Extortionate Plumbing Quote

blue_steel

Hi I am just looking for an opinion on a plumbing quote we got. Basically our hot water was working but our rads were not. It appears the problem is the actuator on a 2 port valve. We already paid €150 for the call out (20 mins to diagnose the issue). Now we have gotten a quote of €400 + VAT to replace the actuator (not the entire valve piece just the actuator).

A quick search shows we can buy this part for €70. Are they seriously trying to charge nearly €400 to connect a new motor. Surely this a cowboy move. It doesn't even involve electric work because you can just detach the cable and connect a new actuator.

I am thinking I will just do it myself. But I feel annoyed that they could quote a price like this to a vulnerable older person who might have no choice but to pay it to get their heating working.

Risteard81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058315211/extortionate-plumbing-quote

It's hardly extortionate. If you don't like the price quoted then you're free to see whether someone else will do it cheaper (and hopefully still to a high standard). Service businesses are expensive to run.

blue_steel

You don't think €400 for half an hours labour is extortionate?

SuperBowserWorld

Something like this ? The top part is electronic with a little motor that fits onto the valve below. I've had to replace this after it failed. The only part that was hard was that it was in an awkward location. So, it's an easy fix, if the valve/piping and electrics to this are ok. It just snaps on.

Also, make sure you don't have a leak that caused this to fail or it will fail again.

handlemaster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058315211/extortionate-plumbing-quote

Your payig not just for the part but the knowhow , experience, time , insurance travel costs etc.

mickdw

Just tell them you are not going ahead with that. Get it yourself and fit.

Alot of plumbers would have a selection of those motors with them.

Call out plus part cost would be plenty, not 600 quid.

Use ytube to learn how to replace it yourself. You paid for his time handsomely so don't feel bad about cutting him out.

blue_steel

Yeah that's it. The quote is just to replace the actuator on top. If you take off the actuator and turn the valve manually it seems to works OK. And no sign of any leak from the valve.

I never have a problem paying a professional to do a job but this quote seems insane to me. As long as the connection cable is the same can I just attach the new actuator to the valve and plug in the cable?

Gusser09

Yeah that's seriously on the high side. Fit it yourself with the help of youtube.

SuperBowserWorld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121151232#Comment_121151232

We had a leak from a pipe above which destroyed the electrics in this and then the electrics to the timer/switch panel.

If you get the same device, the existing power cable/plug just snaps into it.

Turn off your electricity at the mains before going near it.

Took ages to get a plumber to even come and fix the leak. Had to put a cup on top of this to catch the slow leak. 😁

One guy quoted loads and never turned up. In the end we got a plumber via house insurance and he fixed the leak in 15 minutes.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058315211/extortionate-plumbing-quote

That's a quote from someone who doesn't want the job. Small jobs costs tradespeople money so they give crazy quotes to avoid them.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121151232#Comment_121151232

The removal and installation process is documented by EPH as follows:

3. Removal of actuator from the valve body

To remove the actuator head from the valve body ensure that the manual override lever is in the manual

position. Ensure that the fixing screw located under the detach button is loosened and then press the detach

button. The actuator will detach from the valve body.

4. Fitting of actuator to the valve body

Before fitting the actuator, please ensure that the maual override lever is in the raised manual position and

the fixing screw is loosened. The actuator is mounted by aligning the 4mm flat spindle on the valve body to

the identically sized slot on the actuator. When the valve and actuator are successfully coupled, the actuator

locking mechanism will “click” into place. Now tighten the fixing screw located under the detach button.

Once the valve is fitted, place the manual override lever in the raised manual position. It is now possible

to flush and drain the system to remove any foreign matter. The system can now be refilled and corrosion

inhibitor may be added if required.

https://www.ephcontrols.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2023-04-26_A1P_DS_PK_Email.pdf

Just make sure that you get the matching part as there are three-way and two-way valves heads available. Bring the part into a plumbing suppliers, they will sort you out.

tayto lover

Still plenty of price gougers and con men about. That's some quote for a relatively simple job.

brokenbad

Why not get another quote from a different plumber to determine whether or not you are being ripped off?

fael

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121151394#Comment_121151394

Exactly this.

OP just do it yourself and possibly leave a review on Google reviews. Quotes like this gives tradesmen a bad name.

listermint

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121155191#Comment_121155191

Small jobs cosy money... I do love this saying. The small jobs are what keep tradespeople afloat. So it's nonsense. He already made 150 that didn't cost him money it cost him travel and a few minutes looking. Could do 5 of them a day. But sure they cost money.

It's not that he doesn't want to the job. It's the he can charge what he likes. That's the guts of it. Plumbers playground out there at the moment.

And actuator job like this is handy out and wouldn't be a typical turn down.

chuck eastwood

I always laugh when I see lads pull this line out "paying for experience ysda yada" . Qualified plumber that moved into industrial pipe fitting and now and engineer here. The price is extorting and you will get someone cheaper OP. Absolutely no defending that.

mickdw

Ya it's basic fault finding.

I'm an engineer working in the building game

And I'm pretty sure my qualifications took longer and my overheads and liabilities are greater than the plumber mentioned here but I don't get a call out fee and I wouldn't have the balls to ask for the money he is asking for.

blue_steel

Thanks for all the replies. I ended up not doing it myself because the new actuator connection had to be wired in. The one I had was an old model with a different connection type. I got another plumber in who did it for €160. Some difference from €450.

mickdw

Good. Too many are just throwing the money to them so they think it's OK to ask for that amount.

Call out plus replacement part cost should have been enough for the first guy.