Why is it so hard to find a decent plumber?

[SiD the Turtle]

A rant more than anything. We've got a whole bunch of jobs that need doing (new boiler, extra rads etc) but we want to find a decent plumber first to do a simple job then if they can manage that, get them to do the expensive stuff.

So I've spent the best part of a month collating details from Checkatrade and the like and contacting plumbers for the simple job of moving a radiator from one wall to another. Approximately 90% never reply. Of the remaining, one has twice arranged a visit for a quote then never shows. Another showed but never sent the quote. The last finally showed and I got my quote: SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS. To move a radiator two meters to another wall. Would be cheaper to go on a plumbing course to learn how to do it myself.

 

[robj20]

Why not do it yourself, plumbing isn't difficult.

 

[kitfit1]

Does moving the radiator in question involve having to dig up and channel a concrete floor ?

 

[SiD the Turtle]

Does moving the radiator in question involve having to dig up and channel a concrete floor ?

Nope. Standard carpet over floorboards.

 

[kitfit1]

Nope. Standard carpet over floorboards.

It's a good job i don't quote £750 for 3 hours work..........................................because i'd spend all the working week at home doing nothing. The guy obviously didn't want the job.
By the way, just because someone is a plumber dosn't mean that they are Gas Safe registered. Just thinking about your new boiler there. Don't just look for a "plumber", look for a heating installation specialist or heating company.

 

[planty]

Maybe the problem is that you're asking for such a small job and the busy/decent ones are not interested? Have you made them aware that there is scope for more work off the back of this first job?

 

[Burned_Alive]

Maybe the problem is that you're asking for such a small job and the busy/decent ones are not interested? Have you made them aware that there is scope for more work off the back of this first job?

I believe this tends to be the issue. They're in so much demand for the big jobs that they're not interested in new customers for small jobs. I've spoken to several people in the trade round here who at times aren't taking on new customers because they get so much business from their existing customer base. Not to mention if they revisit installations they've completed themselves then they know what they're getting into.

 

[Rroff]

Does moving the radiator in question involve having to dig up and channel a concrete floor ?

Few weeks back we had a burst water pipe in concrete - emergency plumbers didn't want to know. Dug it out and still no plumbers wanted the job, even when offering to pay a decent amount as it was a moderately complex job - I'm guessing most had all the easy and well paying work they wanted :s

Whoever did the work in the first place should never be allowed to touch such work - the routing was ridiculous never mind totally wrong type of pipe to stick in concrete not that embedding them in concrete was a good idea in the first place but seems it was standard at one point.

 

[Skillmister]

Maybe the problem is that you're asking for such a small job and the busy/decent ones are not interested? Have you made them aware that there is scope for more work off the back of this first job?

I think this is pretty obviously the case, I've had similar recently.

 

[jimjamuk]

Had the same recently - tried to get some heating engineers to come look at my heating as it is playing up a bit (not turning on or not going off when the thermostat tells it to)

Rung a load of people and most part never get a reply. Those that do ask for the details and then never get a reply. All the ames are now on my list of people never to bother ringing again

 

[Hagar]

Few weeks back we had a burst water pipe in concrete - emergency plumbers didn't want to know. Dug it out and still no plumbers wanted the job, even when offering to pay a decent amount as it was a moderately complex job - I'm guessing most had all the easy and well paying work they wanted :s

Whoever did the work in the first place should never be allowed to touch such work - the routing was ridiculous never mind totally wrong type of pipe to stick in concrete not that embedding them in concrete was a good idea in the first place but seems it was standard at one point.

I'm in the process of buying a bungalow, one of our lesser important 'wants' was surface mounted pipework. Luckily this one has this in spades.

It needs a complete CH overhaul replacement (except pipes) and a rewire as well. Good fun in winter , but we are proposing to stay renting meantime.

 

[Rroff]

It is a good idea - I'm dreading any further problems with this section as the rest is even harder to get to if it goes.

 

[PiKe]

Best way I've found, is go on the Worcester Bosch website, phone an approved installer, and get the radiator moved as part of the whole job.

 

[Hagar]

It is a good idea - I'm dreading any further problems with this section as the rest is even harder to get to if it goes.

I have had new houses where everything is bricked up / blocked off / embedded. Even the soil vent pipe ffs. Who wants a soil vent within the property walls? It means that the foul sewer connection or part of it is under your floor.

 

[jaffveyda]

All Easter Europeans left ,now you have to use some English bloke.

 

[Kol]

As much as I hated the idea, when we bought our first flat I signed up and joined the local FB group. As it's London there's a lot of work so was able to request a couple of recommendations but everyone kept leading back to this one guy.

We needed a large radiator switching out for a smaller more efficient one opening up some space for wardrobe to be fitted. For us it came in at £150 which I think is more than reasonable. Sure it's not the most challenging so I could rope in a mate and do it, but for £150 for him to replace, drain, re-fill and add inhibitor it's worth it. Plus he gets tonnes of ace reviews and he was a nice chap to boot. £750 though, errr no, not even London pricing.

Long story short, as much as we hate the idea, check out your local FB group if there is one, join it and search back through the recommendations. Even better if your recommended one lives local - a bad job could sting him across the entire area which in my borough would be devastating.

 

[kindai]

Had the same issue a few weeks back with some pipework that needed sorting.

Nobody interested, even after I had removed all the kitchen carcasses to give them easy access.

In the end, did the bulk myself, and used localheros to get someone in for the part which I didnt have the tools to do.

Worked out great, price was good, its backed by British Gas so all work is guaranteed for a year also.

 

[real]

I have had some good experiences with the MyBuilder website. It puts the onus on the tradesmen to make contact rather than you having to do all the phoning around. Reviews from previous clients are also available to help support your decision.

 

[kindai]

I have had some good experiences with the MyBuilder website. It puts the onus on the tradesmen to make contact rather than you having to do all the phoning around. Reviews from previous clients are also available to help support your decision.

You could argue, this means youre not getting the good ones as the good ones would be too busy to ring you

 

[real]

You could argue, this means youre not getting the good ones as the good ones would be too busy to ring you

Perhaps, but in my experience the quality has been good. In reality it is not that much more hassle for the tradesmen as all the service does it turn it into more of a formal tender process. You post a job, they register interest, and you go through a selection process. There are benefits for both sides.