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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WWYD? Plumber fiddled with something and broke it.

54 replies

Laiste · 18/10/2021 19:31

He was asked to come in and fix a hot tap which he did.

He decided that our hot water was too hot so took it upon himself to turn the immersion heater down and the thermo bit broke ''because it's so old''.

Now we can't regulate the temp any more. The water is not hot enough for my liking and we can't turn it up.

WWYD? I mean - who pays for the replacement/repair?

OP posts:
jimmyhill · 18/10/2021 19:38

He does obviously

Twillow · 18/10/2021 19:38

In this position, I'd try to negotiate. You're going to have to have it fixed if the water won't get hot enough. He was doing what he thought was a responsible thing. Offer to pay for the part and he does the labour at his cost?

Aquamarine1029 · 18/10/2021 19:40

Of course he pays for it. He had absolutely no business fooling with it, and it's not up to him what the thermostat is set to. He fixes it.

Lostmarbles2021 · 18/10/2021 19:44

He was trying to do you a favour. I’d pay for it. It was going to break as soon as you tried to use it anyway. But I am a soft touch.

Aquamarine1029 · 18/10/2021 19:48

He was trying to do you a favour.

Doing something not asked of you, to change something that is none of your concern, is not a "favour." It's being an intrusive arse. The plumber pays to fix it.

Original poster
Laiste · 18/10/2021 19:49

Thank you.

See i am swinging between Aquamarine1029 and Lostmarbles2021.

I am bloody annoyed that he decided our water is too hot. My pet hate is tepid water when you are trying to wash up greasy dishes (no dishwasher) and often have to clean up after an elderly relative who lives with us (loo).

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 18/10/2021 19:51

I am bloody annoyed that he decided our water is too hot.

FFS, you should be annoyed. Who the fuck does he think he is, honestly? It's outrageous that he changed the temp without getting your permission first. Don't be a mug and just swallow this.

Original poster
Laiste · 18/10/2021 19:52

@Aquamarine1029

He was trying to do you a favour.

Doing something not asked of you, to change something that is none of your concern, is not a "favour." It's being an intrusive arse. The plumber pays to fix it.

Exactly. Man decides woman's water is too hot.

It's hit a nerve and i need perspective.

OP posts:
ImUninsultable · 18/10/2021 19:52

What has the plumber said? What point are you at with him? Maybe we can help with replies.

He really does need to replace it at his cost. It wasnt part of the job, and it sounds like he disnt even discuss it first. It doesnt matter if it would have broken if you had adjusted it because you weren't planning to adjust it! It would have been fine sitting there until any point when work was needed to be done.

LeroyJenkinssss · 18/10/2021 19:54

I would want him to replace and fix at his own cost (and would then never use him again). I like hot showers not half arsed nonsense!

Deciding what someone wants their hot water temp should be without discussion is incredibly rude. Our gas man asked when he came to service the boiler and changed it then.

romdowa · 18/10/2021 19:57

He did uncontracted work on your house and broke something , which he is liable for. Another cf

FelicityBeedle · 18/10/2021 19:57

He should fix, maybe you paying for part.

I’m his defence I will say I’m sure there’s a regulation now about maximum water temps, it’s why loads of council houses have bloody cold hot water

Xanaduyourenotthatfar · 18/10/2021 20:02

Just FYI from someone who's had this issue -

A plumber deciding your water is too hot is not an aesthetic/preference issue most likely.

If it's too hot it can bugger up parts of your system (I believe that's the technical term)

So it may be that he's just not explained very well what he was doing.

If it was old anyway, and it's been done ultimately for system maintenance, probably it's on you.

ImUninsultable · 18/10/2021 20:02

@FelicityBeedle

He should fix, maybe you paying for part.

I’m his defence I will say I’m sure there’s a regulation now about maximum water temps, it’s why loads of council houses have bloody cold hot water

I didnt know that! Apparently its 48 degrees in England and Wales. Says for new builds... but how do they stop people turning it up? Is it built to not turn up?

How much of a nanny state do we need to be in for the government to decide our max water temperature. I'm sure in old health and social care guidance, water should be set to 55. Maybe I'm wrong with that. Been a long time.

Original poster
Laiste · 18/10/2021 20:02

It happened on Friday. He came down mid tap job (for his tea), ''wow your water is hot! i should turn it down a notch!''.

I said ''I know it's hot. i like it hot! i need it hot.''

He finished tap job and said ''All done. Oh and i've turned down the thermo just a tiny bit but did brake 'cos it's sooooo old! (laugh) lets see how it goes anyway''.

I stood there like a stupid lemon while he cheerfully let himself out.

I spent the weekend in a huff about how pants the temp is.It's a bug bare (bugbear?) of mine, the hot water.

OP posts:
Original poster
Laiste · 18/10/2021 20:03

sorry x posted with lots

OP posts:
ImUninsultable · 18/10/2021 20:04

Omg. So you actually told him no, and he did it anyway.

Yeah. Mention that when you contact him and tell him to get back and fix it at his cost.

TakeYourFinalPosition · 18/10/2021 20:08

He should be fixing it.

He might be right that it’s over the regulation temperature and that may well be why your system broke, but it’s your decision to have it like that, and he should fix what he broke.

UseTheRakeDear · 18/10/2021 20:10

No, he definitely repairs it free of charge. Him coming out to your property was to fix a tap, not adjust your water temperature. He can't blame the age of it, he shouldn't have been touching it. It broke because he decided your water was too hot.

Your hot water storage needs to be above 60c to avoid legionella bacteria. www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires/things-to-consider.htm Have you got a thermometer to check what temperature your water is?

Original poster
Laiste · 18/10/2021 20:14

Right i'm preparing a message to him!

No UseTheRakeDear i haven't. It's comfortably hand hot out of the tap.

OP posts:
ImUninsultable · 18/10/2021 20:21

The temperature it is stored at is higher than the temperature that will come out of your faucet. I'm not sure how you find out what the separate temperatures are set out, or if the thermostat people can see is the faucet temp or the storage temp.

Northernsoullover · 18/10/2021 20:24

This reminds me of the time my ex decided my fridge could be colder. The twat turned it right up and ruined all my food. There is a theme. Man decides woman's fridge is too warm.
It fucking wasn't

WhatsitWiggle · 18/10/2021 20:25

Was just about to post what Rake did - hot water should be stored at 60° or higher to kill legionnella.

And he should be paying for the repair. The part is around £20, not sure how long it would take to replace - check if he needs the tank empty first. I once paid an emergency plumber £60 an hour to sit and watch whilst the tank was emptied 🙄 if he'd said before he came over, I'd have done that bit myself!

BoredZelda · 18/10/2021 20:33

Apparently its 48 degrees in England and Wales. Says for new builds... but how do they stop people turning it up? Is it built to not turn up?

There is thermostatic valve on the hot water pipe that leads to the tap. You just turn it up.

As far as I know it only applies to new builds and is only on the bath. There is no regulation that says if a plumber finds your water too hot he has to turn it down.

Watchingyou2sleezes · 18/10/2021 21:35

A thermostat for an immersion can be changed in minutes without draining down the take and only costs a few quid. Take him a couple of minutes if he's in anyway competent. It's now a requirement on new installs and if 1 isnt present it SHOULD be flagged up on an electrical inspection.
A baby was killed in 2008 when an immersion thermostat stayed on continuously and kept overflowing into the plastic tank in the loft and eventually the tank failed because of the heat and scolding water came down through the ceiling and killed her.