Our hot water tank had a leak. Very minor, just drips but enough that you could see slight discolouration on the ceiling. Had someone out to fix it after calling so many plumbers and he tried but thought he’d need to order a part so left with plans to come back in 2 days. Unfortunately whatever he did made the leak worse. Contacted him in the morning as it was late at night when the leak worsened. He was very apologetic but couldn’t come back out sooner and Sid he’d understand if we needed to contact someone else.
After more calls finally got hold if someone and he was available same day. After telling him the issues and that it was leaking he asked me to text him the address. Then replied saying the call out was £175. After questioning what that included I was told the first hour of work but not parts. Desperate enough I reluctantly agreed as we had no hot water and the leak was in my sons room (don’t worry we didn’t make him sleep there). He came out and I ran to the atm thinking at least an hour. I came back to him standing in the drive and he told my husband it was unfixable and we needed a new tank. He was in and out in under 10 mins having not done anything. I baulked paid the call out fee and he left with promise for a quote of a new tank.
The cost was £1800 with installation.
I actually cried. We agreed, it was 2 weeks before Christmas, no one else was answering or had availability and we had no hot water with 3 young children. He came back 4 days later with the new tank. Draining the old one, replaced it and left us with the old one incase the insurance company needed to see it. Told us it would take a few hours for the hot water to come through. By bedtime we still had no hot water.
The next day no hot water and now the water was stop starting.
He came out and told us the pump (it’s an old house) is blocked probably from when they drained the tank but also barnacles. He then recommend we get rid of the tank and pump system completely and get a combi tank as we’re at risk for legionella. He couldn’t stay to fix the
but said he’d send through prices and options for resolving the issue.
We pointed out we just got the new tank and don’t have £1800 to throw away and replace with a whole new system. He did look apologetic and said he’d try to include a discount o we went with a new system but would give us options via email.
He’s now saying it will be £4k for a new system and the job was to replace a new tank which he’s done and anything further will be a separate invoice.
He’s basically said the pump is block by both barnacles and the gunk from draining the old tank.
We’ve paid cash in hand as requested for the call out fee and have paid half the balance as a act of good will and have said well paid the remaining once we have hot water in the bathroom.
The insurance won’t cover the cost for the tank but will for the water damage. The surveyor said he was charging well above odds (I think his actual words were he’s taking the piss).
What are our options?