As insurance premiums and contractor prices continue to rise, here are some guidelines and maintenance tips to help prevent water damage to your unit and those below yours.
- Protect yourself by Using Only Licensed Plumbers and Register all unit work with the building manager.
- In our last blog, we advised on finding the right plumber. Hiring the wrong plumber can cost you time and money.
- Understand drain lines are 50+ year old cast iron pipes that were lined back in 2012.
- Inform the plumber to keep age and materials in mind while clearing drains and manipulating fixtures. You can be held responsible for damages caused by your plumber. A reputable plumber will not attempt to auger near the main drain lines without warning you of the consequences first.
- Inspect valves, faucets, toilet components and replace toilet wax rings every 5 years.
- LOOK FOR LEAKS
- Check base of toilet for leaks as this would indicate a worn wax ring. If your toilet rocks back and forth a little, it will reduce the lifespan of the wax ring.
- Water leaking from the tank or lid could indicate a worn flush valve, flapper, or gasket.
- Look for puddles under or behind your clothes washer periodically for signs of leaking after a rinse cycle.
- If you notice any of the above, get it repaired as soon as possible.
- FIX DRIPPING FAUCETS AND RUNNING TOILETS
- A running toilet can waste up to 2 gallons per minute! That’s 86,000 GALLONS per month. A silent running toilet wastes around 7,000 GALLONS a month. A running toilet or dripping faucet will cost the building in the long run, which could result in increased maintenance fees.
- LOOK FOR LEAKS
- REPORT CEILING STAINS!
- Ceiling stains indicate water leaking from the unit above. The sooner the suspect stain is reported, the quicker the leak can be repaired and damage avoided. Contact the RM if you notice a new ceiling stain.
Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining our building.