I hired a plumber for my standing shower enclosure. After the rough in, he just let the water run for couple of buckets. Later, I did this again and detected a leak at the connection of cold water inlet and the cartridge. He came to fixed it. But I became cautious and asked for a 2 hour water pressure test, which I leant by asking some contractor friend.
The plumber came over and put a cap on the shower head hose. Then I turned on the valves and also the cartridge handle to let the whole plumbing full of water. Right away, the leaks were detected at both A – the connection on the top of vertical plumbing and B- the bottom of the vertical plumbing. Spot A had lot of water coming out, while spot B had a slow drop. I shut the valves right away.
The plumber came and fixed the spot A easily, but he refused to check spot B. He said:’ I should have never turn the handle on and let the vertical section of plumbing full of water pressure while it was capped, since in the real life, the water always comes out from the shower head so less pressure. And the material was only made for 80 Psi… All I need to test is only between the valves and the cartridge.
He did not warn me not to turn on the water from the cartridge handle above, and I thought the cap was made for hold the water from the top. He said the cap was only for prevent water from come out if someone touch the handle by accident. And he asked extra $100 for this visit.
My question is: Do I need the entire plumbing system to be tested with the shower head capped, or like what the plumber said to only test the horizontal section between the main valves and the cartridge? What is the standard rule to the plumber?
The plumbing will be hidden inside the wall, so I want a peace of mind before tiling.
Thanks very much in advance.
The plumber came over and put a cap on the shower head hose. Then I turned on the valves and also the cartridge handle to let the whole plumbing full of water. Right away, the leaks were detected at both A – the connection on the top of vertical plumbing and B- the bottom of the vertical plumbing. Spot A had lot of water coming out, while spot B had a slow drop. I shut the valves right away.
The plumber came and fixed the spot A easily, but he refused to check spot B. He said:’ I should have never turn the handle on and let the vertical section of plumbing full of water pressure while it was capped, since in the real life, the water always comes out from the shower head so less pressure. And the material was only made for 80 Psi… All I need to test is only between the valves and the cartridge.
He did not warn me not to turn on the water from the cartridge handle above, and I thought the cap was made for hold the water from the top. He said the cap was only for prevent water from come out if someone touch the handle by accident. And he asked extra $100 for this visit.
My question is: Do I need the entire plumbing system to be tested with the shower head capped, or like what the plumber said to only test the horizontal section between the main valves and the cartridge? What is the standard rule to the plumber?
The plumbing will be hidden inside the wall, so I want a peace of mind before tiling.
Thanks very much in advance.