I have a 108 unit condo complex that I service frequently in Henderson. It was built in 1990. 24 years is about when plumbing piping, if not installed properly, will begin to come apart. I’m talking about water service pvc glue joints.
In this place, lately, once a month, I do my best Jed Clampett impression when water suddenly comes bubbling up out of the ground.
The glue joints were not prepared and primed before being assembled. Also the individual units have gate valves, only the handles protruding from the sheet rock, in their laundry or water heater areas. 20 year old gate valve stems will snap if you put a little too much pressure to them when trying to close them to shut the water off. No plumber would touch a gate valve that old unless he made it clear to all concerned what the risks are. I’m told the previous plumbers would sometimes purposely turn them off very hard until they snapped and then hit the tenant, or owner with a huge replacement bill, like $800.00 or something. What could the people do with their water off and the plumber standing there? Many of the people are elderly and easily intimidated. These plumbing companies have been banned from the property.
Many of the water heaters have no pans under them also. Already there have been several disasters with ground floor units being flooded out by leaking water heaters upstairs.
I went to a house last week that was flooded out because the upstairs toilet intake valve, called a ballcock, had a fill tube that popped out of the flush valve and was spraying under the lid and out onto the floor. The renter was away for 4 days and was greeted with this horror when they returned from their vacation. I highly recommend turning off your water supply valve to your house when going away for any length of time. This terrible thing will never happen to you if you do this.
Remain calm and cool at all times.
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