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Thumpalina · Mar 26, 2011, 08:07 PM

Hello I am having some issues with my apartment and the plumbing. I moved here in 08 and before I even actually moved my stuff in I came in with a few boxes and found that my floors had water all over them and it came from the closet with the water heater in it. Well I immediately called the emergency number my land lord gave me and told her what was going on she had said to put towels down and someone would be out tomorrow. When they came out they said they thought it might be the hot water heater and that was about all I heard of it. Almost 8 months ago it happened again. Came home from work and my floors where flooded again. I called and reported it immediately and they sent some one out then called the plumbers to come snake some pipes that are in my hallway closet. The land lord called later that day as I was cleaning the mess up to tell me that some one had flushed baby wipes and me having a little boy I thought well maybe he got in the bathroom when I was not looking and flushed some. Well two weeks ago it happened again but this time it was pure sewage spilling all over my floors only this time I was home. What had happened was the upstairs apartment flushed the toilet my toilet and bathtub gurgled I called the land lord asked her if someone was up there working on something that would make it do that and she said that there was people upstairs working and they would be there all day so I ended the call and a few moments later I seen the waste coming out of my hot water closet so I rushed a threw towel down and called the land lord once again. She sent the plumbers out again and they said that someone had flushed feminine products and that is what had caused a build up. Then she proceeded to tell me I am responsible for the bill and I do not even use them. Well a week later once again the same thing happened but the plumbers came out and actually snaked from under my toilet instead of the hallway closet and went all the way to the main line I guess is what they called it and pulled out two paper towels. So I have a few questions. 1. can I tell where the problem is actually coming from since I am the lower floor apartment and the last one next to the main line or does that make a difference since the lines are connecting at some point 2. wouldn't I notice problems in my bathroom before the lines in my closet if the problem had come from my apartment? 3. Why do I have a hole in my closet floor that has exposed lines that are not properly fitted or at least have a cap over them or something to keep them from overflowing into my apartment? I have attached pictures of the hallway closet the pipes and my floors if anyone can help...

ballengerb1 · Mar 26, 2011, 08:24 PM

1. you probably can't tell where its coming from because it is inside the building main drain down stream of your apartment, can't be seen and likely is now gone. 2. the problem should be seen first in your bath tube if it's a main drain backing up. However, we do not know what those 2 pipes are going into your floor so what are they. 3. You have a hole because and amateur carpenter put down a simulated hardwood floor and did not know how to make a better looking opening for those pipes.

joypulv · Mar 26, 2011, 08:27 PM

Sewage all over your floor and they want you to pay?
Call the Health Dept and sue the landlord in Small Claims.

massplumber2008 · Mar 27, 2011, 06:33 AM

Right out of the gate, those pipes are not supposed to be shoved into the drain pipe in that way... should be "indirectly connected" and the pipe should be enlarged so they encompass the pipes, but the pipes don't go down inside like that... inspector should probably mention this... ;) Here, this is considered a "direct connection" between the hot water heater and the sewer... should probably change that!? Be clear, however, not really a health hazard for you, but it could be if we want to get all technical here, OK?

With that being said, as Ballenger suggested, sounds like the MAIN DRAIN line is clogging up and you are getting blamed for it. Certainly, feminine napkins, paper towels and child wipes complicate things here and are DEFINITELY not recommended to go down the sewer line, but that doesn't change the fact that the main drain is backing up into your apartment and making a mess of things for you.

When the inpectors come out they should be able to break this down in a way that your landlord should understand. After that, the landlord should apologize for the inconvenience, maybe should pay for replacing all the towels you lost, AND should probably be required to lift all the wood flooring that I see in the picture and get the sewage that has seeped uner it all cleaned up and disnfected... *UGH*.

That's my two cents...

Mark