airlock

[philtheflush]

well did a syphon change today women already had bought the syphon it was an oppela and didnt fit so had to go and buy her a round syphon, anyway, bath and toilet tank fed and i aquired an airlock the women said it happens all the time she said it will correct itself eventually but i said any probs let me know ( do i charge her if i have to go and correct the airlock)by the way thiers a trickle of water running in the shower mixer taps and the water trickles in the cistern but the basin is fine i didnt open the basin tap to drain though advice welcome please

 

[tamz]

Why did you leave it with an airlock? You created it so you should have fixed it before you left.

 

[philtheflush]

because the lady said the last two times the plubmers were their for ages and if you read the post i was seeking advice because the bath cold water tap was a shower mixer tap so i was asking advice has to repair, she also said it usually corrects itself i was their for 2 hours cause she bought the wrong syphon and i only charged her £25 quid

 

[Blake]

I agree, you can't charge her more. Should have put a short bit of hose on mains basin cold and given it a quick blast back up gravity fed to clear it.

I also would have put an isolation on the cold to make it changing easier next time and charged accordingly. Even if the customer supplied the siphon, I would have charged min £40.00. Plus extra for having to go collect the correct siphon and to fit an iso if the customer wanted it.

I personally would never leave a job if it was air locked.

 

[philtheflush]

i understand what youre saying couldnt fit an iso as i only had 2 inches of pipe to work with plus where do i put the other end of the hose pipe because the cold water bath tap was an all in one hot cold shower mixer

 

[tamz]

Connect it to the shower hose and open the divertor.

 

[Magicplumb]

Would never have left anyone with anymore problems than they had in the first place !

 

[philtheflush]

thankyou magic plumb will try that tomorrow cheers

 

[Resolute]

Would never have left anyone with anymore problems than they had in the first place !

Aim is to leave them with less problems!

 

[philtheflush]

i drained the system down thats all to change a syphon the women said it happens all the time obviously the pipe system is wrong because its creating an airlock why didnt she tell me in the first place i guess we all have been there before thats how we learn

 

[tamz]

A cust will very rarely tell you what to expect but expect it to be put right.

Did a boiler change years ago and on testing it a radiator in an extension bedroom didn't heat. According to her, it worked fine before we started. Tried pulling water through both valves, full flow. Pulled up a few boards and found F&R teed into the same pipe within 6". Told her it had never worked and showed her why but she was adamant it had worked before. I just put the boards back and left it.

 

[Magicplumb]

If I've got to change a syphon now a days I would aways fit one of these.

http://www.fluidmasteruk.com/product/550073.aspx

The way to go

 

[philtheflush]

well thank you all for your advice she didnt call me back so the airlock must have corrected itself i did feel bad about leaving her with it.but i didnt charge her the earthfor doing the job in the first place. anyway what percentage would you say of unblocking an airlock goes right , and is their times when you havn't been able to get rid of an airlock cheers.

 

[Magicplumb]

Never ever found myself in a situation where I couldn’t clear an airlock

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

If I've got to change a syphon now a days I would aways fit one of these.

http://www.fluidmasteruk.com/product/550073.aspx

The way to go

i agree have been fitting these for years and their ball valves they don't give any trouble

 

[tackleburger]

Drained down to change a syphon? Never heard of tank bungs my friend? Could you not have cleared the airlock via the kitchen taps i.e mains to tank hot either with the mixer open and you hand over it or a hose between the taps? Bad practice leaving an airlock.

 

[philtheflush]

i did assume it was mains fed , but the bath and the cistern had its own c.w.c i did think about the shower hose but i thought it might have a non return valve. at the end of the day i charged her £25.00 for a syphon change for 2 hours work plus she got the wrong syphon so had to go and get the correct one so she made in the end and she did say the last 2 plumbers had the same problem and she just told me that as i was draining down, time is money and she said its clears itself in time anyway i wont do it again

 

[mrlennie]

The thing is in this situation if you insist on clearing an airlock and she says she is happy with you leaving it she could contend the price you charge then as you did more than was asked....just a thought.

 

[philtheflush]

well youve got to ask how long do i stay and try and clear the airlock for £25 i effectivley gave her the option i ultimatley did the job that was asked for a below average price

just another thought do you charge the time for clearing the airlock

 

[mrlennie]

It depends but you dont wanna be there for say 3 hours altogether and charge 25 you might as well work in asda. Think how much is it worth it to you youre not a charity.

On the flip side the customer has to feel as if you have got his/her best interest at heart and possibly are a little charitable. If it takes you 5 mins is it worth charging or is it worth "he cleared it for free hes so awesome!!!"

The latter is probably worth more than a fiver.

 

[turnpin]

Hi philtheflush stop thinking about what you seem to have lost during this episode and think more about the experience you have gainedregards turnpin

 

[philtheflush]

hello turnpin you are absolutley right ive learned by this