Cost of Plumbing!

[netwolf]

Hi All,

Well today we had the garden tape come apart and water going everywhere. My dad and I manged to get the tap top back on but the washer was lost and and could not close it. Tried to close the main but the tap was missing, so tried to find the spanner set and could not locate it. Fortunately mum was able to borrow a pipe ranch from a neighbor that did the trick, first I had not idea what i was doing turning all the wrong things. But I learned quick and got the mains off. Meanwhile mum tried to get a plumber out and we were quoted 250-290 dollars. I know its a Sunday but really, if we waited till Monday it would be 150-190. I said to dad wait a minute let me see if i can fix this. Sure if it was a more complex job we would have called them but this did not look that hard to do. And you know on my recent trip to India I saw even complex plumbing/electrical etc problems can be resolved for <10$ + often including parts.

Now I called upon my trusty troubleshooter (most used tool in my IT work) Google and worked out what was the bit i needed and off i went to Bunnings. Spanner + washer + some pipe tape + other bits (unused but kept for spares). Cost 13$ fixed in 5mins + travel time to and from Bunnings about 30mins. And thanks to the great and helpfull staff at Bunnings that gave me some much needed directions.

But how about the cost of plumbing these days. I don't begrudge anyone making a fair income but really.

Regards
Fahim

[leon]

Yep Plumbers will charge at least 50-60 dollars per hour, then being Sunday the call out would cost you at least 50 bucks, just to have a look.

All jobs around the house can be easily fixed with a few minutes of thought and common sense, and what you did proved that.

Leon

[tnbk00 (Daniel)]

The bit that pi$$es me off is the pressure to use licenced plumbers, sparkies etc. when Telstra install a phone line and charge $300 and will only terminate it to the fascia......what is this world coming too.......best we spend as much time looking at the sky for guidance.

[acropolite (Phil)]

Yep Plumbers will charge at least 50-60 dollars per hour,

A lot of plumbers charge a minimum of 3 hours for a call, no matter what the time. Plumbing isn't rocket science, I could write a book on the stuffups the plumber made in my house, all of which I've had to fix myself.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Good onya Fahim

Our local Plumber doesn't even turn up!!! He only lives 2k away!!!!

We bought a new LPG gas stove a few years ago, and wanted it connected before Christmas so we could cook a great Christmas dinner. He had 3 months before christmas to come and do it. He came out and looked at the connection he had to change (from old LPG to new LPG fittings) and said he will get the parts. That was the end of it. He looked!

A few weeks later we rang him and he said he would be out in the next day or two.

Christmas came and went!!!!!

About Easter we rang him again. "yep, be there in a day or two".
Easter came and went.

Rang him again and again and again . . . the next Christmas came and went!!!!

After 2 1/2 years we finally found a plumber who would come out to Snake Valley

He came that afternoon, did the job and charged us $60.

We can now cook in our oven!!!!!

[Glenhuon (Bill)]

My old Fitter mate Davey, god rest him, used to say that only 3 things needed a licence. An electrician, a plumber, and a dog!

Bill

[PCH (Paul)]

Don't forget the wifey too ! You have to have one for her as well

[Nevyn]

Originally Posted by tnbk00

The bit that pi$$es me off is the pressure to use licenced plumbers, sparkies etc.

No real pressure, anyone can do the work but if you make a mistake, like flood your house or electrocute your neighbour, you aren't covered by insurance etc.
BTW $50-$60/hour is a modest fee when you take running costs out, granted the prices quoted for a Sunday callout were a bit rich though!

We got some good jokes about fitters as well