Apparently my condo contains the main drain line leading out to the street for the buildings 4 units. Every few weeks things begin slowing up in all the drains and toilets, then condo association send guys out and they snake the basement drain. I did not know this when I bought! Im getting very tired of men and dirt trailed through the house once a month while I'm at work, and sometimes the basement sink or drain back up before they come to snake. What can be done?
2007-02-16 09:36:40 · 10 answers · asked by justme 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Living in a condo, absolutely none of this is your responsibility. That's why you have dues to pay.
First talk directly to the association president and plead your case. This is a SERIOUS health issue and needs to be addressed immediately. If you do not get satisfaction quickly, here are your next steps.
Contact the local governmental board governing associations. If they are a responsive group, they will deal with your association directly and have the problem fixed ASAP. You should also contact your local Health and/or Environmental inspections department and inform them of your situation. They can force an immediate remedy to your problem. All the above can be found in your local white pages phone book under "Government".
You may have to move out while the repairs are under way but they will have to reimburse for your inconvenience and lodging. This is probably more than a simple fix and at least some sewer line may need to be replaced - hopefully outside your unit - but your concrete slab may need to be torn up.
Taking these actions may alienate you with the association so be prepared for them to not play very nice with you in the future. I had a similar situation that took my association about a week to fix. In the end I was paid several thousand dollars - enough to remodel my bathroom - and got a reduction in my condo fees. They were decent about the whole thing but it was a major pain in the butt. I certainly understand what you are going thru.
Good Luck!
2007-02-16 10:33:15 · answer #1 · answered by Pat C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read your Condo by laws you may be able to call an emergency meeting and let the condo association know that they have to have the line scoped with a camera to see what the real culprit is (quite often it is a tree root or something large in the pipe) then they need to have it repaired that is what your association dues are supposed to cover. In the mean time try Rid-X it is an enzymatic that breaks up debris in the line and keeps plumbing running smoothly even in older buildings.
You may need to speak with a real estate expert to find out if they owe you anything for non-disclosure damages as well. Good Luck!
2007-02-16 17:45:05 · answer #2 · answered by Walking on Sunshine 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i had the same problem!!! are you in st clair shores by any chance ; ) after them coming a few times i complained to the lead guy - he was very understanding and sympathetic. i wrote a letter to the board and explained the uncomfortable situation. I also mentioned that i would be deducting the cleaning charges and also expecting them to repaint the stairs for every time they came they got messed up -- they then agreed that they next time it had to be done they WOULD come with the camera and figure it out for good.... they did the camera thing and found out the tree roots out front were swelling and cutting things off. the front yard was ripped up for a while and there were a couple days of annoyance (but i didn't have to pay my dues that month - yeah) and then never had a problem again!!
also -we had 6 units in ours and they were built in the early 40's so -- old pipes. we 6 owneers got otgether and started our own pre-emptive cure.... every month or so we'd do baking soda (the arm & hammer stuff) down the drain, then vinegar and flush with hot water - this helped things flow ever more smoothly becuase it gets the gunk off the pipes and hair and such without ruining the plumbing.
good luck and hang in there!!!
2007-02-16 18:10:17 · answer #3 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it that you are near the end of the sewage run. If there are any larger trees outside, that is your problem. The root system of a tree is, on the average, 50% larger than the widest part of the branches. It sounds like the roots have entered the pipe and is trapping all the solid waste, much like a dam. Ask the condo assoc. to have a camera scan of the pipe and they will probably find root infiltration. If it is, a root auger usually takes care of the problem for a few years.
2007-02-16 17:47:39 · answer #4 · answered by shopteacher 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter 7 yrs. just took care of all my drains yesterday. Bakingsoda and vineger with hot water once a month. Or use bleach before backup.
2007-02-16 18:34:39 · answer #5 · answered by dodgeum43 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a health hazard, call the health department and the sewer authority. Whoever is cleaning the drain is incompetent or crooked.
2007-02-16 18:14:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with 'Walking on Sunshine' get a camera down there-it's probably some kids toy got flushed down the toilet and do see why they didn't disclose this to you when you bought the unit.
2007-02-16 17:53:05 · answer #7 · answered by stevemxusa 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy another condo but check it out this time
2007-02-16 17:42:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There maybe roots in it. If you have trees and large bushes around, the roots are getting into it. Go to hardware store, and get some root killer.
2007-02-16 17:46:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
use drano
2007-02-16 17:44:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋