I Need Professional Plumber Opinions

tgrib

I finished a basement over 2 years ago and installed a full bath (shower, toilet, sink) as well. My plumber may have set the drain line from the toilet with a slight uphill flow (or the pipe settled). The toilet drain is about 4 feet long before it hits the main line. The customer didn't like the toilet and had another plumber out to replace it. Upon pulling the old one, he noticed about and inch to an inch and a half of water in the drain and said it needed replaced. The customer had someone out to have a snaked "video" taken and it looks like everything else is ok except for the 4 foot piece to the toilet and showed no signs of sludge build up or anything. With that said, even though it is not to code, is there anything to worry about that would relegate tearing out the bathroom tile, cutting the concrete and replacing the piece? In other words, does it absolutely have to be replaced, or is it ok, especially since it's only 4 foot long. I need honest opinions. Thanks

Grumpyplumber

In his shoes, I'd appreciate a call.

This may not be a back pitch, it could be an obstruction or it may very well be back-pitched.

Bottom line, if this is a potential problem and he made the mistake, you need to conuslt with him, thats why he has insurance if it boils down to worse case scenario.

No other plumber should have a say until at least he does.

Bill

call the original plumber. As a plumber myself I appreciate when there is a problem and they call me first to make good.

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Double-A

If its isn't right, it isn't right. That doesn't mean it won't work that way, but then again, if its from settling, there is not reason to believe it has stopped settling.

Get the original plumber out there and have him look. Let him know what you know and let his insurance and the HO mess with it. You in the middle just causes confusion. If he won't mess with it, turn it over to your insurance company and let them handle it.

Now, from a plumber's perspective? No comment. I'm not there to see it and I can't tell from just a description if there is or is not a real problem there. Yes, I read what you posted in the other forum, but I still don't have enough information from a real plumber to know if what is being see is really what is there.

Call the plumber that put it in. Let him worry with it.

Not to be insulting or belittling what you have learned or your understanding of it, but I've run into video inspection reports that claim a back falling pipe when in reality its a bad joint or a belly in the pipe or even a closet bend not installed true to the fitting holding water. So, until a real plumber that knows what properly installed fittings and pipe should look like from the inside expresses his observations, I'm out.

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

AtlantaPlumbers

Call the original plumber

If he welches under the pressure of a 'recall', get another video inspection WITH a video tape for your own reference. Then have two more licensed guys look at your tape. May cost more but that IS the most cost effective route.

Good Luck