$11,000 Water Bill

[EddieWalker]

So two votes for poly pipe. Any other potential options?

Poly pipe has a horrible history of failure. I wouldn't use it. Granted, there are a variety of grades that it comes in that jump considerably in cost, so there is better and then there is very very good. But the cost is prohibitive compared to gasketed water line pipe. To my knowledge from what I've been told by people running and working for water districts, their experiments in poly pipe has proven to be a utter disaster.

For all of those who have it and haven't had a problem, that's great. But it's not something that I personally would recommend to anybody!!!

Look at what the water departments and new neighborhoods are using. It's all blue colored gasketed pipe. Probably C-900.

Be careful of advice from those who are suggesting using what they have just because it's worked for them. Research what has to be used over long runs. 1,300 feet is a VERY LONG run. Call the water department and ask them what the best pipe is to use. Ask them if you can buy it from them. My water department will sell me pipe at their cost, tax free.

 

[Sigarms]

Bottom line, the wrong pipe was used for your water line. Whoever made that decision is responsible for it failing. It has to be replaced with the proper pipe!!!!!!

+1

Eddie also brings up a good point on the glue. It's the "little" things that can add up between a good install and a bad install.

Absolute worst case, have your wife contact a reputable company and get a second "professional" opinion in writing about the issue and why it happened. The issue lies with the people who laid the pipe, and since you still have a warranty left on the install, needs to be addressed ASAP with the contractor, and dated in writing to cover your butt IMO.

I don't know about residential water lines in NC, but I do know on every HVAC install, in the State of NC, the contractor has to be licensed and a permit should be pulled on every job. The HVAC contractor is responsible for his work for one year, all labor included to rectify any mistakes they made (this includes sub contracting for new homes as well).

Complaint Information

It's apparent a mistake was made, and not on your end. It needs to be addressed.

 

[ray66v]

Poly pipe has a horrible history of failure. I wouldn't use it.

Ploy pipe has no strength if you heat it. So, perhaps the fact that you are in Texas has something to do your experience.

In northern Ohio, black poly is virtually all that's used now. And, it's extremely reliable.

 

[justinramani]

I've done a little digging on the state website and it doesn't look like the line was installed by a licensed plumber. I have already submitted an initial complaint to the State GC board.

 

[dodge man]

I wish I was more help, I hate your situation. I work for a civil engineering company and have a an engineering degree but am a land surveyor and am pretty clueless on this stuff. I have a service about 600 feet long and they used rolls of plastic pipe that was blue in color. I've kind of learned to trust Eddie on this stuff, he's built some stuff in his time.

All just add these meters tend to be pretty accurate. There could ba a problem but I bet the reading is correct. One thing that seems for sure is the builder used the wrong pipe. He went cheap and now it's time for him to pay the price. If he balks, a letter from a military lawyer might put the fear of God in him.

 

[nybirdman]

The pic in this post show's the pipe is "DWV". I'm not a licensed plumber but as far as I know the "DWV" means Drain-Waste-Vent, only!

EXACTLY! Builders/plumbers fault all the way.WRONG pipe used.Replace the WHOLE line with the proper materials.

 

[Sigarms]

I've done a little digging on the state website and it doesn't look like the line was installed by a licensed plumber. I have already submitted an initial complaint to the State GC board.

Have you thought having your wife making contact with the local TV station? Generally every TV station has a consumer complaint department that the news department finds interesting and note worthy to make the news in the buyers defense.

With a 11k water bill due to the apparent neglect of the builder, and the head of the family being deployed in a combat zone in defense of our country, I can't help but think that some news organization would think this would be a story looking into. If the builder doesn't care about bad press, I can assure you, the North Carolina sate inspections department does.

If the builder isn't having a "Oh S**T! moment, he darn well better should be IMO because he's the one who picked someone to run the lines to begin with.

 

[justinramani]

I'm going to ask my wife to talk about the situation with her JAG. So far I have complaints with the state GC board as well as the state plumbing board. Our 1 year warranty extends until the 31st, so that's some good news. We have initiated official communication with enough parties to demonstrate that the issue arose and was noticed prior to the warranty period ending. I hate to take the nuclear option. But I don't mess around when it comes to my family. This is a horrible thing for my wife to be going through. She's on active duty as well and is struggling to manage her schedule and our 1 year old as it is.

 

[ruffdog]

Ploy pipe has no strength if you heat it. So, perhaps the fact that you are in Texas has something to do your experience.

In northern Ohio, black poly is virtually all that's used now. And, it's extremely reliable.

Not only that but down there they may only bury it 12 inches deep while we bury it 4+ feet.

 

[Sigarms]

I hate to take the nuclear option.

With a 11k water bill, you have to.

I've known HVAC contractors to eat a homeowners $500 electric bill because they wired the stip heaters incorrectly which makes them run all the time. An 11k bill is a little harder to swollow on the contractors end, but the "nuclear option" may be the only way to right a wrong with that kind of "mistake money" involved.