From Craig M.
Phanton Mechanical, LLC
So I had a, “rockin’,” toilet issue. After a recent bathroom remodel, the remodeling people installed a new toilet . They obviously didn’t know what they were doing, because it’s been, “rockin’,” ever since. So I got on Thumbtack to find help. A couple young fellas came this morning from, “Phanton Mechanical.” I explained the problem. One guy seemed to speak better English than the other. Well, after I filled them in on the details, they began to take up the toilet assembly. I noticed they hadn’t retrieved any drop cloths or moving blankets to protect my recently refinished hard wood floors, so I asked the guys if I should get something to protect my floors. They said yes, then toilet was placed on my blanket by the two young men. Then they inspected the pipe. I told them now I’m not a, “licensed plumber,” but it seems to me something is missing to help support that pipe flange, because my toilet couldn’t be tightened down. All that happened when the nuts were tightened was the pipe flange would bend upwards so the toilet never would tighten down solid.
They agreed and headed to Home Depot. The plumbers/workers returned a little while later with a flange fixer, a new extra thick wax ring, and a kit that contains those decorative white plastic caps that cover the toilet’s hold down nuts. Now they never read the instructions, but I did. According to the instructions that came with the flange fixer kit, the wax ring goes down FIRST, directly on the pipe flange, then the flange fixer/HydroSeat goes on top of the wax ring.
Well, the guys did it the opposite. They installed the flange fixer on the pipe, then put the wax ring on top. The instructions said the feet of the flange fixer should have a 3/8” gap above the floor. Goes on to say if the angled metal feet are more than 3/8” above the floor, then remove the HydroSeat and use your hand to press down to evenly flatten out the wax. Replace the HydroSeat and recheck height until the feet are about 3/8” above the floor. Then it goes on to say center bolts from the back wall. The bolts should be parallel with the wall so that the toilet will be straight. Screw HydroSeat down evenly, alternating sides, until screws are snug, using included or other appropriate fasteners, based on the floors surface. Line up bolts through the holes in base and reset the toilet. Tighten nuts to secure toilet to the HydroSeat. Do not
over-tighten. Reconnect water supply line. Turn on water and check supply line for leaks. Allowed toilet to fill. Flush to check for leaks. OK so all that was done, but the point is the wax ring should’ve been placed underneath the new HydroSeat flange fixer instead of on top of it according to the directions. Supposedly, I hired licensed plumbers. It was a couple guys that came out to do the work. They were nice guys and all, and I know they meant well, but I have to give them an, “F,” for failure to follow instructions. Lastly, they had lots of trouble installing the decorative caps over the toilets mounting nuts, which is the last step of the job installing a toilet . They cracked and broke both of them. After they left, I had to go to Home Depot and buy new ones and install them myself. My initial estimate was $150.00 dollars. Total time including trip to Home Depot was 2 hours. Final bill was $299.00. No explanation why my bill jumped from $150.00 to $299.00.
