How Not to Get Ripped of by Plumber - Domestic Work

ATTS on 18/10/2024 - 09:26

Hi Would like to know how to not get ripped off by plumber. Looking to replace hot water heater with heat pump.

Is it as simple as getting to state on the quote the job description in detail? If so what are important to get the plumber to put in the job description?

I remember reading a bit online, is rcbo and switchboard upgrade required and also tempering valve , non return valve, pressure limiting valve, ? Anything else?

Also any website recommendation to read so I can get a better understanding

Thanks

Home & Garden Plumber

Comments

  • deepdag on 19/10/2024 - 17:13

    I've used these guys in NSW. Reliable, honest and reasonable service.

  • voo123 on 19/10/2024 - 17:46
    +1

    Join the MEEH group on facebook and check for good install/workmanship then ask for the recommendation.

  • beach bum on 19/10/2024 - 18:04

    Just don’t buy anything made in the northern hemisphere as the water drains in the opposite way and you’ll need to change everything to lefthand threads.
    Then there’s the conversion chart if you need a 3inch fitting on a 20 gallon boiler,
    It’s a whole thing unless you have your own monkey wrench, and you own monkey 🦧

  • gstfree on 19/10/2024 - 22:11

    I subscribed RACV emergency home assistance for urgent issues.
    For non urgent issues I feel Airtasker/Oneflare is good. Just post jobs online and wait for quotes/estimates. In general I feel Airtasker tradies are good.
    Always get 4 quotes before proceeding.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 19/10/2024 - 23:16
    -2

    Not using a plumber is the only way to not get ripped off.

    Even if they do the job you paid for correctly and without charging for things you don't need (small chance) , it's still a rip off.

    • ATTS on 20/10/2024 - 12:41

      I just dont like the feeling i get when i been taken for a ride.

      Im happy to pay the amount if they do it correctly and not overcharge or tell me i need this when i dont. But as you said small chance of that happening

  • Vallani on 19/10/2024 - 23:36
    +1

    I too have been burned by a plumber. Nowadays for trade work I will always try to put the job on Hipages or Airtasker. Often it’s the only way to get quotes without the tradie turning up and puttting pressure on you to sign up to the job on the spot.

    In general these days plumbers are pretty cagey with their pricing and are reluctant to give you an idea of pricing, let alone any sort of quote, unless they are confident they will get the job. Hipages gives the customer a little bit of transparency so you can get an idea if you are being ripped off. Often a plumber who turns up on site will price simply on what they think the customer is prepared to pay.

    Also, beware the upsell. Plumbers again are notorious for this, particularly pressure limiting valves, which very few houses need.

    Finally, I have given up on local Facebook group recommendations. They are flooded with recommendations from mates, girlfriends, wives etc who pretend they are giving unbiased reviews/referrals.

    • ATTS on 20/10/2024 - 12:45

      Thanks. Thats why i was wondering if can safeguard against that by having more detailed job descriptions. I have a feeling when they come they might say i need this and that knowing the layperson probably wouldnt be well informed on those matters

    • kiwimex on 20/10/2024 - 18:19
      +3

      Stop throwing all plumbers in the same basket….you may have had a bad experience but your views couldn't be further from the truth. You wont find reputable plumbers advertising or replying to ads on Hipages or Airtasker…….No half decent plumber would even look at those bottom feeder sites.

  • Andym on 19/10/2024 - 23:45

    Go on your local FB group for your area and ask does anyone know a local plumber, that is honest, does good work and doesn't over charge. I've done this with multiple repair jobs around the house from fixing roofs, getting house inspections, concreting, etc. And have found the community voice and recommendations very helpful.

    Another option if you are friendly with your local real estate agent, especially if they do rentals, ask them about the tradies they have on their books. Most won't use the services of rip off tradies, but have people who have been worked out well for them and their clients in the past. The lady who we bought our last house off, is always happy to give me the number of the best, electrician, locksmith, plumber, etc.

    • ATTS on 20/10/2024 - 12:49

      Thanks. Though im a bit wary like the user above mentioned about something non genuine referals, just to help out their bf husband family etc

  • AustriaBargain on 20/10/2024 - 08:58

    I had a cheap plumber do an easy job. The business though never invoiced me. I kept at them to invoice me but they didn't. Many months later they sent an angry email accusing me of not paying it and finally attaching the invoice, acting is if it was my fault and not their admin people's fault.

  • RedDevil860 on 20/10/2024 - 16:22
    -1

    Its actually pretty simple. Go to tafe do the course, apprentiship and then fix it yourself. It will still work out cheaper.

    • curtturtle on 21/10/2024 - 10:39

      Take minimum 6 years to be able to sign it off.

  • gromit on 20/10/2024 - 19:27
    +1

    My general approach, besides multiple quotes, is research research research. If when talking to them you sound like you have done your homework on brands and the work needed they are far less likely to try and pull the wool over your eyes

    • ATTS on 20/10/2024 - 21:18

      Thanks man!

  • saltypete on 21/10/2024 - 08:38

    Step 1. Do some basic research.

    https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/households/rebates-grants-and-…

    Not being aware of gov and/or council giving rebates is an easy way of ripping yourself off.
    Always, always get a quote. The tradie doesn't know how many you're getting so if they want the job they'll be reasonable. For this job 2 trades are needed, so you'll end up going with a larger supplier anyway.
    This install is going to be all about the detail anyway. How they place the power supply, how and where they route the plumbing.

    I wouldn't go near air tasker for a job like this. You are asking for trouble if you need 2 different trades and don't know in detail what you want done.

    We recently did the same changeover in SA and got excellent value from the plumbing and electrical work. Would use either of those tradies again in a heartbeat. Got both Gov and council rebates too.
    Also, think about future work and get the sparky to quote on this when they quote the job.

    A good job isn't cheap. A cheap job isn't good.

  • curtturtle on 21/10/2024 - 10:39
    -1

    Get a plumber from the Master Plumbers site (plumber.com.au) they only list their members which means that they are all checked for licenses and insurance. It might not be the cheapest but you're covered. And if something should go wrong Master Plumbers can work with you to get it rectified. Good luck getting help from the VBA with any other plumber.

    ALSO NEVER CALL A TRADIE ON A FRIDGE MAGNET.

    • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 10:58

      Thanks

  • Brick50 on 21/10/2024 - 11:20

    Had an aquatech x8 installed recently (mid range unit, lower price end), on the quote I got them to include:
    * dedicated circuit with approx 12 metres of wiring (some people will just run it to closest circuit if you don't specify),
    * new duo valve (isolation valve for cold water going into unit)
    * plumb condensate & PRV to downpipe (They make a lot of condensation you want to make sure that you have somewhere for it to go)

    For reference the Aquatech X8 is a well regarded unit, I paid $1500 including the dedicated circuit for it in Victoria.
    I considered going for a cheaper unit like the Emerald 270E (E model has backup element) but ultimately decided the X8 has a lot more reviews and probably better support.

    As others have said check out MEEH facebook group, IMO don't buy into the hype surrounding iStore units. The guy on there has his mates peddle them to everyone that asks and his only selling point is that his will last longer because they have a higher wattage compressor. But they don't have wifi and can't stand the guys attitude

    • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 12:28

      Thanks so what things make aquatech better than i store? I saw wp has dedicated thread for istore but not aquatech. So thought that might indicate i store was good. I also saw something that hydrotherm rebranded to aquatech, do you know why? And if that is a bad thing?

      Did you mean a seperate circuit rather than the mains circuit for the heat pump?

      Thanks !
      Oh hype with i store.

      Oh do duo valve and plumb condensate & PRV to downpipe was likely required for standard heat pump installation ? Do you know roughly how much that has costed?

      Oh i think i also saw something about aquatech was a good brand and used to be called hydrotherm?

      • Brick50 on 21/10/2024 - 12:48

        Not suggesting aquatech is better than iStore, I believe aquatech will be cheaper than istore also. Hydrotherm/Aquatech same company I think one is more commercial and the other residential. I don't think its a bad thing.

        A dedicated circuit means they will run a dedicated wire to the switchboard and it will have its own RCBO alone. A lot of cheap installers would want to hook it into your nearest powerpoint in the house increasing the load on this existing circuit. It is cheaper as they have a lot less wiring to run and also no need to install a new switch in the switchboard.

        I don't know if they usually replace duo valve anyway but the valve is only $30 or so from bunnings, I don't think they usually plumb it into the downpipe they usually just let it drip on the ground but it can product 5 litres per hour of condensation

        And yes I believe Aquatech/Hydrotherm are well regarded for the price compared to other cheap units such as Emerald/Eneft/Neopower/Ecogenica I am glad I went with it

        • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 13:25

          Thanks, yes aquatech cheaper than i store

          So how much extra did you pay for the dedicated circuit?

          Was duo valave similar to the pressure relief valve?

          I c thanks

  • R4 on 21/10/2024 - 13:07

    Just get several quotes. A heat pump is a big installation. I do a lot of DIY plumbing but I wouldn't try and install something like that. We installed a heat pump 3 years ago and all the quotes were pretty much in the same ballpark. There's also a government rebate involved which affects the final price. My experience is that plumbers like jobs like this as it doesn't involve fault finding and is, for them, an easy job.

    • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 13:28

      Thanks. Im aware of all eligible rebates. Is it because its easy job that they doing quotes by photos

      • R4 on 21/10/2024 - 14:31

        Probably. All the pipework is there and if they are replacing an electric boiler with a heat pump, so is the wiring.

        • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 15:12

          Thanks. Yeah i was wondering they didnt want to do a physical quote

          • iand on 21/10/2024 - 21:16

            @ATTS: physical quotes involve travel time which unless you are working in that area can really add up as you have travel time each way, when I was working I would have people want me to do quotes when it would involve almost an hour of travel

  • Cave Fire on 21/10/2024 - 13:16

    Have a look at their website/any image or branding. Kind of a hint they charge a lot. If they want to do excavations, that's a big warning sign. Had a newer/younger plumber fix a burst old pipe through cutting in with concrete. He wanted to dig more and charge around $3k. Called a tradie (who did a lot of work for us). His plumber mate (prob in 50's - 60's) came over, re routed the pipes and charged $500. He was old school, no branding and just a business card and invoice.

    • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 13:30

      Thanks man! Yeah that is the scenario im trying to avoid

  • Giraffe on 21/10/2024 - 14:25

    We had a Hydrotherm/Aquatech installed and the plumber quoted using photos only. He did say he does organise site visits when it doesn't look straightforward on photos.

    I would say just take lots of photos and if space could be an issue include some rough measurements. As others have said, MEEH Facebook page can possibly recommend you a good plumber who installs in your area

    • ATTS on 21/10/2024 - 15:14

      Thanks

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