| Jun 7 @ 1:43 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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Two years ago my shower in my master bathroom fell apart. The shower head and the pipe its attached too broke off. Well meaning friends tried to fix it and made it even worse. I have reluctant to hire a plumber since I hear they cost a small fortune. I am however tired of using my guest room shower and would love to have my shower functional again. I even purchased a new shower curtain in honor of the occassion. So I am wondering does anyone know a good plumber in the Orlando area that will not beak the bank? I have never used a plumbers services before so I am not sure what is reasonable.
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| Jun 7 @ 2:31 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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outlaw_star
Posts: 1,077
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The shower head and the pipe its attached too broke off
Sounds like you might have to take apart part of the wall to get to the interior pipe and attach a new flow pipe and shower head (unless the current shower head is still good then that will save a few $$$ in recycling it) then rebuild that section of the wall with the new pipe and shower head.
Looks like you are looking at a minor plumbing and construction problem (based on limited information given). So, depending on the contractors out there and the amount of work they will have to do you are looking at spending aprox $4~5 K for the work. Course I could be wrong on the cost so I would recommend asking Mel about it Dove.
Just make sure that the person you have doing the repairs is a licensed contractor and not some gypsy repair person (who goes door to door offering to fix it with payment in advance then) who will screw up the job beyond what you have now!
[Edited on 6/7/2008 2:43 PM]
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| Jun 8 @ 10:10 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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tastyface
Posts: 15
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From your description it sounds like the shower head arm somehow broke off. Presumably it's made of metal (as opposed to plastic), but no matter, as there may still be a small remaining portion of it threaded into the valve body behind the tile or shower surround. If that's the case, the good news is that the tile or surround may not have to be messed with at all; a ½" nipple extractor (pardon the pun, but plummin lingo's filled with double-entendres) may be all that's needed to remove what's left of it, which will allow you to go out and buy a new shower head arm.
Let's also go on the presumption that the existing shower head is still functional, but if you did wish to upgrade it as well, replacements for those too can be easily purchased in the same places as the shower head arm.
Oh yeah (here again with the more mature metaphors), the industry standard length of shower head arms is 6", though 8" is also an option.
Now for the cold, hard facts of paying a licensed tradesman what they're worth as opposed to what you think they oughta coast: you have two choices, good and cheap. Pick one, and only one.
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| Jun 8 @ 10:13 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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tastyface
Posts: 15
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Type-oh here: oughta "coast" should have been oughta "cost".
But I have a feeling you knew that already, didn't ya, Dawn?
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| Jun 9 @ 12:43 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Kenn159
Posts: 2,169
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If you have a handy friend or local handyman that can find enough of the shower head arm to grab and hold with some vise grips,then turn counter clock wise .
If you can find a crack or gap around the shower arm, you can spray some wd 40 before you turn it, just to help to loosen it a bit where it threads into the pipe in the wall.
If the shower head arm is broken back behind the wall and there is no way to grab it,you may have to remove some of the wall there to gain access in order to replace the arm..
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| Jun 9 @ 12:50 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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Alliegirl162
Posts: 12
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Dawn have you heard of Craig's list on the internet?? There are things for sale on there & there is a gategory on there for bartering services. I have never personally used it but I have friends who have bought stuff from there. Like everything out there you have to be careful, just check it out & see what comes of it. Allie
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| Jun 9 @ 1:28 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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kodjo771
Posts: 3
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ill fix at
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| Jun 9 @ 1:30 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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kodjo771
Posts: 3
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ill do at for free
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| Jun 10 @ 12:40 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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Thank you everyone for all your great suggestions. Yes it is the shower arm that broke off and I think part of the wall will have to go get at it. Everyone that tried before was unable to losen it to get it out. I had one friend god bless him that ran back to home depot three times and all the tools he tried just could not grip it. He had the best intentions but I think he made it worse. My brother has a friend that did some plumbing work for my mom. He may come and look at it tomorrow.
Kodjo thanks so much for your offer that is really nice of you.
Allie I am familiar with Craigs list. My daughter found her roommates that way , and they have all been great and reliable. She sold my old bed that I was going to have hauled away when the new one was delivered on Craigs list. I never thought of looking for services that way, but I will keep it in mind. I have quite a few home improvement projects that need to be done.
Tastyface, I am an expert on typos.. so no worries. The name is not Dawn though, but I have two other personalities so why not add her to the list 
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| Jun 10 @ 7:02 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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witchietoo
Posts: 2,626
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he name is not Dawn though, but I have two other personalities so why not add her to the list
I would say you have more then two other personalities....lol Remember some of us have all gone out together....which we need to do one of these days. That is if I ever stop working 6 day weeks!! 
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| Jun 11 @ 2:21 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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Witchie you are probably right I have enough multible personalities to make "Sybil "proud. Hey I might have figured out why I am full figured. There are so many of living in this one body.
Yes we are due for a night out, its been way to long. I know i am about ready for a weekend off for fun and games. Witchie i have a favor to ask of you pretty please. I would very much like to be at Disney Hollywood studios when the American Idol attraction opens. It would be connecting both of my worlds together. Disney and American Idol it does not get much better then that. If you can in anyway make this happen I would be Soooooo happy. I will swap you a disney day for a universal day.
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| Jun 11 @ 6:04 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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witchietoo
Posts: 2,626
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This sounds soooo bad
When does it open? Really sad that I work for the company but clueless on what happens at the studios....lol
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| Jun 11 @ 8:16 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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American Idol experience
January 09.... I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Update on plumbing , the guy that was coming to get it fixed keeps making excuses. If he does not show by the weekend I will look further. He does good work but he is a major procastinator it seems.
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| Jun 11 @ 10:55 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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witchietoo
Posts: 2,626
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January 09.... I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As long as it isn't one of our wonderful black out dates, I can get you in the park, just can't do anything about the show. Not unless a few of my "buddies" in attractions go over to the studio's....then maybe I would have a chance to get you in the ride itself...lol I can't remember the last time I went to the studio's for anything other then the Christmas lights with my nieces and nephew.
As for your plumbing issues, sorry, but don't know anyone here that can help. Still way to new to this area.
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| Jun 15 @ 11:23 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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Thanks Witchie.. will cross my fingers for no black out date. I have not been to the studios in a long while either. The Magic Kingdom is still my favorite. My last few visits to Disney have been to Epcot though. I love Animal kingdom also, its my daughters favorite.
My shower still sits sad and neglected. My brothers friend has yet to come through. He is just not reliable. I am going to call some plumbers this week and hope that they give me a fair price. I need to rent a handy husband I think 
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| Jun 16 @ 4:24 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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cheetra
Posts: 65
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Update on plumbing , the guy that was coming to get it fixed keeps making excuses. If he does not show by the weekend I will look further. He does good work but he is a major procastinator it seems.
Sounds like you got either a 'gypsy contractor' or a contractor without the signed contract on time and cost. Meaning that you might have to find someone else to do it if he doesnt come thru for you
I need to rent a handy husband I think
Heh, Outlaw would do it IF it wasnt for the high cost of gas and he works for free too! (Thou you will have to pay for the replacement parts for the shower head) He does a good job too (on those back massages and minor repairs he does for me.)
[Edited on 6/16/2008 4:33 PM]
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| Jun 16 @ 5:47 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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honbee42
Posts: 345
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That's a nice offer Cheetra.
Why is it that every time Outlaw cancels you pop in the forum?
Let's see today you offer his services, then Outlaw cancells right after that hmmmm weird.
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| Jun 16 @ 6:07 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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honbee42
Posts: 345
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My shower still sits sad and neglected. My brothers friend has yet to come through. He is just not reliable. I am going to call some plumbers this week and hope that they give me a fair price. I need to rent a handy husband I think
I wish I knew what to say. I'm going to be facing just about the same problem.
Mine is the cold water facet though. Can't find another stem that will work with the part in the wall. The plumbing is so old that the whole system from the handles up has to be replaced, which means that the whole wall has to be taken off. There were no shut off valves put on there either. The woman next door buried the shut off valve that was in the yard so we don't know where that is either. My sister's boyfriend had to put a cap on in place of the stem with the water running. It was kind of funny watching water fly out into the tub at him while he was putting it on. He got it though..LOL
If I hear of anything I'll let you know though.
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| Jun 16 @ 6:44 PM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber.
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tastyface
Posts: 15
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[QUOTE]My shower still sits sad and neglected. My brothers friend has yet to come through. He is just not reliable. I am going to call some plumbers this week and hope that they give me a fair price.[QUOTE]
(hoping the quote thingie's done right above).....
Try and keep in mind that providing even a semi-accurate estimate without putting a pair of eyes on your job is gonna be a bit difficult, DT. Also, that you don't get what you don't pay for.
Hopefully it's not your only means of taking a shower, and that some outfit out there will be able to perform a proper job at a fair rate.
It's kinda funny (in the peculiar, as opposed to the ha-ha sense)---I happen to be in the plumbing parts business (serving the trade only), and let me tell you, business, what little of it there is out there, is horrible. Everybody's cut back on their crews. Some have been forced to lay plumbers off. You'd think with that kind of economic climate they'd be jubilant to accept any kind of work!
Oh, and another thing....there was a suggestion made previously about spraying some WD40 on one of the troublesome parts for that shower arm. Be verrrrry cautious to the point of skeptical about that; while it's a great product for loosening most any surface from the grips of another it's still harmful or fatal if swallowed. If swallowed, it can enter the lungs and may cause chemical pneumonitis. I say this to remind you that even though one doesn't normally drink from it, the shower is supplied with the same potable (drinking) water that runs through your kitchen and bathroom lavatory faucets.
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| Jun 17 @ 1:25 AM |
Help wanted.. I need to hire a plumber. |
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Dovestreasure
Posts: 3,387
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Outlaws alter ego is back.. how nice to see you again Cheetra. I was just thinking the other day that it was nearly time for Outlaw to take a break and for you to appear. I can certainly understand anyone not wanting to travel far to help fix a shower. The thought is VERY well appreciated.
Tasty Face I will take your advice on The WD 40. Outlaw suggested I take a picture , I might just do that in post it in my profile, if MD approves it. I made some calls to couple of plumbing companies today and they will be setting up a time to come have a look and give an estimate.
I do thankfully have another shower that I use in my guest bathroom. I really love my walk in shower though in my master bath. When I get a full house of company one shower is just not enough.
Honbee I hope you get your plumbing woes taken care of as well.
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