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Faulty Cylinder or Dodgy Home Owner??
I got called to a burst hot water cylinder the other day to discover something I have never seen before. The owner just had his mains pressure cylinder (Rheem) replaced by a Craftsman plumber, two days later the tank popped!
Coincidentally I knew the plumber that installed it so I rang him up to ask what he thought, he said the owner insisted on not having new valves installed after he had repeatedly recommended this to be necessary (3 in 1 & CWE ), I don't know why he ended up installing it without the valves. Anyway good thing the cylinder came with a new TPR. Despite the new TPR 24 hours later... pop!
Here is what I don't get...
Even if the TPR was faulty shouldn't the blow off valve on the back of the TPR relieve the pressure?
Why did the owner insist on not having new valves installed?
Why was there a plank on the roof to where the cylinder drain was discharging? (plumber never went up there)
Good thing Rheem builds quality cylinders otherwise the damn thing could have exploded and killed someone..
I feel sorry for the plumber that installed it, if this should ever go to court he could be made responsible for installing the cylinder without the new valves.
Have a look at the pics, tell me what you think.
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hi all and happy new year,
i`m guessing that the STOPCOCK was used as a socket to extend the ventpipe from h/w cylinder? it would have been o.k. untill another handyman worked out that the reason water was coming out of the pipe was because some idiot had left the washer out!!!
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I am afraid that if a customer requested me to leave the old safety valves on then it would be a simple case of packing up my tools and leaving promptly.
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Where is your cold water expansion valve and where is your tempering valve!?
dodgy!
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I agree with leaky - if they don't want it done properly it's best to walk away because in the end saying he customer didn't want this or that won't help you if you end up in a disciplinary case with the PGDB. That and if it's worth doing a job it's worth doing it properly!
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if a jobs worth doing, its worth doing well and properly by the current rules in force and then to a higher standard YOURS not the pgdb as they have no ideas, they only think a plumber is any good if he pays there rip off fees
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bummer if it goes to court your mate will be responisable...with clinets like this all you have to do is go to the van get out the correct codes and shove that under there face and say unless its done like this it is breaking the law and any insurance claims will be null and void...also remind them that exploding cylinders kill people every year around the world due to corrner cutting owners...always make em think of there pocket and most will do the right thing...if they still resist pack up and move on as they are setting you up for a fall...you just gotta let em know who the water expert actually is!.
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Been doing this for over 30 years. One thing I have learned that as soon as someone ignores your advice and wants you to do something is to walk away. Unfortunatly if the tosser owners takes it further, Reg Board, the poor bugger who did the work will be held accountable. The owner will do the usual and say " he is the professional and he should have known better". They will not accept any responsibility.