HELP! Is this normal practice for plumbing in a shower?

[Sarah Rose]

Hi just wanted some advice as to what to do. I'm sure there are some excellent plumbers out there and I just wanted to ask if the plumbing for my power shower looks ok? I think it needs to be supported better not just by random bricks found in my loft! Should the corner joints be lagged too?advice please i have put the photos below

 

[Aire]

Horrible job. Pipes not clipped and those elbows need to be lagged. There is no expansion in pushfit fittings. If they freeze they will split.

My guess, the plumber wanted to get in and out of the loft as fast as possible.

In the first pic it also looks like 22mm lagging has been used on a 15mm pipe

 

[townfanjon]

As above ^^^^
I am old school and hate plastic , but a lot use it.
Poor job , but I have seen a lot worse .

Hes used the wrong size brick by the way.

 

[Scott_D]

Thatched roof?
I would do any hot works up there

 

[Riley]

That’s why they have press fit

 

[Harvest Fields]

That’s why they have press fit

Expensive though mate.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Needs at least clipping and supporting correctly

 

[gmartine]

It looks like he already tried unsuccessfully clipping the pipe to the rafter. You already know the answer, common sense told you it should be much better supported and lagged.

How to complain if you're unhappy with building work

 

[Darren Jackson]

Not acceptable at all, horrible job.

 

[SimonG]

Was it a plumber that did this or builder/handyman?

Did an electrician do the wiring?

Did you pay peanuts?

To be honest it looks poor, but seen much worse.

Nice piece of ply screwed down and the shower and pipework attached to ply. Job sorted.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Expensive though mate.

Naa love my press gear

 

[Harvest Fields]

Naa love my press gear

The cost honestly puts me off.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

The cost honestly puts me off.

It’s not bad fitting wise it’s the gun / tool that’s a bit 1.2k ish

 

[Harvest Fields]

It’s not bad fitting wise it’s the gun / tool that’s a bit 1.2k ish

That’s what puts me off. Will have another look at the trade show at the Ricoh in May.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

That’s what puts me off. Will have another look at the trade show at the Ricoh in May.

If you see a geberit stand go up

 

[Harvest Fields]

If you see a geberit stand go up

Why? Good deals?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Why? Good deals?

Can be also you get a play about with the tool and fittings

 

[Sarah Rose]

The job cost just over £300. Is that a fair price?

 

[Aire]

The job cost just over £300. Is that a fair price?

What did the £300 cover?
Did you supply the shower or did the plumber?

 

[Harvest Fields]

Edit - Comment already posted

 

[Sarah Rose]

What did the £300 cover?
Did you supply the shower or did the plumber?

No we supplied the shower and did all the work downstairs. (Fitted the shower to the wall and sent the electrics up to the loft) The plumber provided a seperate cold feed from the tank for the shower and all the piping in the loft.

 

[Harvest Fields]

No we supplied the shower and did all the work downstairs. (Fitted the shower to the wall and sent the electrics up to the loft) The plumber provided a seperate cold feed from the tank for the shower and all the piping in the loft.

Which cold feed and from where? Do you have any pics of the tank he took it from?

 

[Sarah Rose]

Which cold feed and from where? Do you have any pics of the tank he took it from?

No sorry no photos. the one i have sent is the pipe going from the tank on the left to the shower pump. it's just a single cold feed taken from the cold water tank in the loft to feed the shower exclusively so that if you flush the loo the pressure won't dip. A good idea from the plumber but i guess he was in a hurry? would you pay £300 for this? Not sure about how long it took as i wasn't there at the time. he left the loft hatch in a mess too!! (photo enclosed)

 

[Aire]

With pipe, lagging, fittings etc £300 is about right. But that would be for a proper job, I wouldn't pay £300 for What you've had done. He's rushed it.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Would like to see the tank to see if there is enough water inside to cope with the shower demand.

 

[Aire]

Would like to see the tank to see if there is enough water inside to cope with the shower demand.

Good point, those showers come with a 5 year guarantee and if the tank isn't big enough, aqualisa will void it.

 

[Harvest Fields]

Good point, those showers come with a 5 year guarantee and if the tank isn't big enough, aqualisa will void it.

Didn’t realise it was an Aqualisa. Yep need all that sorting. I would say £300.00 is cheap but not for that standard and definitely need to see the tank.

 

[Ben-gee]

Where has he taken the hot feed from? This should’ve a dedicated feed too, from cylinder either via flange or first tee off at a point well below top of cylinder. If he has done all of this correctly then the pump will be ok and the guarantee honoured. However all the pipework needs to be clipped for this installation.
Price seems about right, can’t really comment as depends on distances/access. I usually spend £60/£70 on materials and it takes 1/2 to 1 day depending on site. I use copper throughout usually, but in thatched would use plastic too.(but ditch plastic would not use as many elbows, just use pipe from coil- that’s the point of it, one piece no joints....

 

[Sarah Rose]

Good point, those showers come with a 5 year guarantee and if the tank isn't big enough, aqualisa will void it.

How big does the tank have to be?

 

[Ben-gee]

50 gal (227 litres)