Need professional/expert opinions only:

When my roommate and I were moving out of our old apartment. We went to unhook the washing machine. We went to turn off the water vales – turned the left knob, then the right. After turning the right knob water started spewing out. Once maintenance showed up we found out the pipe inside the wall broke. The apartment complex had a plumber come out and the apartment complex said the plumber said the pipe broke due to force (possibly from trying to unscrew the hose from the valve). I spoke to a plumber myself and he said that while the pipe may have broke through force that we shouldn’t be held responsible for the damages (he recommended contacting a lawyer). I’m wondering what other plumber's opinion would be. The pipe was CPVC and from what the other plumber said - one problem with CPVC pipe is it becomes brittle over time and breaks more easily than copper piping.

The complex plumber's official report: "The water line at the washer box got broken when someone was using a pair of pliers on the washer hose to unscrew from the cpvc valve with no back up wrench on the valve. This is what will snap the line into."

The force of turning could have broken it, There is no way to "prove" you did not do it. It was not leaking before you turned, and then it was leaking. So I am sorry, it does appear from common deduction that you are responsible.

And unless this did a lot of water damage, the repair to fix it, could not be very much, an attorney would be most likely 4 or 5 times more than the cost to fix.

"using a pair of pliers on the washer hose to unscrew from the cpvc valve with no back up wrench on the valve". Doing what you did is why the pipe broke. You need 2 wrenches or 1 plier and a wrench to hold the valve. If the old hose was that tight, what you did could have easily broken off the valve. I have seen 40 year old houses with CPVC and no brittle issues. My house, built in 2002 is fine, I just added a line extension this past weekend. I agree with FR. Chuck, an attorney would cost more, and if you lose, will still have to pay.

My opinion is that if the CPVC pipe was installed the way it should have been - including properly attached to the framing of the house, it would not broke. It is common that plumbers use tools (duh) to tighten hoses onto valves.

In my opinion, it is not your fault

Milo

Right or wrong doesn't matter since the landlord has decided it's your fault, and will hold you liable. Unfortunately all you can do is formally dispute the claims and refuse to pay in which case you may spend a lot of money doing so, and still lose your claim in court.

Landlords almost always sue for damages... and court fees.