Home/Apartment repair advice sought

"I have another burner, try to guess it!" (ihaveanotherburner)
07/18/2018 at 13:30 • Filed to: Homeopnik

So I came home from a week out of town to find a whole in the ceiling of my shower, aparentantly due to water damage.

When the guy came over to fix it, I also mentioned the AC condensation had been dripping through that cover on the top right side of the picture, rather than the drain you see. Ultimately an unrelated issue (he agreed) but just wanted to see if he could fix it while he was there.

Anyway, he said the drain was clogged. But that the pipes were glued together, rather than just threaded, so he couldn’t blow out the blockage.

I wanted to ask y’all if y’all think I could clear out the drain by applying a vacuum to it. Like get a vacuum pump from AutoZone, find some tubing to get it to attach to the pipe and then suck the air out, and hopefully the blockage too.

As for the hole. The guy said it was caused by a crack in the bath tub above me, which I guess is why they haven’t been back to my apartment yet. Which they’ve probably fixed by now.

DISCUSSION (19)

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:35

Man, water damage can be horrible. Make sure you get your walls/floor tested with a moisture meter. You could end up with mold or worse. If need be, engage your insurance.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/18/2018 at 13:40

Visibily, it's limited to that one spot, but I'll look into that.

crowmolly > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:40

Might be able to snake the drain rather than disassemble it or apply pressure/vacuum.

Shamoononon drives like a farmer > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:41

Do you rent? They need to fix that stuff. I had something like that happen and eventually found mushrooms growing out of the wall....

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:41

Water damage is nearly always invisible and usually really bad behind the walls.

RacinBob > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:48

This is what it should look like. I would try to work on it from the top side. Also I would try vacuum first. If there is enough water behind it, it may carry the blockage.

Kinja'd!!!

I have another burner, try to guess it! > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever
07/18/2018 at 13:49

I'll follow up with them then. It's been about a week since the guy came out, but idk if they've been back while I was gone or if they've done any work from the guys unit above.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > Shamoononon drives like a farmer
07/18/2018 at 13:52

I think they’ve fixed from the above bath already. The cover the AC is dri pping on is metal, so I dont think it'll cause any damage. I just wanna fix it so its not dripping cold water on my head when I shower.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 13:55

Try fishing the pipe to clear the blockage.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 14:04

But that the pipes were glued together, rather than just threaded, so he couldn’t blow out the blockage.

I’m not sure why that makes a difference, other than maybe not being able to block off a vent as easily, or remove the trap and blow further down the line. “I can’t take this apart so I can’t fix it” is nearly the laziest thing in plumbing I have ever heard. Worst case, you have to cut something, but failure is basically not an option and everything can in its own way be replumbed.

OPPOsaurus WRX > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 14:10

I u rent none of that is ur problem. Liquid being where liquid isn't supposed to be is going to lead to mold so ur land lord can fix a small problem now or a big one later. Plan b is rent an air compressor and shoot that shit out but if u break it ur landlords gonna blame you

punkgoose17 > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 14:19

Your landlord should fix it. For a quick fix get a plastic snake. They work great I’ve used one on sinks and tubs.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zip-It-Bath-and-Sink-Hair-Snare-BC00400/100665735

I have another burner, try to guess it! > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
07/18/2018 at 14:46

The guy said he wasn’t a plumber and they’d have to call one out if it was a pipe that was leaking. But since it wasn’t a pipe, but a crack in the tub upstairs, I think they just sealed the tub. Like they did to mine when I moved in.

There was this 6" crack in mine they sprayed some caulk like stuff over. I think they just did that to the one above me.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > OPPOsaurus WRX
07/18/2018 at 14:48

I think I'm just gonna try a drain snake and then the vaccum.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 14:48

they sprayed some caulk like stuff over

Oy.

I have another burner, try to guess it! > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht
07/18/2018 at 15:22

Rent is only triple digits, so idc.

Pl us they said the model of tub is out of production, so it would take them a week or two to fit a new tub in. Idk if thats true or just an excuse, but I’ll take it if I only have to go a few hours without it.

facw > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 15:37

My advice is don’t try to fix anything yourself. Make your landlord deal with it. You do not want to risk being blamed for damaging the apartment if your repairs go poorly.

ttyymmnn > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 15:53

I had a similar problem with a clogged drain. The AC guy replaced the whole pipe, and included a cleanout pipe in the new arrangement. That would be my suggestion.

RacinBob > I have another burner, try to guess it!
07/18/2018 at 19:05

By the way, use a shop vac. You want to get a lot of volume which a shop vac has and something that a vacuum pump does not have. Also do not blow back through the drain, or you may end up with a geyser above the ceiling.....