I'm in the middle of refinishing my basement with the help of a general contractor, and I'm facing a pretty troubling issue. Recently, the plumber installed a new Instant Hot Water heater, and when I tried to use it, I noticed that several water fixtures had little to no pressure. When the contractor and plumber came to investigate, they discovered that rockwool insulation had been stuffed into the water lines, which was clogging them.
The plumber mentioned a heated argument he had with a drywall subcontractor the day before, over cutting drywall to install the plumbing. He suspects that out of spite, the drywall worker stuffed the insulation in the pipes. This situation has left me pretty shocked since I haven't had any problems before this. I'm worried there might be lasting damage. What steps should I take to ensure everything is okay moving forward, and how should I handle this with the general contractor?
3 Answers
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles! Considering the type of insulation they used, it could potentially mess up appliances down the line. It’s best to have the plumber flush all the lines completely at no charge. If the general contractor gives you any pushback, you might want to mention that you’ll be considering other contractors if they don’t resolve this.
This sounds like vandalism if it was intentional. You should definitely address this with your contractor, making it clear that it’s their responsibility to fix it, possibly even including any damages to the existing system. You might want to document everything, like taking photos of the affected areas to support your claims. Keep your composure but make sure they understand the seriousness of the situation.
I’d say it’s on the general contractor to make things right without costing you anything. They hired the plumber and are responsible for their work. Have them thoroughly test and flush all your pipes to ensure no debris is left behind. If they don’t address it promptly, you might need to consider other options.