to not be impressed this is leaking already and expect a free repair?

[homeowner42]

About 10 weeks ago a plumber came to fit an outside tap for me. I got him off a website (can't remember if it was Checkatrade or one of the others, but he has excellent reviews). He was a similar price to other quotes but given better reviews and availability I went with him.

Recently I found a massive pool of water on the floor in my utility room. On closer inspection the new pipe which was put in for the outside tap was leaking at a joint. The leak is pretty bad, it can fill a bucket in 3-4 hours. That's with the tap turned off.

I've called the plumber back and he's going to come round to take a look. He has said he doesn't understand why it would leak? He's also not said if he'll do the repair for free (I'm not expecting to pay).

AIBU? The reason it's leaking seems almost certainly because he's not soldered it sufficiently (I was surprised he did the whole job by soldering and not push connectors anyway), so I'm not sure why he doesn't understand why it's leaking...

Why not give him a chance to fix it first?

Nobody can do everything perfectly all the time, if his reviews are excellent you may be that 1 in 100 or whatever time that it doesn't go splendidly. See what he says when he comes round, again if hes good he wont be expecting to be paid either.

I had blinds fitted by a reputable tradesman (despite wanting to fit my own for a third of the price but DP's mum wading in, but thats another story...). A few weeks later one set came crashing down. Phoned company, guy came out a couple hours later and fixed it all, cost was never discussed on the phone or in person he just fixed it and went on his way. No harm done. Things happen.

It happens, sometimes things dont always get fixed first time. Any good plumber will return and fix it as he is. Not sure what your aibu is though? Similar happened to us plumber with us with 30 minutes, fix done in an hour.

"He's also not said if he'll do the repair for free (I'm not expecting to pay)."

YANBU. Of course he should repair the defective work. As PP says, sometime things go wrong- fixing them is a normal part of this kind of job. I'm sure he won't expect to be paid, but if you receive a bill then just explain why you aren't paying.

can't remember if it was Checkatrade or one of the others, but he has excellent reviews

Bear in mind which end of the line is paying for being on Checkatrade, that's hardly surprising ...

I was surprised he did the whole job by soldering and not push connectors anyway
Nothing wrong with soldered connectors. They are the professional method but they have to be fitted properly. Push fit are for amateurs and pro's in a rush.

I'm a bit disappointed it's leaking and think it might be the way he's done the job in the first place.

He's also said he'll come back and look but not when that will be or if he expects paying (hopefully not).

It might be that he fixes it and that's the end of it of course, I'm just conscious that on the length of pipe he put in there are loads of joints, and one is already leaking.

I'm also not sure why he said he didn't know why it would leak
It's leaking because he's not soldered it fully, surely?

So following on, despite hearing from this guy who said he'd come round and fix it, he's not come round, or been in contact, since.

WWYD?

As a temporary repair to stop the leak, you can get a water resistant tape to wrap round the joint, from a Diy shed.

Can't help you with the plumber I'm afraid, but if he can't do a proper capillary joint then he sounds a right bodger.
How did you find him? Can you leave a poor rating somewhere?

I didn't know about the tape, would it work even though the leak is pretty much constant?

He was on something like checkatrade, or trusted traders or similar, may still have details somewhere but I'm not sure if i can alter a past review.

Check this out:
www.maplin.co.uk/p/silicone-self-fusing-repair-tape-36m-x-24mm-n24gn