JackieofTrades
New Member
Thanks for such a great forum. Have been reading for a long time b4 deciding to ask. TIA for those willing to help others. Special place in heaven for y'all.
I am living in a strata complex where some things are my responsibility and others are Strata's. For the past 6 yrs or so I have been having to call in a plumber to snake my kitchen waste drain about every 2 years or so which I've been covering up til now. I''m wondering if something else is going on that I can finally fix rather than maintain like this!
I have a double kitchen sink with top of the line dishwasher that uses hot water with an internal heater so the dishes are sanitized. Normally everything drains properly, no sounds or smells. We do not pour grease, art supplies or other materials not associated with foods or food prep down the drain - ever.
The sink/DW drains to a main clean out at the very base of my cabinet and then heads through or under the concrete slab that is our foundations here. I did the kitchen remodel with DW install myself replacing all plumbing exactly as original up to the cleanout but the problem started b4 my reno and continues after. So I don't think that reasons out as a factor...
Every 20-26 months or so the sinks suddenly backup beyond 15 feet passed the cleanout (the length of my home snake) Plunging, chemicals, hot water etc methods to clear the clog/slow down all fail until we finally call in a pro.
Each time they do clean the drain but there is never anything in it in terms of a clog or other reason for a blockage let alone one with multiple encores every few years. The plumbers (2 different ones last 3 calls) do get some sludgey matter out but that's it, never hair, food or other material. This last time I compalined to my strata board but there is some foggy area about at which point my underground waste is strata maintenance or strictly owner's problem. At some point, (according to some really really old strata diagrams) my main drain connects to my neighbours (not able to find out if they have any problems) and then to the MASTER pipe that services the whole complex out and to the city connection. I will likely have to spend on lawyers fees at this point since not only can I not tell for 100% that it's my drain or my cause for the 'blockage' and at what distance but will for sure have to take them to court to prove that if the issue is at the Master pipe (or where my main leaves the confines of my physical unit) and not STILL my cost since it appears to potentially be a pipe only used by my unit. (I know that there is Limited common property that strata still has to maintain at their cost out of my monthly fees like yard maintenance but the people have SO little knowledge that they claim everything is owner's prob until proven otherwise.)
So if there is anyway I can finally diagnose what this recurring problem is BEFORE the next time I lose my whole kitchen/water use at the same time I may have to hire a different professional to rep me...I'm willing to try to fix it on my own...
Sorry for the saga, any suggestions appreciated. Also, any strategies of what to do (mapping, tests etc) the next time it backs up to help build a case) is also welcome. Cheers all,
I am living in a strata complex where some things are my responsibility and others are Strata's. For the past 6 yrs or so I have been having to call in a plumber to snake my kitchen waste drain about every 2 years or so which I've been covering up til now. I''m wondering if something else is going on that I can finally fix rather than maintain like this!
I have a double kitchen sink with top of the line dishwasher that uses hot water with an internal heater so the dishes are sanitized. Normally everything drains properly, no sounds or smells. We do not pour grease, art supplies or other materials not associated with foods or food prep down the drain - ever.
The sink/DW drains to a main clean out at the very base of my cabinet and then heads through or under the concrete slab that is our foundations here. I did the kitchen remodel with DW install myself replacing all plumbing exactly as original up to the cleanout but the problem started b4 my reno and continues after. So I don't think that reasons out as a factor...
Every 20-26 months or so the sinks suddenly backup beyond 15 feet passed the cleanout (the length of my home snake) Plunging, chemicals, hot water etc methods to clear the clog/slow down all fail until we finally call in a pro.
Each time they do clean the drain but there is never anything in it in terms of a clog or other reason for a blockage let alone one with multiple encores every few years. The plumbers (2 different ones last 3 calls) do get some sludgey matter out but that's it, never hair, food or other material. This last time I compalined to my strata board but there is some foggy area about at which point my underground waste is strata maintenance or strictly owner's problem. At some point, (according to some really really old strata diagrams) my main drain connects to my neighbours (not able to find out if they have any problems) and then to the MASTER pipe that services the whole complex out and to the city connection. I will likely have to spend on lawyers fees at this point since not only can I not tell for 100% that it's my drain or my cause for the 'blockage' and at what distance but will for sure have to take them to court to prove that if the issue is at the Master pipe (or where my main leaves the confines of my physical unit) and not STILL my cost since it appears to potentially be a pipe only used by my unit. (I know that there is Limited common property that strata still has to maintain at their cost out of my monthly fees like yard maintenance but the people have SO little knowledge that they claim everything is owner's prob until proven otherwise.)
So if there is anyway I can finally diagnose what this recurring problem is BEFORE the next time I lose my whole kitchen/water use at the same time I may have to hire a different professional to rep me...I'm willing to try to fix it on my own...
Sorry for the saga, any suggestions appreciated. Also, any strategies of what to do (mapping, tests etc) the next time it backs up to help build a case) is also welcome. Cheers all,
