Angie's List Message Boards : Angies List Forums

Yesterday we had a plumber come to unclog a septic drain at our house.  The clog was found to be in the house (in the basement).  While the line was open and being snaked there was a fair amount of sewage water that backed up into the basement.  we have a sump pump, so some of the water drained into the that.  However, there was quite bit of septic water that was left puddled on the floor, along with the other sludge that the snake brought up.    The plumber then left with all the standing water and sludge all over.  There was also a large splash of sludge across the wall above where clean out entrance was.

 My question is should he have made some effort to remove the water that was sloshed out by the pump?  My husband thinks that he should have at least used a wet dry vac to pick up the worst of the water.  I know the cleaning and sanatizing was our responsibility, but I was disgusted with how much septic water was left all over.

 My husband wanted to take a picture and post it here showing the terrible condition the house was left in, but the batteries in the camera were dead, and we could not put off sanitizing the basement.

 This company had an A rating on Angies list. 

Did the plumber fix the problem.  I knew a plumber once in an institutional setting and he WOULD NOT clean up after a job like this.  (me, I'll clean up; it all pays the same).  There are also customers who would object to paying a plumber $xxx an hour to mop the floor.  Go buy yourself a shop vac and get over it.

Had you read the message we already cleaned the mess.  It was a high flat fee for a short job.

 You sound very hostile, about a simple question.

Did you agree to flat fee? If you did, the plumber went over that flat fee price? If not, you cannot say "it was a high flat fee short job", he gave you a flat fee, i'm sure you were more than happy with. Don't put down the flat fee, it save you plenty of money. If he charged you hourly, garanteed he would've cleaned up, sanitized, and had to run out for parts during the process, costing you much more. As for waste coming out of the cleanout, sounds like it was a bad clogg, and there was no stopping the mess. unless you opened the sewer or septic tank and snake there. But we don't live in a perfect world, and i was not present. So leaving a mess, could'nt tell you, maybe you said you would clean to save money?

It seems that the Plumber did his job, after all it was a flat fee. But what a professional should have done was at least asked if you had a bucket or something to clean it up with. Or being a plumber he should have had something to clean it up with, it would only make for better business. The plumber could of been very busy that day, or had some type of family issue that required he get done fast on that particular day. The point is, it would have been nice for him to clean the mess, but unless it was in a contract, then he is not obligated to. In my experience people are willing to clean up or cut certain nice-ety's in order to save money. It could have been a number of things, If he did the job, and it has worked fine since, then I would most likely rate him as an A, but in a future note put ask about cleanup if desired. Thanks, there are always two sides, and I would've at least attempted to clean a little. It could have been a bigger mess, that he cleaned up all except what you saw left. I wouldn't judge him on something you didn't ask him about.

---

Saint Contracting Company Inc.
SaintContracting.com
Mold Remediation
Restoration
Remodeling
Building