Homeowner nearly burned by TV plumber
Q: I've owned my home for 25 years and have never had a serious plumbing problem. But recently, the toilet has been running off and on for no reason. Several times an hour, the water runs in the tank for about 15 seconds, as though the toilet had just been flushed. I called one of the big plumbing companies that advertise on TV every day. The plumber arrived in a huge truck, tinkered for half an hour, and then told me the problem was high water pressure. He offered to install a pressure regulator for $3,800. I'm on a fixed income and cannot afford such an expense, so I paid the $58 service charge and sent the man on his way. Meanwhile, my toilet remains unfixed. What do you think I should do about the toilet, and should I be concerned about the water pressure level?
A: Thankfully you did not fall for the high-priced con job. Had you the $3,800, you'd have been badly cheated.
Many of the large plumbing companies that advertise on TV have reputations that would make a highwayman blush. Some are particularly known for monumental levels of overcharging, especially when dealing with elderly people.
My grandfather, at age 85, was scammed by one of these sting artists. The TV plumber he called removed all of the drain piping from beneath the house, rendering the plumbing system inoperative. Grandpa was then told that the pipes were worn out and needed to be replaced immediately. He didn't know where to turn, so he paid the $5,000 extortion fee to restore the habitability of his home.
Fortunately, your situation was not that serious. The problem with your toilet is common and simple. You have a leaking flapper in the tank. The flapper is the rubber stopper that holds back the water until you flush. When you press the tank handle, the flapper lifts, allowing the water to run into the toilet bowl. When a flapper leaks, the water level in the tank slowly recedes until the tank valve turns on to restore the fill level. That is why your tank valve runs repeatedly. Any neighborhood plumber or handyman can replace the flapper for a nominal charge. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
As for the water pressure, the plumbing code limits residential pressure to 80 psi (pounds per square inch). Excess pressure can cause leaks at water supply connections, but it can't make a toilet flapper leak. And contrary to what the scam plumber told you, a new regulator is not a major expense. A reputable plumber can install a regulator for about $300. But before you do that, have the pressure checked to determine whether a regulator is really needed. Don't let anyone charge you more. And whatever you do, don't call anymore TV plumbers.
• Distributed by Action Coast Publishing. Questions to Barry Stone can be e-mailed to barry@housedetective.com.