I live in a lower condo. My neighbor'd washer & dryer are right above mine. When I wash I have no problem. When they wash it floods the floor in back of my washer and runs into the hallway. It was snaked from the roof however it still happens. Who has the problem? One plumber said the upper unit was at fault because of a P-trap and wants to remove the drywall Another plumber said it is my problem and my wall should be removed. How do we determine what to do. The association will not pay if it is a P-trapl

Need to ask some questions:

1. Does the upper floor have those high efficiency front loading washers.
2. Size of the pipe?
3. Distance of your trap from your floor?
4. height of washer drain in your unit (where washer dumps)?

Hi Sharvanhooser...

When you use your washing machine there is no flooding in your unit... right?

When the people upstairs use their washing machine water overflows their pipes and follows the pipes down the wall and shows up in your place... right?

First thing I would do is to have the people upstairs run a wash and then you guys watch the pipes/ptrap on the upper floor and in your unit to see where the water comes out of the pipes. If the PTRAP at top floor overflows then the issue will be in their drain line. If the ptrap at your floor overflows then the issue is in a common drain line to both units. This drain would needto be snaked... paid via condo. Association... ;)

That's where to start... let me know if you have questions.

Mark

I have some familiarity with condominium property. What ever the problem is, it is not yours.

My 2 cents...

It is a common problem: you and your neighbor above are sharing same drain line. I bet you kitchen sinks are connected to the same, common, drain. If the drain cloggs below point of connection ( below your unit ), water backs up and overflows in your condominium first. People above have no idea this is happening.

Snaking from the roof will not do too much, especially if Vent 90 were used to vent this drain. Snake simply won't make the turns all the way down where pipe turns from vertical to horizontal. You have to get closer to the clog.

Go to the basement / subterranean garage (if you have one), locate this drain and snake it through clean out at the end of this horizontal pipe. Then pull out your washer and there should be 2" clean out. Use that clean out to insert snake. If you don't have clean out behind your washer than you have to cut the wall and cut the pipe to put one in. That clean out will take care of the vertical section of the drain.

As far as responsibility goes: I agree with Mark.