View Full Version : Leaking apartment fu$%!
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 07:37
Was getting ready this morning in then bathroom, when I felt a drip on my shoulder, only to look up and see paint bubbling from the ceiling, and a small drip of water. It's gotten progressively worse, and now leaking into the hot water heater closet. Put in an emergency work order, and just waiting on maintenance. Not how I wanted to spend my one day off (tomorrow) for the week. Hopefully it's not too serious, and we don't have to get into a pissing contest with management.
69752
Probably not weather related. I'm sure the guy above you just overflowed his toilet.
Yeah, 4 windows on my brand new house are leaking, and water at the top of the basement wall on the North side. (Rain/snow has been blowing from the North). I have no idea how to fix the latter. Called and left a message for the warranty people.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 07:48
Probably not weather related. I'm sure the guy above you just overflowed his toilet.
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I know they had roto rooter out last week to deal with some issues in the unit above us.
Just had a behind wall, above ceiling leak a few weeks ago in the home were selling. PITA. There should be a law against running pipes behind tiled walls with no access panels. Good luck and don't let it burn your time off too much.
Velocitas, Opprimere,
Violentia Operandi
When you come home to water coming out from under your front door that's bad. This is just minor. Tightening something on the upstairs water heater or the like
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 08:18
When you come home to water coming out from under your front door that's bad. This is just minor. Tightening something on the upstairs water heater or the like
Was hoping you'd stop by, thanks for the reassurance, this is my first time dealing with an issue like this.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 11:39
Wife says there is now water coming out from under the walls in the pantry and bathroom.
I would go pound on the unit above to see if anyone is home. A feed pipe probably broke and is just pouring water into the walls some where above you. The water needs to be shut off asap.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 11:58
I would go pound on the unit above to see if anyone is home. A feed pipe probably broke and is just pouring water into the walls some where above you. The water needs to be shut off asap.
Complex maintenance is "on scene", I'm trying to handle this with my wife from work.
I figured. Hopefully they'll realize that someone above has a leak and the water needs to be shut off. I have a feeling you're about to find out what your HOA's deductible is.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 12:21
Well, the water stopped, and they had a plumber upstairs that apparently pulled a ton of baby wipes from the pipes in one of the units above us, so we shall see if it stays at bay. Said they'll return on Monday to see if any drywall needs to be replaced.
Good deal! Building materials generally dry up on their own as long as the source of the water stops and there is enough air flow.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 12:24
Good deal! Building materials generally dry up on their own as long as the source of the water stops and there is enough air flow.
Good to know, thanks for the info. Kind of why I came to rant on here, I know you guys have a lot of experience with this stuff.
Watch out for mold. Especially black mold but other colors can be hazardous to your health as well.
With all the wind/rain we had last night, I should probably go check my garage. Once prior, I assume rain was forced up under the 2nd story bottom siding edge where it meets the garage roof and penetrated behind the flashing enough to cause the interior drywall to wet. I cut the mud/tape away on the corner to let it dry completely and haven't seen any evidence of further issues now for years.
Watch out for mold. Especially black mold but other colors can be hazardous to your health as well.
Totally over blown. There's 2000+ species of mold. Yellow and red are far more dangerous. The one type of black mold you're referring to has a specific set of circumstances that it needs to form over an extended period of time. Which basically is a gentle and constant leak for weeks or months.
If you can poke the bubbles with a screw driver. Leave your ac fab to on and leave the doors open to the effected area. Air flow is important and you want this dry in 72hrs or less.
I'll pm you my cell in case you need to talk to me directly.
hurley842002
03-24-2017, 13:48
If you can poke the bubbles with a screw driver. Leave your ac fab to on and leave the doors open to the effected area. Air flow is important and you want this dry in 72hrs or less.
The leak in the bathroom ceiling you can definitely poke with a screw driver, it's was a single spot about the size of a ritz cracker when I left this morning. Air flow will definitely be a problem in the bathroom, as there are no exterior windows in there. Maintenance is coming back on Monday to mitigate damage, and see if drywall needs replaced.
Totally over blown. There's 2000+ species of mold. Yellow and red are far more dangerous. The one type of black mold you're referring to has a specific set of circumstances that it needs to form over an extended period of time. Which basically is a gentle and constant leak for weeks or months.
No constant leak at my place. Simply water from rain and snow. Yet had 2 of the 3 worst types growing. Became quite sick from exposure. Not overblown.
SideShow Bob
03-24-2017, 17:33
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I know they had roto rooter out last week to deal with some issues in the unit above us.
Probably rootered to aggressively and cracked the plastic drain pipes below them, but above you.
SideShow Bob
03-24-2017, 17:36
Well, the water stopped, and they had a plumber upstairs that apparently pulled a ton of baby wipes from the pipes in one of the units above us, so we shall see if it stays at bay. Said they'll return on Monday to see if any drywall needs to be replaced.
Definatly cracked a drain pipe or separated a joint unless it was a major overflow of the toilet above you.
Expect a recurring problem.
No constant leak at my place. Simply water from rain and snow. Yet had 2 of the 3 worst types growing. Became quite sick from exposure. Not overblown.
Slow roof leaks and water pipes with very small leaks that are not found and dealt with are the highest cause of the bad black mold that I've found and yes if you do get it you're in danger.
I've worked atleast 1000 leaks/floods/restorations This type of situation, when dried correctly (honestly even doing nothing will likely work), will have almost zero risk of that unless there were pre existing conditions
So may I amend my previous statement to "the risk of black mold in this particular situation is totally over blown"?
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I know they had roto rooter out last week to deal with some issues in the unit above us.
Problem solved on their end. [hahhah-no]
Slow roof leaks and water pipes with very small leaks that are not found and dealt with are the highest cause of the bad black mold that I've found and yes if you do get it you're in danger.
I've worked atleast 1000 leaks/floods/restorations This type of situation, when dried correctly (honestly even doing nothing will likely work), will have almost zero risk of that unless there were pre existing conditions
So may I amend my previous statement to "the risk of black mold in this particular situation is totally over blown"?
Ok. :D
At least it was CAT 3 water leaking into your place.
hurley842002
03-25-2017, 08:39
Probably rootered to aggressively and cracked the plastic drain pipes below them, but above you.
This is what I was thinking.
hurley842002
05-14-2018, 17:08
Well, the plot thickens....
Wife found a puddle of water in the pantry earlier today, she heard maintenance working in the apartment that backs up to ours, so she went over there to try and speak to someone about the leak. Come to find out, it was not only the complex maintenance guy, but a commercial clean up crew, tearing out drywall and bleaching everything, because there was black mold throughout the other apartment on the wall that we share, and to make matters worse, there is still a hole under our kitchen sink, from when they did plumbing work, that is a direct line from our apartment to the infected one (see picture).
My wife talked to the cleanup crew, and allegedly, after their initial assessment, they recommended that we, and the apartment that backs up to us move, and nobody from management mentioned anything to us.
Any input from the peanut gallery what our next step should be?
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180514/f5e76f79efc41823f0f3514dbe9b53e8.jpg
Document everything. Management won't want to move you. On the other hand, just because that guy works clean up, doesn't mean that he's not some bullshitting moron.
hurley842002
05-14-2018, 17:28
On the other hand, just because that guy works clean up, doesn't mean that he's not some bullshitting moron.
True, anything is possible I suppose, on the other hand, the complex maintenance guy seemed rather disturbed when my wife told him that management hadn't notified us.
Grant H.
05-14-2018, 17:29
Document everything. Management won't want to move you. On the other hand, just because that guy works clean up, doesn't mean that he's not some bullshitting moron.
This.
Get pictures, copies of reports, and send emails.
StagLefty
05-14-2018, 18:21
Complex maintenance is "on scene", I'm trying to handle this with my wife from work.
Good grief I worked apartment maintenance for years a long time ago and would have been fired for that kind of response time for a water leak.
Good grief I worked apartment maintenance for years a long time ago and would have been fired for that kind of response time for a water leak.
That was then. Now everything is super chill and laid back. You probably had a "no drugs allowed" policy too.
hurley842002
05-15-2018, 11:55
Well, so far management has been completely unhelpful, and the manager was even angry that we knew about it, as my wife overheard the manager yelling at the Belfor restoration guys from the other side of the wall (guess he didn't realize there was a huge hole directly leading into our kitchen sink.
It's been more than a year. Why are you still there?
hurley842002
05-15-2018, 14:40
It's been more than a year. Why are you still there?
Well we thought the issue was resolved, and all has been quiet since then (maintenance wise), so we decided to stick it out. We aren't really fond of the living arrangements, but are planning on moving out of state, and buying a home, in the (hopefully) near future, via job transfer, just trying to strategically play it so I get a promotion out of the deal.
Well, so far management has been completely unhelpful, and the manager was even angry that we knew about it, as my wife overheard the manager yelling at the Belfor restoration guys from the other side of the wall (guess he didn't realize there was a huge hole directly leading into our kitchen sink.
Yeah, we went through something similar with MIL place. Always worth talking to the contractors in addition to management.
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