This past Sunday was shaping up like so many others, uneventful, pleasant, a nice Supper in the works, when a burst cold water pipe under the kitchen counter suddenly turned my world upside down. Water spraying all over the place and, more ominously, the floor was beginning to show the unmistakable signs of flooding, rising water level! After clearing away all the pots and pans, rolls of paper towels, miscellaneous dried goods and other junk, I finally and thankfully located a main shutoff valve. Now the work began.
Try to find a plumber on a Sunday at 6:00pm.....The first one I called was on a camping trip for the week. The second might be able to get to me in a day or so... Luckily I knew of Mr. Rooter. Open 24hrs, 7 days a week! Dave returned my call in about 5 minutes and after I explained my problem, told me not to worry, he would come by within the next hour. Great relief!
With my wife and son giving a hand, we soaked up dish towel after dish towel into a bucket and the sink and eventually managed to dry the hardwood and cupboards.
When Dave arrived, as promised within an hour, he set to work immediately. The break occurred at a tee between three different types of pipe. Pex, PVC and one other type, the name of which escapes me. He had all the necessary connections for the first two types, but because the third type was a discontinued variety, he didn't carry the fittings on his truck. Anyway, in order to get the kitchen functional again, Dave put in a new elbow from the main feed to the kitchen tap, temporarily leaving the upstairs bathroom without any cold water until he was able to return the next day with the right parts.
This is where we had a problem. The next day, Monday, I waited all day for Dave. In the end, I was told he would be by at 5:00. When that time came and went, I called and learned that he got called to an emergency sewer backup at another location and it would be Tuesday before anyone could come by and reconnect the upstairs bathroom. Very disappointing news, as you might imagine, with two teenagers living upstairs!
Finally Tuesday came and shortly before noon, because Dave was out on another call, Steve came by to set things right.
Now this is the part I am truly impressed with. After Steve finished the reconnections, made certain there were no leaks and went back to his truck ( I thought to prepare an invoice ) , he called Rick at the office and told him about how unhappy I was with the delay in getting the water hooked up.
When Steve came back to the house he told me that because Mr.Rooter prides themselves on satisfying customers, Rick told Steve to waive all the fees connected with the job and go on to the next call!
In all my 70 years, I have never been so pleasant surprised and grateful.
I can honestly say that I will always consider Mr.Rooter my number one choice for any plumbing work. Heartfelt thanks to Dave, Steve and Rick!!
Michael Koszyca read more