guys do it. I know, I know, the money is great, but damn.

For myself at least, the good customers and the very nice/old/cool/unique houses and buildings I see more than make up for it. It never ceases to amaze me the things I have the privilege to see inside buildings that thousands just drive by without a second glance. I get to meet some great people and hear the best stories of their lifetime.

 

[Tango]

I’m so glad I’m not a service plumber. I don’t know how you guys do it. I know, I know, the money is great, but damn.

I used to be a new construction plumber for over 20 years, getting up at 4:45 to be on site at 6:15 am, going to bed a 8:30 pm, inhaling concrete dust all day, enduring bosses that never told you did a great job, threatening to fire you if you asked for a sink to wash your hands or a porta potty or didn't supply tools outside the convention, no porta potties on site, no running water, not always getting paid overtime and having to file complaints to get paid, etc.

Now as a service plumber

I'm psychologist first
A lawyer second
A businessman third
And at last I'm a plumber

I endure so much bad people and tough jobs but on the flip side I'm no longer a starving slave to these awful companies.

 

[brianpatrick]

I used to be a new construction plumber for over 20 years, getting up at 4:45 to be on site at 6:15 am, going to bed a 8:30 pm, inhaling concrete dust all day, enduring bosses that never told you did a great job, threatening to fire you if you asked for a sink to wash your hands or a porta potty or didn't supply tools outside the convention, no porta potties on site, no running water, not always getting paid overtime and having to file complaints to get paid, etc.

Now as a service plumber

I'm psychologist first
A lawyer second
A businessman third
And at last I'm a plumber

I endure so much bad people and tough jobs but on the flip side I'm no longer a starving slave to these awful companies.

My experience working for new-con companies was the same as yours. That’s why I started my own. Now I’m that rich prick boss always threatening to fire guys. JK, I’m super nice. My guys get paid well, and I’m flexible about time off so guys can live a decent life with their families and friends.

If a contractor doesn’t have a porta John on a job I order one and put it on his bill. They’re super cheap actually.

Recently we’ve been looking into turning the company into a co-op where everyone has a stake in the company. That way the boys can buy me out when I’m ready to go.

 

[Tango]

Today's episode....

Last one straight pipe dishwasher.

 

[stevolandis]

Customer said shower was loose -meaning the handle, trim, and spout all wiggled when you touched them. Found a nice collection of shark bites behind the access panel. 4 more you can't see behind the 2x4 bracing

He had called his extended home warranty to replace a leaking shower valve. They sent someone out to fix it. The story is that hacker #1 arrived at noon and quit at 10pm. He must've gone through a roll of solder by the melted leftovers on the floor below and the torch burns behind that 2x4. Nothing installed yet, at this point.

They sent in the pro the next day who finished under 8 hours using shark bites.
I asked the customer if the guy sat in his truck a few hours- nope -he was banging and swearing for the whole time, in between Lowe's trips.

18 hours later, voila!

 

[TerryTotoSucks]

Customer said shower was loose -meaning the handle, trim, and spout all wiggled when you touched them. Found a nice collection of shark bites behind the access panel. 4 more you can't see behind the 2x4 bracing

He had called his extended home warranty to replace a leaking shower valve. They sent someone out to fix it. The story is that hacker #1 arrived at noon and quit at 10pm. He must've gone through a roll of solder by the melted leftovers on the floor below and the torch burns behind that 2x4. Nothing installed yet, at this point.

They sent in the pro the next day who finished under 8 hours using shark bites.
I asked the customer if the guy sat in his truck a few hours- nope -he was banging and swearing for the whole time, in between Lowe's trips.

18 hours later, voila!

Good job, I don’t care for the sharkbites though. 👍

 

[stevolandis]

Good job, I don’t care for the sharkbites though. 👍

I cut them out with the exception of the tub spout sharkbite (low pressure). Ran pex to the shower valve.
Installed a male adapter for the spout so it tightens against the wall. Clamped and screwed things in behind and no more wiggle.

I was just over an hour on that job and I bet 6 pex fittings are cheaper than those 8 shark bites were!

Let me know what you'd do different. I know that's a lot of tricks out there replacing shower valves.

 

[skoronesa]

....

Let me know what you'd do different. I know that's a lot of tricks out there replacing shower valves.

I would have repiped it all in copper.

 

[Logtec]

I would have repiped it all in copper.

Agreed.

 

[skoronesa]

Agreed.

Soldered Copper.

 

[Logtec]

Soldered Copper.

Agreed!

 

[stevolandis]

Half the time I do pex to get a little extra movement back there. The other half of the time copper will line right up so I'll just solder in.
I still don't feel strongly one or the other. Why do you go for copper?

Same with propress. I like that it's fast. But when I got time I like to solder. It's like therapy.

First job today was pex but I decided to sweat my adapters in:

 

[skoronesa]

Half the time I do pex to get a little extra movement back there. The other half of the time copper will line right up so I'll just solder in.
I still don't feel strongly one or the other. Why do you go for copper?

Same with propress. I like that it's fast. But when I got time I like to solder. It's like therapy.

First job today was pex but I decided to sweat my adapters in:

Because I've seen copper fail, and I've seen pex fail. Copper lasts longer and is easier to repair.

Copper also allows for more flow which is often an issue in old homes/well systems. Copper is also naturally anti-bacterial, an important feature with non-chlorinated systems.

 

[Logtec]

If it was previously piped in in copper I’ll keep it the same. No point in switching to pex for a few feet of pipe.
- I don’t use propress. It’s Not worth the investment for a service plumber.
If the water lines are pex I’ll run them to the control, but the spout and shower head I’ll pipe in with copper- it’s ridged/solid.

 

[stevolandis]

Thanks guys good points.

 

[DDDave]

It got done, I guess.

 

[Backwoodsplumbn]

What you find when you dig up at a meter.
Then you fix it.

 

[TerryTotoSucks]

What you find when you dig up at a meter.
Then you fix it.

What’s that white stuff innthe first pic ? Cocaine ?

 

[Backwoodsplumbn]

What’s that white stuff innthe first pic ? Cocaine ?

Spray foam insulation. ???

 

[TerryTotoSucks]

Spray foam insulation. ???

I’m asking you, I have no idea what it is.