When you have a plumbing issue, it is always a smart idea to call a licensed and qualified professional. A small repair can quickly turn into a major house flood. It is also important to have a reputable company before you have a problem, so you do not end up like the person in this “Plumber Causes Major Flood In Apartment” video. Their so-called plumber caused a major house flood. You cannot hire just anyone who calls themselves a plumber, and assume you will get Balkan-quality service, materials and workmanship.
In this event, a landlord had a simple issue with a leak under a bathroom sink. For any experienced plumber, this is a relatively simple fix. This plumber decided to try to cut some corners. They did not turn off the water before making the repair, a plumbing basic. The result was a fountain of water spurting from the pipe, creating a situation that was quickly out of control. A nearby person tried to extract some of the flooded water with a carpet cleaning machine, but it ended up being something along the lines of trying to empty the Hudson River with a bucket. In this situation, a house flood resulted in thousands of dollars of damage to two different apartments. This was all because one person did not want to take the time or pay the fee to shut-off at the water main.
The full explanation of why a major house flood occurred:
Landlord calls plumber who foolishly tries to repair a leak without first turning the water off. He did not want to pay the $150 water shut-off fee and instead causes thousands in damage to two apartments.
At no point were the tenants given any choice in the matter. This entire incident, from the labor to the decisions, was purely between the landlord and plumber. I recorded this video to document the damage, holding the landlord accountable for her mistake in hiring this person, as well as to capture the epic moment of failure.
I am not a tenant here, so not only do I not care enough to get wet attempting to fix this idiot’s mess – I have no idea where the water shutoff is located. The video was a good opportunity, I took it. The 2 apartments affected by the flood are to be entirely renovated by a legitimate contractor at the landlord’s expense.
For those who are having difficulty understanding why there might be a fee:
This apartment complex requires a $150 fee per every 30 minutes to shut water off since each building must be shut off from water entirely. The water shut off valves are only accessible by the complex staff.
A small leak was beginning to saturate the bathroom sink cabinet in this apartment, causing swelling of the wood. The tenant (the lady with the steam-vacuum) called the landlord to have the leak repaired, as well as a new faucet installed. The landlord tried to save money by hiring this man. The “plumber” made the decision to repair the leak without shutting the water off in an attempt to save the landlord from a fee he thought would be unnecessary. It was soon found that he was overconfident in his ability to repair the leak, and the resulting ensued.
Trust a licensed and competent professional every time
Homeowners, landlords, and business owners need to have the peace of mind that the person they call with a problem will fix the situation, and not cause more damage. Or, as in this case, a major house flood. In the New York City area, Balkan Sewer And Water Main has a reputation for doing the job the right way, without rushing or cutting corners. We work hard for our customers and always guarantee our work. With 65 years of experience and thousands of satisfied customers, you can rest assured that we will take care of the issue with your sewer or water mains without damage to your property. For more information, contact Balkan Sewer And Water Main.
Calling a licensed, insured, and skilled professional does not just apply to plumbing work. It is sound advice for electrical, HVAC, roofing, and all sorts of other types of work you routinely require. Unnecessary property damage, loss of service, or injury is exponentially higher when the proper trades people are not utilized. Not only that, an uninsured contractor will eave you holding the bag for the all associated consequences of their shoddy work.