John H Lange Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

terrible experience. the plumber tried to overcharge me quite a bit. I will never use them.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS

Review: In February I hired John H. Lange Plumbing and Heating to fix a stopped up floor drain in a rental home I own. The employee, [redacted], ran a snake down the drain and told me that sewer could not clear. [redacted] did get the drain to work properly; however he stated the clearing was temporary and that my outside sewer pipes had collapsed. He also stated that Lange Plumbing had done a lot of work in the neighborhood and the sewer pipes are [redacted] tar based, a substandard material. I questioned whether the sewer pipes had collapsed because the toilets were flushing properly. The only back up was due to the washing machine. [redacted] presented me with a quote of $6,500 plus permit fee of $395 to replace the sewer line outside the house. I signed the estimate and paid Lange Plumbing $4,000 in advance. During our conversation, [redacted] stated “We will not rip you off.”

Lange Plumbing started the excavation on Friday, February 14. At first, Lange Plumbing dug in the incorrect spot (center of the house) and broke the pipe providing water to the house. When Lange Plumbing did locate the sewer pipe (side of the house), the sewer pipes were not collapsed, were cast iron (not [redacted] tar based), and had no roots. The sewer pipes were old and frail, but clear. Lange Plumbing used poor workmanship and even hit the sewer pipes with a hammer. On this date Mr. John H. Lange asked me to help him out by paying an additional $2,500 because he needed the money. I did as asked and paid another $2,500 for a total of $6,500.

To correctly replace the sewer pipes, Lange Plumbing told me they needed to dig in the basement of the house. The owner, John H. Lange informed me that he would personally supervise the final digging in the basement and sewer pipe repair. Mr. Lange stated that his employees screw up. As an example, an employee recently put gasoline in a diesel powered piece of equipment. I was at the house during the work, Mr. John H. Lange did not supervise the final digging of the basement or the sewer pipe repair. Mr. John H. Lange also volunteer to “help us” with insurance because he knows how “to word things.” Mr. Lange stated he had provided expert testimony in the past. He stated “I know how it is, you pay all that money for insurance over the years.” I noted that we could retain a piece of stained concrete for evidence. Mr. Lange replied. “There will be no concrete left. I want you to understand what I am saying” He repeated the line “I want you to understand what I am saying” multiple times during the conversation.

During the meeting to discuss the basement work, Mr. Lange described in detail the work his employees would perform. According to Mr. Lange, the employees would carefully cut the sewer pipe with a saw. I was at the house when we came to this point; however the employee did not have a [redacted]. The employee wanted to use a hammer. I insisted that Lange have a [redacted] delivered to the house. A second Lange Plumbing employee arrived but did not have a [redacted]; finally a third Lange Plumbing employee arrived with a [redacted]. Even after the third employee arrived with a [redacted], Lange Plumbing employees still wanted to use a hammer. I stood between the Lange employees and the hammer to ensure they would not use it. At this time, the Lange employees started to rock the sewer pipe. It was as if the employees wanted to damage the sewer pipe so the connection to the other sewer pipes would be more complicated.

After the initial basement work, Mr. John H. Lange told me he had to extend the basement hole by 10 feet. Lange Plumbing did not extend the basement hole.

Mr. John H. Lange provided me with written quote for $13,000. (Neither I nor my brother, who owns also owns the rental house, signed this quote.) Mr. John H. Lange stated he needed money; we paid him another $1,000 for a total of $7,500.

Mr. John H. Lange stated that Lange Plumbing would put concrete like a cast around the joined section of basement sewer as a re-enforcement. At the time the basement sewer pipe was being fixed, I asked the Lange Plumbing employee ( Mr. John H. Lange’s son), about the concrete cast; the Lange Plumbing employee mumbled “I know nothing about it.”

On Friday, February 28, [redacted] County completed its inspection. Lange Plumbing did NOT provide me with a copy of the inspection ticket. After inspection the outside ground was filled in and the basement concreted on Saturday.

[redacted] County issued me a code violation on the excavation work. I contacted **. [redacted], the [redacted] County inspector, who informed me that Lange Plumbing is responsible to complete their work according to [redacted] County code. Mr. John H Lange told me not to worry about the violation.

Lange Plumbing acted in an unprofessional manner and performed unnecessary tasks. As an example of unprofessionalism, Lange Plumbing would telephone me and ask me to keep the rental house unlocked so Lange Plumbing could come during the day. I am responsible for the house and my tenant, I refused to keep the house unlocked. I am approximately 3.5 miles from the rental house. I asked Lange Plumbing to call me when they planned on going to the house and I would meet them. Instead, Lange Plumbing would telephone after they arrived at the rental house. The employees wasted time waiting for me.

At this time, I am not sure if my actual clog was fixed and I face a [redacted] County code violation. I am also concerned the initial excavation, in the incorrect location, may have damaged a tree that will cost me at least $2,000 to remove. I feel like Lange Plumbing did substandard work and is attempting to rip me off. Lange Plumbing even wants to charge me $590 to replace the water service they broke.

I did some research on John H. Lange Plumbing. According to the [redacted] County government website as of September 2013, Mr. John H. Lange was delinquent on Real Estate and Personal Property taxes by $37,000. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) lists three purged businesses with similar names.

The entire job was unnecessary. The neighborhood was developed in the 1950s. My sewer pipes were old and frail, but unblocked and root free.Desired Settlement: Ensure repair meets [redacted] County, VA, code and a copy of inspection ticket. I have all ready paid $7,500 before the work was completed. I should not pay any more. Because the repair was unnecessary and performed improperly, I should not pay the full esimate. I do not want additional dealing with Mr. John H. Lange or his employees.