Cost of replacing ballcock.

billgibney

I was looking for a price to replace an old ballcock in the attic tank,

Plumber came out and said I'd need a new lever valve as well, he's quoted over €500 for replacing both.

Seems outrageous or is that the rate now.

Rows Grower

Less than 20 euro for both parts, 15 minute job.

Tefral

Wow thats outragious. €250 is the max id give him.

He would be in and out in an hour tops. including the usual 5mins of bullshit talk at the start.

Measure the Diameter of the pipe and go to a plumbing wholesalers and tell them you need the below:

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/midbrass-brass-part-1-float-valve-1-2-/810hk

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/flomasta-round-ball-float-110mm/350fy

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/lever-ball-valve-red-blue-15mm/8247v

https://www.screwfix.ie/p/ptfe-tape-12m-x-12mm/76841

Thats all you need OP. Kill the water going into the house and you could do it yourself in an hour.

Sleeper12

€250 is a fair price by todays standards but for €500 I'd be looking for the tank itself replaced also.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120638780#Comment_120638780

Agreed on all fronts, that is unless there is a hidden pricing factor here which we are not aware of.

billgibney

Nothing hidden

Tefral

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120638915#Comment_120638915

Yeah thats mad money.

Source:

I am a Mechanical and Electrical Quantity Surveyor

dzer2

It's the know how he is charging for plus he is draining the tank to work over the water. It could take 2 hours to refill and make sure there's no overflow or leak.

Con now its ripoff Ireland ome

landofthetree

Learn to do it yourself. It's pretty straight forward if you are anyway good at DIY.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WuC9uaPzneM&pp=ygUgcmVwbGFjaW5nIGJhbGxjb2NrIGluIHdhdGVyIHRhbms%3D

Sleepy

Did it myself about 4 months ago. Watched a few youtube videos, shut off the water and fitted a new ballcock which was about €15 in heat merchants. Job was done in about 20 minutes, left the attic hatch open for a few hours so I could hear if the flow was going or not. Job done.

Lenar3556

The tank wouldn’t normally need to be drained to replace a ball cock.

Is there another issue that is being addressed at the same time?

cute geoge

Mad money or diy job but give yourself 3 or 4 hours ,riping old fittings have a habit of not sealing aterwards and leave a drip .

What I would do is rip the ball cock in half and just use half of the exact same new one ,job done and no fear of leaks ,there is a red o ring in the joint of the ball cock just make sure this is intact

Tefral

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639561#Comment_120639561

Id say thats the lever valve thats causing him to have to drain the tank

tayto lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058297890/cost-of-replacing-ballcock

Ditch that robbing b**. Conman.

Sleeper12

Most plumbers wouldn't drain the tank to replace a valve. They would usually plug the outlet from the tank.

Lenar3556

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640572#Comment_120640572

Risky interfering with old pipework on a tank in an attic just depending on a plug.

dunnerc

It is indeed , shocking really

Jinglejangle69

Here’s an idea.

If you don’t think it’s worth paying €500 then don’t get him to do that job.

I know, genius ay.

billgibney

Did you go to school to learn to be an arsehole or is it all natural?

MOD NOTE: POSTER WARNED FOT THIS RUDE POST

dodzy

What’s the logic or need to replace lever valve and what is its function? Eitherway, I think you’ve seen the general consensus is he’s robbing you. It’s a very easy DIY job with just basic tools. Even €250 is hard to swallow IMO. €230 for 20mins work. I get it,,,, van, travel time, tax, fuel to job, but still…..I’d say max €175 would be somewhat more palatable.

DIY all the way OP.

billgibney

Got it done by a plumber for 100 cash

Say the valve is fine. Took under an hour including tidying up

Quay_Koncept

Plumbers are very expensive, I had a plumber in to fix a leaky T junction, an olive had developed a hole, like a worm had eaten a hole through it. Anyway I sent videos on whatsapp and he quoted 95 plus vat, and would add on $$ for any extra work (all cool), he was an hour and charged 195 plus vat "as there was a bit more in it". (Also i noticed he left the old olive on the other side of the compression fitting which I would have assumed is not best practice on such a job. As if one was in such a state it would be safe to assume its twin might be also.

I was paying cash and looked all disapointed when I asked him for an invoice. What was the invoice? He gets an old Aisling school Copy book from his bag and scrolls his name and "works done" 195 plus vat and hands it to me. (Can a hand written note be an invoice? I have no idea) In any event I showed him 2 leaking taps, Outside tap and main water stop valve under kitchen sink. (Both leaking from spindle) I specifically told him they were both leaking from the spindle part. He said he could come back to do this in a few days , repair the outside tap but would have to replace the main water valve tap as its a false economy to replace in case it starts leaking again and its accesiibility, price to do this approx 160 plus vat. A quick look at youtube showed me there was no need to replace any taps at all and how to repair both taps with PTFE took 5 minutes each tap both perfect 😊 saved just under 200 euro. Youtubes your friend :P

Sleeper12

In fairness he told you how much to replace the tap & gave sound advice that replacing is better value than repairing as his fee is the lions share of the price quoted. I can't fault him on this tbh.

An invoice can be a piece of paper and he can use crayon if he wants however it needs an invoice number for it to be an invoice. It sounds like he gave you a receipt. This doesn't need an individual number as its just him acknowledging in writing that you paid him. It's your proof of payment /purchase. He doesn't even need to show the VAT. He is only obligated to show the VAT if you make him aware that you are Vat registered yourself. Otherwise X amount plus VAT is perfectly legal

Having said all of that it's not how I would do it. I don't do cash jobs and all clients get a full VAT invoice. It just looks more professional imo