ComplaintsforWolff’s Plumbing

• Initial Complaint

  27/01/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Had a new water heater installed in 2019 by this company. Recently, our CO detector went off and the fire department and gas company detected high CO levels in our furnace room. It was discovered through this process that along with ann issue with our furnace, our water heater was improperly installed/ it was not installed to code or the manufactures instructions. It was not properly vented outside and incorrect piping type and size was used. The lack of venting can cause backdrafting which can be harmful. It is thought that our CO levels were elevated for some time- both our children suffered significant neurological events in the days leading up to our CO detectors going off. The water heat manual very clearly states the danger that can result from not venting the unit and using the correct fittings. When we contact the company, he said he would come and fix it but would charge us $200. We declined because 1) we shouldn’t need to pay extra to have them fix their error 2) we did not trust their expertise given the errors that were made during the initial installation. It cost us $800 to have the heater reinstalled and all the pipes and fittings replaced to meet code and the manufacturers requirements. When we informed this company of the cost, the risk that their error put on our family and the documented health impact the owner stopped responding to us.

  Business response

  06/02/2023

  I got a phone call from ***** ******* on January 17 he left me a voicemail asking me to return his call I did that evening. He informed me that they had a carbon monoxide leak in their house they called emergency services and they came out and determined it was coming from the furnace, not the hot water tank that’s why they were replacing their furnace. When the company that was replacing the furnace showed up they said the hot water tank would need the combustion air ran from the outside otherwise it would not pass inspection and that they were going to charge them $800 to do that.  I told him that was something I didn’t originally charge him to do because I had not ran it and I would come and do it for only $200 and that $800 was way too much money for the work that needed to be done. He agreed with me that I would come do it. He said the furnace guys were coming on Thursday to replace the furnace I told him do not let them vent the hot water tank I would take care of it unless they were willing to do it for $200 he said that sounded good and he would contact me Thursday night. I got a text message from his wife Thursday night saying another company had done it  and it cost them $800 and what were we going to do about that. I informed her that I had a deal with her husband but I would do it for $200. She informed me that her kids had carbon monoxide poisoning and I had to go to the hospital and it was probably my fault I knew from talking with her husband the hotwatertank had nothing to do with that based on what had been discovered when the emergency people came to find the cause of the carbon monoxide. She said she did not trust me and my company because we did not do good work and she didn’t want us to come back and fix the problem even though I already had to deal with her husband to make everything right. That’s when I stopped responding to her messages because I know she just wanted me to pay for somebody else’s work 

  Customer response

  07/02/2023

  
  Complaint: 18937006
  
  I am rejecting this response because:the business fails to acknowledge that the water heater was not installed properly in the first place. Their explanation makes no sense as to why they did not install the heater as per manufacturers guidelines. Why would someone pay a business more money to fix a problem that the business themselves created. That is nonsensical. 
  
  This is *****. When I spoke to the business earlier in the week I was not aware of the extent of the errors. When we had further advice from the gas technicians and our physician of the impact I told my wife to cancel the business coming. I did not want tjem in my home again. The businesses error was dangerous and they should take much caution in the future to ensure they do not put other clients in such unsafe conditions. 
  

  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** *******

  Business response

  07/02/2023

  To not contact me to further discuss the issues after they had agreed to let me come resolve any concerns they had and then just send a complaint after the fact did not give me any chance to resolve any of their problems or concerns. They informed me that another company was coming and it was going to get an inspection from the city. If they were concerned with the work being done improperly they were going to have two other companies come look at it and verify that it was done properly after I would be done. I can also guarantee the hot water tank was not the cause of carbon monoxide it has a safety feature on it and make sure it does not run if the products of combustion cannot be blown outside so it’s never producing carbon monoxide unless it can be blown outside. 

• Initial Complaint

  18/08/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Unanswered

  More info

  A couple months ago a plumber came to fix our dishwasher. The repair was completed and we paid for their service. After they left it was noted that they did not protect our hardwood floors when pulling out the dishwasher, and there are several large scrapes in the flooring. Initially, the company was contacted and seemed agreeable to help us with the repair. We had a quote done by a flooring specialist, who advised us the only actual way to fix it would be to replace the entirety of over 1000 ft.² of hardwood. As we felt this was unreasonable, we obtained a quote to repair the boards in front of the dishwasher as best as possible. The quote is for $1200. After receiving the quote, we have contacted Wolffs Plumbing Multiple times, and they have failed to respond to us. Our wish, is for them to cover the cost of the $1200 repair for the damage to the flooring that they did.

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