Home/Rants/🔧 Plumbing/that time i lost $2k on a PEX job in north jersey and laughed about it later
that time i lost $2k on a PEX job in north jersey and laughed about it later
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BrushStrokeBoss
·13d·54 replies·55 participants
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BrushStrokeBoss👑 LegendOP13d
58
so im up in north jersey, zone 5 winters mean we gotta be careful with frozen lines, and i quoted this homeowner $2k to reroute their main water line using Uponor PEX-A tubing from supplyhouse. figured it'd be a quick day swapping out the old galvinized crap for something that expands without bursting. but the inspector shows up and starts nitpicking the support spacing, says it aint meeting code 603.3 even though i used hangers every 32 inches. had to rip it out and redo half the run, eating the material costs myself cause i didnt wanna fight the permit. customer was cool about it but man, that stung. saw a similar story on r/plumbing last week, guy in plumbers united facebook group said to always double-check local amendments first. lesson learned, now i charge an extra 10% buffer for inspections. funny how you think youre winning til the code book bites ya.
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BrushStrokePro10⭐ Expert13d
13
always add that inspection buffer, saved my ass on a similar PEX run last month.
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LadderLad3⭐ Expert12d
14
north jersey inspectors are the worst, same shit here every time.
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ACAvenger4🏆 Master12d
29
lol i once pulled a whole manifold install because the HO decided to 'help' with zip ties instead of proper clamps.
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KeyMaster7⭐ Expert12d
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had a customer try to tie the pipes with bailing wire, looked like a bad art project.
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DeckDoctor👑 Legend12d
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bailing wire? thats next level redneck plumbing.
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BoltBreaker3🏆 Master11d
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you redo it for free? damn, id tell em to eat the cost or find another plumber.
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WattTheHeck29👑 Legend11d
9
nah, building rapport is worth it long term, but yeah it sucks.
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HeatWaveHero2⭐ Expert11d
7
true, but my knees cant take ripping out work anymore.
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LiftLord🏆 Master11d
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uponor is solid but those inspectors love to play god.
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SawdustSavant9⭐ Expert10d
25
we all been there, brother. that $2k hit feels personal.
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LadderLad6🏆 Master10d
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code 603.3 got me too, thought i was good til the red tag.
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CanvasCowboy⭐ Expert10d
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red tags are the devil, had to bribe with donuts once.
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MowMan⭐ Expert10d
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nah, just push back politely, most fold if you quote the ipc right.
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PalletPro🏆 Master9d
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fuck inspectors, they change rules mid-job half the time.
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ShingleShuffler3⭐ Expert9d
13
exactly, collective BS from the county office.
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FramingFool⭐ Expert9d
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i won one last year, argued the variance and got paid extra for the hassle.
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NotAnElectrician4⭐ Expert9d
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document everything from the start, photos of every hanger.
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VentVagabond⭐ Expert8d
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yeah i feel ya, lost a whole day on a drain stack last week.
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FlushItFred🏆 Master8d
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homeowners think pex is magic, then blame us when it kinks.
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DrainSnakeKing⭐ Expert8d
11
kinked my first pex job too, apprentice me was pissed.
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LawnLizard🏆 Master8d
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zone 5 means more callbacks for bursts, budget accordingly.
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WireWizard4🏆 Master7d
12
yep, winter hits and phones blow up.
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SuperheatSam⭐ Expert7d
9
try propex fittings next time, less hassle with expansion.
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GutterGuru2🏆 Master7d
13
good call, but uponor still king for cold climates.
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RollerRanger2🏆 Master6d
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that facebook group rant was spot on, locals amend everything.
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RodentRidder👑 Legend6d
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lost $1500 on a water heater swap, customer ghosted after.
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PipeDreamer16⭐ Expert6d
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ghosting clients are the real loss, at least yours paid partial.
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ChillMasterHV👑 Legend6d
13
sharbite woulda saved time but nah, stick to crimp.
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SolderSavant🏆 Master6d
11
crimp rings forever, sharbites leak under pressure.
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BloomBoss2👑 Legend5d
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im with ya, these jobs test your sanity.
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RollerRandy👑 Legend5d
30
had a pex ball valve fail mid-inspect, water everywhere lol.
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NotAnElectrician9👑 Legend5d
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water shows are the best, customers freak but its funny.
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RoofRatKing⭐ Expert5d
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dont get me started on permit fees eating profits.
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PeakProspector2⭐ Expert4d
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permits are a scam, charge em to the HO.
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ShingleShark3🏆 Master4d
10
scam for sure, lining pockets while we sweat.
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CleanFreakCarl2🏆 Master4d
3
what was the final cost after redo?
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BugBlasterBen2🏆 Master4d
9
ended up at $2500 total, but got a referral out of it.
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KeyMaster👑 Legend3d
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referrals make it worth it, solid move.
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OpenerOperator3🏆 Master3d
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sharbites behind walls? hell yes, fight me on that.
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PipeDreamer2🏆 Master3d
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documented my last loss with pics, used it for training.
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MopMaster⭐ Expert3d
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smart, turns loss into lesson.
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LiftAndShiftLee🏆 Master2d
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clients who nitpick are the worst, fire em next time.
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TenYearVet22⭐ Expert2d
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nitpickers cost more in stress than money.
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PanelPusher5⭐ Expert2d
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agreed, life's too short for bad fits.
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ColorChaos2⭐ Expert1d
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i upsold a whole repipe after that mess.
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BumpKeyBandit⭐ Expert1d
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upselled? genius, turned loss to win.
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SparkPlugDummy⭐ Expert1d
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had a funny one, ho used duct tape on leak.
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OpenerOperator6⭐ Expert1d
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duct tape fixes everything til it dont lol.
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SafeCrackerSue⭐ Expert1d
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laughed so hard i snorted coffee.
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RollerRanger10⭐ Expert20h
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move it or lose it, but yeah jersey traffic sucks for call backs.
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MoveItMuscle⭐ Expert15h
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traffic adds hours, factor that in quotes.
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CircuitClown👑 Legend9h
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always, or you eat the gas.
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HammerHeadHal⭐ Expert6h
14
watched a roger wakefield vid on pex supports, changed my game.
