One of the most common plumbing problems that we deal with today are Tile Floors! Local tile and carpet companies will come into your home and remove your toilet and pedestal sinks, in order to install flooring. The first problem is that it is completely illegal! Companies, without a NC Plumbing License, are not allowed to interrupt the potable water system of any home to remove or replace any plumbing fixtures. It is clearly stated in The Laws and Rules for Plumbing Contractors. (Policy Statements and Rules, Page 19, .0506)

We respond to many service calls each month, due to this problem.

Many floor tile companies crack or destroy the toilet flange that holds and seals a toilet to the floor. If the nuts and bolts are frozen or rusty, they will jerk the toilet off of the floor and destroy the flange. They also over tighten the bolts when they reinstall the toilet and crack the flange. The flange is normally PVC or ABS plastic. It will break pretty easy, if you don't know what you are doing. If this happens, the flange must be replaced. Now that sounds simple! Wrong answer!

If you live in a slab home, we must jack hammer the area around the old flange deep enough to gain access to the sewer pipe, so we can replace the fittings. They are buried in concrete! It may take several hours complete the entire job. This may mean hundreds of dollars in labor and materials!

If you live in a crawl space home, we must crawl under the home, cut the sewer line, and install the new flange! Many times the tile company will use the old wax seal and old bolts to reinstall your toilet. Your toilet will start leaking in no time!

The floor tile companies will tell you that it is okay for them to do plumbing work. You must have a Residential or Commercial plumbing license to work anywhere in the United States, period!

A "Handy Man" is okay for odd jobs, but only let a licensed professional do any work that might potentially destroy your home!