Amazon and big box stores have made it easy to buy your own faucet, your own fixture, your own water heater, then have a plumber install it. Sometimes that saves money. Two jobs from this year show what happens when it doesn’t, and why customer supplied parts London Ontario carries a real risk homeowners rarely think about upfront.
The Garburetor That Leaked From Day One
A customer bought a new garburetor from Amazon and asked us to install it. I removed the old unit, installed the new one, hooked up every connection, then ran water to test it.
Water dripped straight through the bottom of the unit itself, not through any connection I made. The garburetor was defective, straight out of the box.
The homeowner asked what happens next. I explained it plainly. I had to bill for installing it, because nothing about my work caused the leak. Then I had to bill again to remove it and put the kitchen sink back together so they could use it.
That’s the risk of a customer supplied part. When it fails, the labor charge doesn’t disappear, it doubles.
The Water Heater From Home Depot
A homeowner bought their own replacement water heater and had Triton install it. Within days, the tank itself started leaking.
The manufacturer agreed to warranty the tank. However, since the homeowner bought it directly rather than through Triton, the warranty ran through them, not through us. They had to pay Triton to disconnect the failed unit, take it back to the store themselves, then pay Triton again to reconnect the replacement.
The manufacturer eventually reimbursed them for the unit. The two extra labor visits came out of their own pocket permanently. For the full picture on water heater decisions, see our water heater replacement guide.
Why Triton Doesn’t Warranty Customer Supplied Parts
This isn’t Triton being difficult. It’s how warranties actually work. A manufacturer’s warranty typically covers defects in the part itself, not the cost of removing and reinstalling it, and that warranty sits with whoever sold it to you.
When Triton supplies the part, we stand behind both the part and the labor. When you supply the part, we stand behind our labor only, because the part itself was never ours to warranty.
If a customer supplied part fails, that’s a conversation between you and the retailer or manufacturer. The disconnect and reconnect work is billed the same as any other service call, because it is one.
What This Actually Costs You
The sales pitch of buying your own fixture is saving the markup a contractor might add. That math only holds if the part works.
When it doesn’t, you’re paying for the original install, the removal, and the reinstall, three labor charges instead of one. Add in a possible trip to return the defective part yourself, and the “savings” often disappear entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Triton warranty parts I supply myself?
No. We warranty our labor, but the part itself is only warrantied by whoever sold it to you.
What happens if a customer supplied part is defective?
You’ll need to deal directly with the manufacturer or retailer for the part. Any Triton labor to remove or replace it is billed separately.
Will I be charged again if my own part fails after installation?
Yes, if it requires a return visit. The original install is billed, and any additional visit to disconnect or replace the part is billed as its own service call.
Is it cheaper to buy my own plumbing fixtures?
Sometimes, if the part works as expected. If it fails, the extra labor charges usually erase any savings.
Does Triton offer parts with our own warranty?
Yes. When we supply the part, we stand behind both the part and the installation.
Book a Plumber in London Ontario
Before you buy your own fixture, talk to us. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a good candidate for self-supply or a job where our parts and our warranty make more sense.
Book your service call or visit our plumbing services page to see what we offer.
Source: Government of Ontario, returns, exchanges and warranties
Aron Oretan is a Licensed Red Seal Plumber and Steamfitter, UA Certified Instructor, and founder of Triton Home Service. With 26 years in the trade, licences in plumbing, steamfitting, and gas fitting, and five years teaching at Fanshawe College, he brings classroom expertise and field experience to every job in London, Woodstock, and Southwestern Ontario. Phone: 226-270-5177 | tritonservice.ca