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Author:
roma (Canada)
We live on the 6th floor of a high-rise condo building
The past one month we had been hearing gurgling sounds from the kitchen sink at odd hours (even while the sink wasn't being used)
We reported it to building management and they came back saying our sink was clogged and we should get a plumber
The plumber ran the auger (snake) and it came out clean. The auger had gone 25 feet into the main drain.
We presented it to building management and they sent their plumber. The plumber cut up the drywall in two places to reach the mains
He did something to the mains and now the gurgling sound is gone
The building management wants to put an access door in our unit to access the mains for "time-to-time" maintenance.
What does this mean?
We contacted our neighbors directly below below us. The 5th floor neighbor had the same gurgling sound while we were experiencing ours (he had flooding 4 years ago from the sinks). The 3rd floor neighbor had flooding from the sink last fall.
All the neighbors have their kitchen sink in the exact position as ours.
The question is - while all others have suffered, why is an access door to the mains being installed in our unit? The others weren't even asked about it.
What would be the "time-to-time" maintenance?
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Author:
ArthurPeabody (NM)
The main drain is accessible from the roof. This means a long snake may be needed, not the 25-foot one you can buy at a hardware store or MallWart. Your association can own one or hire a plumber who has one to go on the roof and snake it.
The sensible guess as to why the association wants to put a cleanout in your unit is that you've already tolerated their plumber cutting a hole in your drywall, that they'd have to disturb another member anew. Or they may think you're suckers. That they want to do it now may mean that it took 3 events before they got serious about a more-permanent solution. Then again the association may not be sensible.
How many storeys? If you're near the top they may as well go on the roof - although that may be cold in Canada this time of year.
Access panels are common. I installed one in my own home before I renovated and made it unnecessary. I'd hold out for making them go on the roof, which is a solution for every drain, not just the one in your column.
You could have taken off the trap to find out that your sink wasn't clogged.
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