[plumberjames83]

I had mentaioned before that I do work for real esate agents
Well on eof them has a renter complaining of leaking shower
It an old three handle probably gerber I can I rreplace the stems if I cannot find an inidvidual apartment cutoff you would think there would be an acess or a "loop somewhere but i can't find one the whole building is on one meter so turning it off would cut off the whole building. i used to build apartments during my apperntice days and we would put the water cutoff at the water heater closet and you could get to it i suspect it may be behind the water heater but it may not be thats is just "-u-me" ing. However I see 3/4 copper behind the water heater ( this is a double stack closet 30/gal. W/H on bottom and furence on top so not a whole lot of room) and it has its own cutoff (the wateheater) do you think if I removed the water heater would that be the main water for the apt. also what are the chances that it has a cuttoff and me still having to cut off the water main. I know that the agent is not going the go for cutting sheetrock a whole bunch... and by the way I have to replace the stems replaceing the valve is not an option in this scenaino because the kitchen is behind the shower can't too much put an acess there. What do you do if all else fails have he homeowners asscation organize a time I can shut of the water

[Fr_Chuck]

If there is a water leak, apartments shut off water all the time with little notice to fix leaks. I don't see what the issue is ? They shut off water to my apartment for most of the day with no notice at all today, due to a water leak, it happens, They should have put a notice on the door and notified the apartments, but did not, but merely shut off water for a few hours while repairs where done.

[plumberjames83]

Well these are apts. I guess but they are owned so I guess they are condos

[speedball1]

First off, how old is the building? It'd quite possible for a older building with just one water meter that the apartments were piped without a individual shut off, although I can't conceive of any plumbing inspector signing off on a modern building the didn't furnish unit shutoffs. I've water pipes hundreds of condos and we put the house shut off in one of two places. Where the water service enters the unit or at the water heater supply. Before I disconnected the water heater I would take a flashlight and a mirror and peek behind the water meter to see. Good luck and let me know. Regards, Tom
__________________

[ballengerb1]

If there is a home owners association there is likely common property and the plumbing is part of the common property. The problem may not be yours, its theirs. Check your HOA declarations. With HOA or POAs you frequentky own from the wall surface inward. Any wall material or anything behind the wall is common property. If a sewer, roof or gutter fails the POA is responsible.

[plumberjames83]

I am performing the work for property owner this is not my residence hoa doesn't have any answewrs for me ethier

[ballengerb1]

What I am saying is that the homeowner is probably not the person who should contract with you. If the HOA is setup like everyother one I have seen, he is throwing his money away. HOA will sometimes step aside from a question about responsibility or just never step up and offer to pay. However, they are usually the people who are supposed to pay the bill.

[plumberjames83]

Yeha and if someone else does it there goes my business so it is in my best interest to figure this out on my own

[iamgrowler]

yeha and if someone else does it there goes my bussiness so it is in my best interest to figure this out on my own

The best course of action is to pass out notes 48 hours in advance to all of the affected tenants and then just shut the water off and make your repairs -- Make sure you leave yourself enough of a working window for the idiot factor.

Prepare yourself for the idiot factor by having a couple of spare five gallon buckets and a functional wet and dry vacuum on hand -- 9 out of 10 times someone on a floor above you is going to try out the kitchen sink or a lavatory to see if the water is back on yet, which will break the vacuum on the line and send several gallons of water your way.

[doug238]

Typically those are apartments that converted over to condos. There is only one main valve, but be of good cheer, most of them put tub and shower valves with integral stops. You will notice the different trim plate that has a single screw in it that droops down to cover the integral stop. On most cases you don't have to cut the main off.

[ballengerb1]

I guess I am looking at this from the POA point of view more than a repairman. I think this is like me hiring Speedball1 to work on Fr_Chucks home without talking to Fr_Chuck. You are starting to work on property that does not belong to the man who contracted with you.

[plumberjames83]

Right I think I am going to do it this way tell me what you think!! If I remove the w/h and it has a main cut off!! use it! If and o ti am going to shut the main down and cut it open real quick and shark bite the hellout of it with a cut off in place...

[speedball1]

If there's no unit shutoffs why don't you contact the Condo Board and give them a estimate on installing a house shut off in each unit? Regards, Tom

[ballengerb1]

Tom is thinking like a business man here. You may get your problem solved and drum up some new business too.