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Author:
M N (VA)
I live on the first floor of a 15-story condo, built in 1982. Four times in the six years I've lived here, my kitchen has flooded from the drain that carries away the water from washing machines in our tier. Usually I hadn't been using my washer, and the water was from someone above. Each time I'm told that the pipes below were clogged and they have been cleaned out. But then a year or (this time) six months later, it happens again.
Once the chief engineer told me that a local plumbing company investigated and found that the "cleanout" hadn't been properly installed and that part of a Y joint was being missed during out annual jet cleaning of drains. He said that from then on, they would open and clean that part manually. But it keeps happening!
Can someone give me some good ideas to take to the board of directors? Thanks.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
Three possibilities;
1. The drain gets obstruced easily. Very likely with 15 floors of washing machines
2. You are in the "suds zone" of that stack, and if your laundry was NOT connected properly you get a backup of explosive suds.
3. They have a "sharp turn" at the bottom of the riser and when the water/waste mix comes charging down the pipe, it hits the turn like running into a brick wall and the water and solids separate, leaving the solids behind to clog the pipe.I had it happen with a 6" line in a high rise one time.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
There should NOT be a connection in an area labelled 10 x stack dia or 40 x stack dia as these are the 'suds pressure zones'.
However, it is common for said connections to be actually made as 40 x stack dia for a 4" stack would be 40".
Therefor, IMO, the only solution would be to 'rod' the line(s) every 6 months as a preventive measure.
OR
Lower the horizontal piping beneath your unit's connection to maintain a 40" space.
?Perhaps this one stack could use an ejector pit and pump?
==============================================
"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
Wheelchair (IL)
Unfortunately, this will continue to happen. Best advice to offer you is purchase more flood insurance or move to the 15th floor. You are not the 1st to have this issue and you won't be the last.
Best Wishes
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Author:
Sparkykun (CA)
how does an issue like this get resolved? Replumb the drain pipe, or have the washer settings, of the upper floors, be on a lower water level setting?
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