Our plumber used tar to band-aid a leaky repair

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Earl Chapital said when the heavy rains started in the days leading up to Hurricane Helene, he spent the night emptying buckets of water pouring into his basement, “five-gallon buckets at a time,” he recalled.

Chapital and his wife Lilly hired Bardi HVAC & Plumbing Services to replace their main water line because of a leak. The company quoted them $4,300 for the repair.

One of the reasons the couple chose Bardi, they said, was because it’s family-owned and has been in business for three decades. In addition, the company is A-plus rated by the Better Business Bureau.

Workers installed a new line and drilled a hole through the basement wall, but when it started raining, the couple said water poured in through the opening for the new line and the old line.

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The Chapitals claimed when the worker returned, he said the wall needed waterproofing, but the couple said they couldn’t believe what they saw when he finished: hand-smeared tar on the wall, the new waterline, and the openings. The couple said the fumes permeated throughout the house.

“He didn’t say he was going to tar it,” Earl Chapital said. “But after he finished and I see the black tar everywhere – on him, on the floor, on a wall – he said, ‘Yeah, I used a whole gallon of this stuff.’”

The couple said the first plumber tracked tar on their basement carpet and said a second plumber returned and attempted to put concrete over the tar. Bardi stopped responding to their calls, they said.

The Chapitals provided documentation and videos to Atlanta News First Investigates before and after the repair. A video was submitted to Bardi’s management for review.

A few days later, the couple said Bardi’s management team inspected the work and discovered a workman used Styrofoam to seal around the new water line. The company replaced the tar-covered line; cleaned up the wall; and properly sealed the openings.

In addition, Bardi agreed to replace the basement carpeting, and will remove damaged sheetrock and repaint. It is also returning $3,800 of the couple’s $4,300 payment.

Earl Chapital said he was impressed with the company’s general manager. “He was apologetic, and he said he was going to make things right,” Chapital said.

Takeaways

How do you know what a plumber is supposed to do? After all, that’s why you hire a plumber in the first place.

But if they’re drilling a hole in your wall and there is a way for water to get in, have the plumber put, in writing, they will seal it and any other hole that may result.

Make sure all holes are sealed.

Experts say the majority of water intrusion in homes can be resolved on the outside.

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