Leak after gutter clearing

[DansClearView]

Hi
Bit of advice please. About 10 days ago I did a GFS Clean and a gutter clear on a long standing WC customer. She's messaged today to say it's leaking in the join in the middle of the gutter run - because I cleared the gutters. She's asking me to out right.
I noticed when I was washing down, water was dripping through and seemed to be running the opposite direction to the downpipe so I wouldn't say was level.
Couldn't guarantee it wasn't dripping before.

Any advice on how to handle this? I'm in no mood to get up ladder and fix as my insurance doesn't cover me (bad enough doing my Christmas lights) and I'm not convinced it's an issue I've created.

Thanks

 

[tench0771]

its quiet common for this to happen but chances are it was probly already leaking and she trying it on only thing you can do to put it right is ladder take it apart clean rubber and put back together its simple job but it will involve ladder you could also go down the other rute and tell her to do one but you risk her then bad mouthing you to others if it was me i would just clean the rubber and put it back together

 

[Iron Giant]

Co

its quiet common for this to happen but chances are it was probly already leaking and she trying it on only thing you can do to put it right is ladder take it apart clean rubber and put back together its simple job but it will involve ladder you could also go down the other rute and tell her to do one but you risk her then bad mouthing you to others if it was me i would just clean the rubber and put it back together

Could do this, but also go with some silicone and seal it off incase the rubber is **** at least with the silicone it will ensure no call backs.

 

[DansClearView]

That's a swine then, as I haven't got ladder I can use to get up there (be no problem if it was a bungalow). Guessing I'm going to have to get a handyman with a ladder to fix it.

 

[tench0771]

Maby invest in a ladder as sometimes hoppers need taking apart at least then you will have one for the future

 

[ched999uk]

Co

Could do this, but also go with some silicone and seal it off incase the rubber is **** at least with the silicone it will ensure no call backs.

Does that work long term as I though the reason for the rubber was so the gutter could expand and contract due to temp?

 

[Iron Giant]

Does that work long term as I though the reason for the rubber was so the gutter could expand and contract due to temp?

Sealants have some flexibility so yes in my experience it works, I have used one specific for guttering in the past and it worked for a few years before we replaced the 25 year old guttering.

If the author had a ladder it would cost him less than £4 for some sealant and would be a quick fix.

Been as multi-skilled as I am I'd opt for the sealant

 

[Pjj]

Hi
Bit of advice please. About 10 days ago I did a GFS Clean and a gutter clear on a long standing WC customer. She's messaged today to say it's leaking in the join in the middle of the gutter run - because I cleared the gutters. She's asking me to out right.
I noticed when I was washing down, water was dripping through and seemed to be running the opposite direction to the downpipe so I wouldn't say was level.
Couldn't guarantee it wasn't dripping before.

Any advice on how to handle this? I'm in no mood to get up ladder and fix as my insurance doesn't cover me (bad enough doing my Christmas lights) and I'm not convinced it's an issue I've created.

Thanks

This does quite often happen after emptying and cleaning moss off the joints I now tell customers this might happen and that’s down to them not us , usually the rubber joint seal is perished and needs replacing

 

[Scots lad]

Silicone inside and outside for a better seal

 

[Cleanco]

This is a bit like when you take your car to the garage to have one problem fixed and they find another that you didn’t know about. They wouldn’t fix it for free so why should you. You can see it from the customers point of view which is why you have got to tread carefully with your comeback if your not willing to call back for the repair and want to keep them as a customer. You never know you could end up makin even more money from it if you play your cards right taking on the repair at a reasonable cost. You really should have some way of getting up there before you take on jobs like this on as your finding out. Also I don’t believe that vacs no matter how good they are will work on 100% of jobs. There’s plenty of options out there if you don’t like ladders but will cost you a lot more though.

 

[THL4KEL]

Trouble with silicone is the gutters expands/ contracts depending on weather, time of year and that breaks the silicone seal. Better off buying a replacement fitting..

You're always better off in the first instance flushing water through the gutter before you start clearing it out then you can show the customer they're knackered so you don't get blamed.

 

[tench0771]

Better off just keeping a few rubbers in van there like £3 each

 

[Pjj]

Better off just keeping a few rubbers in van there like £3 each

We aren’t doing gutter repairs only cleaning , to do that would mean using ladders to replace seals etc the whole object of having a vac is to save working at heights