We closed on a home in April of this year. During the pre-purchase inspection, the inspectors noted that the septic transfer pump in the basement was leaking (after they ran water for about an hour for th inspection). We specified that the leak had to be repaired prior to closing. The homeowner checked it himself and declared that the wax ring needed to be replaced, and that he was doing it. Then, in conjunction with some other plumbing items that needed to be fixed, he wound up having his home warranty company send out a plumber to make a few other repairs. During that visit, the plumber stated that there was no visible leak at the septic pump.
The day after we moved in, we found water on the floor around the pump after 2 uses of the toilet and no showers. We contacted our realtor, who in turn spoke with theirs, and we were told to call the warranty company since it would be covered for 60 days after the closing. When the plumber came out, he agreed there was an issue and he could see evidence of the leak that he did not note on his prior visit. He claimed that the seller's realtor was on site when he came out before and that she had made statements that they should "just make it look good" when discussing the repairs.
We called our realtor and passed this on, and he called back 5 mins later to tell me he and the seller's realtor were on their way out. The seller's realtor took great pains to say that she never said that, and that she was not even in the basement when he looked at it because the seller said he had already addressed the problem. She then agreed that it was a defect and that the repairs would have to be done. The warranty company said they would pay to fix the leak, but not to remove the floor and fixtures to expose the leak. The seller's realtor said that she was going to have her handyman come out and that we could get other quotes on exposing the leak (and replacing materialsTow afterward) and let the plumber repair it, and that she would make sure the work was done and hope to get the money from the seller.
Two months later, the seller's realtor is no longer motivated to make sure this is done. Her handyman said the job would cost $1400 (or $2500 if the shower stall had to come out) but he didn't put it in writing and he said he would not do the job. Our other quotes ran higher than this (probably because they are actually licensed contractors). The sellers have not come up with any money and we still have no bathroom.
We have a friend who is a semi-retired (but still licensed) contractor and he has agreed to help us get the work done. He came over today and he began by removing the toilet. The wax ring was fully intact and was not making any sort of seal. The underfloor tank is completely full in spite of the fact that the bathroom has remained unused for two months, which means the septic pump is not kicking on.
The label indicates that this is a Hilo Industries Powerflush 1100, P/N 010902. My research indicates that in 1999 when the bathroom was built, Hilo was owned by Zoeller but that Star Water Systems took over the Hilo line in 2002. The part of the assembly that I have seen is similar to the Zoeller 102 Qwik Jon Complete Pump System.
I would like some insights. I would say that either the pump or the float switch have failed. The seller told us that he replaced the pump less than a year prior to the sale.
I was uncomfortable with the idea of septic pumping from the beginning. The bathroom would be nice to have, but it's not worth it to me if this is not a reliable solution.
EDIT: I added a grainy photo, but it was from the inspection report, not my own, so sorry for the quality.
Thanks,
Steve
The day after we moved in, we found water on the floor around the pump after 2 uses of the toilet and no showers. We contacted our realtor, who in turn spoke with theirs, and we were told to call the warranty company since it would be covered for 60 days after the closing. When the plumber came out, he agreed there was an issue and he could see evidence of the leak that he did not note on his prior visit. He claimed that the seller's realtor was on site when he came out before and that she had made statements that they should "just make it look good" when discussing the repairs.
We called our realtor and passed this on, and he called back 5 mins later to tell me he and the seller's realtor were on their way out. The seller's realtor took great pains to say that she never said that, and that she was not even in the basement when he looked at it because the seller said he had already addressed the problem. She then agreed that it was a defect and that the repairs would have to be done. The warranty company said they would pay to fix the leak, but not to remove the floor and fixtures to expose the leak. The seller's realtor said that she was going to have her handyman come out and that we could get other quotes on exposing the leak (and replacing materialsTow afterward) and let the plumber repair it, and that she would make sure the work was done and hope to get the money from the seller.
Two months later, the seller's realtor is no longer motivated to make sure this is done. Her handyman said the job would cost $1400 (or $2500 if the shower stall had to come out) but he didn't put it in writing and he said he would not do the job. Our other quotes ran higher than this (probably because they are actually licensed contractors). The sellers have not come up with any money and we still have no bathroom.
We have a friend who is a semi-retired (but still licensed) contractor and he has agreed to help us get the work done. He came over today and he began by removing the toilet. The wax ring was fully intact and was not making any sort of seal. The underfloor tank is completely full in spite of the fact that the bathroom has remained unused for two months, which means the septic pump is not kicking on.
The label indicates that this is a Hilo Industries Powerflush 1100, P/N 010902. My research indicates that in 1999 when the bathroom was built, Hilo was owned by Zoeller but that Star Water Systems took over the Hilo line in 2002. The part of the assembly that I have seen is similar to the Zoeller 102 Qwik Jon Complete Pump System.
I would like some insights. I would say that either the pump or the float switch have failed. The seller told us that he replaced the pump less than a year prior to the sale.
I was uncomfortable with the idea of septic pumping from the beginning. The bathroom would be nice to have, but it's not worth it to me if this is not a reliable solution.
EDIT: I added a grainy photo, but it was from the inspection report, not my own, so sorry for the quality.
Thanks,
Steve
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