been keeping me busy lately... Dux QEST
aka "the curse of DUX QEST" (sometimes described in error as Dux QUEST); or 'the black scourge'
thousands of homes throughout new zealand are faced with replacing all of their pipework after this 'new miracle product' of the 80's breaks down and leaks. it's keeping flood cleanup and plumbing companies in clover due to frequency of problems. People are shy to talk about the heartbreak of having an "internal water feature". This affects all sorts of homes - newly built in the late 70's, 80's, or early 90's... or renovations to existing homes (that's right, it's in both expensive and average or cheap homes)...
The issues is that Dux QEST (or QUEST) brings in the form of dull excitement to an afflicted homeowner's life, can be a drip over weeks/months, a trickle, a misting spray under mild pressure, or a full on burst/torrent. Often it's inside walls where one is not aware until it manfests in dampness, bowing/buckling... or flooding. it can happen at any time. It can cause a shitload of damage - remember water always finds its own level.
It's such a problem, many insurers have declined payouts on claims for water damage where the cause is Dux QEST (or QUEST) . We've been fortunate - our insurer has been excellent. Now it's time for us to come to the party and eliminate the cause of the problem.
Apparently it was a 'wonder-product' - quick to install, no need for elbows etc - just run it on the curve. It would be interesting to read a product specification from back in the day, before this uber-crap product was removed from the market.
Crappy 80's product Dux QEST (or QUEST) piping, sprang a leak in the wall behind our ensuite. I've cut off water supply until I fix the problem. The only fix with this stuff is to remove it and replace with better product. The sad thing is, the new stuff is only guaranteed for 25yrs, which is about the max life of Dux QEST (or QUEST) (as it turned out), anyway. F*%#rs. I've been luckier than some - I've heard reports of only 8 years before the stuff started perforating and self-destructing.
It was the sight of my son looking up into the ceiling of our lounge with an expression of 'is it really raining in here again?' that tipped the balance to get this job underway.
fortunately I have a friend who has plumbing tools. Instead of paying $350 for a plumbing callout to have 6-12 inches of this crap replaced, I can spend a little more on parts and do it myself with a more permanent fix.
I approached Dux some time ago about Dux QEST (or QUEST); they were less than helpful. In fact they couldn't get me out of their reception fast enough.
Anyway, watch this space, while 'action Neukoln' replaces piping (eliminating 'on-the-fly curves), re-insulates (noise blocker batts this time), re-clads (fortunately I still have some 9.5mm gib - it's all gone metric to 10mm now), re-plasters, and re-paints. it'll be nice to have our ensuite back in action. And then I'll continue with the supply to the laundry, and then re-route hot supply under the house and re-reticulate, and then re-supply this ensuite from below in the future.
At least our main bathroom was plumbed out in copper by the previous owner in the mid-90's. He'd already experienced the black scourge. I've been advised by plumbers that copper is not cost-effective for retro-fitting jobs.
9 images photomerged.
been keeping me busy lately... Dux QEST
aka "the curse of DUX QEST" (sometimes described in error as Dux QUEST); or 'the black scourge'
thousands of homes throughout new zealand are faced with replacing all of their pipework after this 'new miracle product' of the 80's breaks down and leaks. it's keeping flood cleanup and plumbing companies in clover due to frequency of problems. People are shy to talk about the heartbreak of having an "internal water feature". This affects all sorts of homes - newly built in the late 70's, 80's, or early 90's... or renovations to existing homes (that's right, it's in both expensive and average or cheap homes)...
The issues is that Dux QEST (or QUEST) brings in the form of dull excitement to an afflicted homeowner's life, can be a drip over weeks/months, a trickle, a misting spray under mild pressure, or a full on burst/torrent. Often it's inside walls where one is not aware until it manfests in dampness, bowing/buckling... or flooding. it can happen at any time. It can cause a shitload of damage - remember water always finds its own level.
It's such a problem, many insurers have declined payouts on claims for water damage where the cause is Dux QEST (or QUEST) . We've been fortunate - our insurer has been excellent. Now it's time for us to come to the party and eliminate the cause of the problem.
Apparently it was a 'wonder-product' - quick to install, no need for elbows etc - just run it on the curve. It would be interesting to read a product specification from back in the day, before this uber-crap product was removed from the market.
Crappy 80's product Dux QEST (or QUEST) piping, sprang a leak in the wall behind our ensuite. I've cut off water supply until I fix the problem. The only fix with this stuff is to remove it and replace with better product. The sad thing is, the new stuff is only guaranteed for 25yrs, which is about the max life of Dux QEST (or QUEST) (as it turned out), anyway. F*%#rs. I've been luckier than some - I've heard reports of only 8 years before the stuff started perforating and self-destructing.
It was the sight of my son looking up into the ceiling of our lounge with an expression of 'is it really raining in here again?' that tipped the balance to get this job underway.
fortunately I have a friend who has plumbing tools. Instead of paying $350 for a plumbing callout to have 6-12 inches of this crap replaced, I can spend a little more on parts and do it myself with a more permanent fix.
I approached Dux some time ago about Dux QEST (or QUEST); they were less than helpful. In fact they couldn't get me out of their reception fast enough.
Anyway, watch this space, while 'action Neukoln' replaces piping (eliminating 'on-the-fly curves), re-insulates (noise blocker batts this time), re-clads (fortunately I still have some 9.5mm gib - it's all gone metric to 10mm now), re-plasters, and re-paints. it'll be nice to have our ensuite back in action. And then I'll continue with the supply to the laundry, and then re-route hot supply under the house and re-reticulate, and then re-supply this ensuite from below in the future.
At least our main bathroom was plumbed out in copper by the previous owner in the mid-90's. He'd already experienced the black scourge. I've been advised by plumbers that copper is not cost-effective for retro-fitting jobs.
9 images photomerged.