There are many benefits to living in high-rise buildings. A lack of maintenance and convenience of local facilities are usually two of the best benefits. Of course, having your own small community on your doorstep also helps.
But, there are also downsides, including plumbing issues. It can be hard to locate the problem and just as hard to work out who needs to fix the issue.
Fortunately, knowing the 5 most common plumbing problems in high-rise buildings will help:
1. Blockages
The biggest issue in a high-rise is blocked pipes. This happens when things are put down the drains that shouldn’t be. One of the biggest culprits is wet wipes, sanitary products and toys are generally closely behind.
A blockage will cause the water to back up, slowing drainage and potentially feeding back up through the pipes into the lower floor apartments.
If you have a blockage or suspect one is forming, you’ll need a pipe inspection camera. This travels down the pipes and gives you an image of what is inside you drains. It will help you locate any issue and decide what to do about it.
2. Low Water Pressure
Another common plumbing issue in high-rises is a lack of water pressure. This is often caused by safety valves that haven’t been maintained properly. If they’re not looked after the valves can become stuck and encourage the buildup of mineral deposits. This will lower the water pressure across the building.
3. Leaking Water Tanks
It’s common for every apartment to have its own water heater. But, if these tanks leak they can do a lot of damage. Leaking water destroys floors and ceilings, you may end up seeing more of your upstairs neighbor’s apartment than you wanted!
Leaks can go undetected for a long time, resulting in damp, which leads to mold which is detrimental for your health.
4. Rusty Pipes
Poor maintenance schedules and old plumbing increase the likelihood of problems occurring. One of the biggest issues is when the pipes start to rust. You’ll notice the issue as brown water coming from your taps.
Rusty water from just one tap means a pipe e=issue on the supply to that tap. But, rusty water from all taps means a much bigger, and more expensive, issue.
5. DIY Plumbers
Surprisingly, one of the biggest issues is actually residents attempting to do the plumbing work themselves. Although the high-rise should have a maintenance manager, many residents feel that plumbing jobs are so simple they don’t need to contact the maintenance manager.
Unfortunately, this can often lead to undetected leaks or bigger issues when you don’t realize how big the plumbing job is.
It will often make the situation worse and cause problems for others. If you have a maintenance manager it’s always best to talk to them first.
With a little planning and regular inspections, you don’t need to have plumbing issues in your high-rise apartments. But, in case you do, it’s always good to know the most likely causes and have the number of a good plumber ready.