Shoddy plumbing work...

[spdrun]

I needed to have a water heater installed in my family's house on short notice. If I had a bit more time, I'd have done the work myself. Called a local plumber, guys who came out were as American as apple pie, so please no whining about immigrants and quality of work...

Turns out:
(1) They upgraded the vent pipe from 3" to 4". They said that 4" is no longer code, but the township inspector "likes to see it." Only problem was, when they sealed it to the chimney, they left huge gaps, which fortunately, I noticed.
(2) They used crimp/o-ring fittings on copper pipe, didn't sweat the pipes. Surely a metal-metal joint would last longer than a crimp with an o-ring that will deteriorate.
(3) They put the water heater directly on the cement floor, with no standoffs. They said they'd have to shorten the gas pipe to put the standoffs, but they did that anyway since the new heater had the gas nipple in a different location.
(4) Put an expansion tank, with no support. They grudgingly put in a copper strap that is barely even tight.

All this quality work for the princely sum of $1200.

EDIT: they didn't turn on the water to the house fully -- made taking a shower a bit difficult till we realized what was going on