Since the pipes in condos are designated as resident and public-owned, it is more complicated than pipework in independent residences and companies. The pipes located surrounding common areas are the responsibility of the property owner or manager, whereas the pipes within and outside of individual units are the responsibilities of the resident or unit owner.
Although some property managers are ready to work with any qualified professional plumber in the area, many condos often work with one professional plumber to assure uniformity in all plumbing work, including both indoor and outdoor maintenance and repairs.
Keeping Common Condo Plumbing Problems at Bay
Many individuals may find it difficult to deal with plumbing problems in a condo, including the expense of hiring a qualified plumber. To solve an issue in your unit, you might need to turn off the main supply of water for a few or a dozen other units, depending on the circumstances. Before doing this, you must obtain the property manager's approval and notify the impacted units. Any further maintenance that necessitates turning off the water in several apartments could annoy the residents and postpone the property manager's approval.
When at all possible, strive to keep plumbing issues at bay. To assist prevent condo plumbing problems, consider the following plumbing maintenance techniques:
- Avoid Having Your Water Pipes Freeze And Explode
By routinely running hot and cold water, condo owners may help keep themselves and other tenants safe from the danger of frozen and broken pipes during the winter. To help the plumbing system generate enough heat to prevent freezing, you might choose to let the hot water drip gradually when it's extremely cold outside. By keeping the water moving, ice won't build up in the pipes from it becoming stagnant. The property management should oversee fixing the issue if the pipelines freeze or burst.
- Find And Solve Water Appliance Leaks
One of the primary reasons for leaks in condo complexes is improper maintenance of dishwashers and washing machines. Condominium residents who have their water appliances should routinely inspect the drain hose and plumbing connections to the appliance. You should call a licensed plumber right away if you see any wetness on the floor area near your water appliances. This can indicate a more significant structural issue with the building.
- Sustain Water Pressure By Maintaining Clean Showerheads
Low water pressure is one of the most typical issues that condo tenants have with water. But by cleaning the showerhead, this issue can be avoided. Any obstruction in the water pipes, particularly in older pipework or after performing plumbing repairs or maintenance, might clog the shower valve in your showers, causing low water pressure. In certain circumstances, adding white distilled vinegar to a sandwich bag and securing it over the showerhead with a rubber band will increase the water pressure. Leave the showerhead's clogged particles out overnight. If this doesn't work, you should seek the advice of a qualified Long Island plumber.
- Check For Rust In The Hot Water Tanks
You run the danger of not only lowering the quality of the water entering your home but also reducing the lifespan of the heater if your hot water equipment starts to rust. Building owners should be diligent in checking their water heaters for leaks or rust inside the system once a year to avoid this. To remove accumulated sediment now is a good time to flush the hot water system. Ideally, a qualified plumber should perform this task as part of your annual plumbing check.
Condominium building residents, as well as individual unit owners, may incur significant costs because of plumbing problems. You should use the advice above and plan basic maintenance at least every year to stop this from happening and to spare yourself the bother of frequent repairs. Additionally, it's crucial to have an experienced, dependable plumber's information on hand in case of an emergency.