Providing Plumbing Solutions Since 1986
Menu
If your tenants have a leaky toilet, sink, or dishwasher, we know how important it is to get there quickly before damage occurs.
The plumbing in public areas of a condominium is the responsibility of the condominium building owner, Board, or Home Owners Association. However, the plumbing inside the unit is the responsibility of the unit owner. You will likely need to schedule maintenance/repair time with the building manager as the lines are often shared. When we work at condo or apartment buildings we understand that we need to be on time and get the job done as quickly as possible within the time scheduled.
At Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. we have been providing area customers with high-quality workmanship and peace of mind for over 30 years.
Our plumbers are courteous and have extensive product knowledge.
Plumbtech trucks are fully stocked so that most jobs, issues, and problems, can be fixed immediately. And, we have you covered with 24 Hour Emergency Plumbing Service. Just give us a call.
• Turn off the main water supply to your unit (you should always know where this is located in case of emergency)
• Make sure the building superintendent/property manager is aware of the problem
Our Condo and Apartment service is available to condominium owners in Barrie/Innisfil, Orillia, Muskoka – Huntsville/Bracebridge/Gravenhurst, Angus/Base Borden, Midland/Penetanguishene, Collingwood/Wasaga Beach, Alliston and Parry Sound surrounding areas.
Whether you are a condo or apartment owner, own the building, or look after it as a manager or superintendent, the odds are good that you will need a plumber at some point to repair, maintain, install new fixtures, or more.
The repairs will affect everyone in the building to a greater or lesser degree. How much it affects the individual unit owner depends on what is being done and where it occurs.
Plumbing in public areas of a condominium is the responsibility of the condominium building owner, board, or homeowner’s association. Public areas range from lobbies and hallways to elevators, parking areas, and anything else outside of the condo or apartment unit. Everything inside the condo or apartment is the responsibility of the unit owner. However, any work must be communicated to everyone involved.
To make changes, or upgrade a fixture, kitchen, or bathroom, a unit owner will be required to notify and/or receive permission from the condo board or association. Depending on the rules of the building, the association has the right to say “yes” or “no” to any contractors, workmen, or plumbers entering the building.
Some condo bylaws stipulate that a particular plumbing company is used because they know the layout of the building and have worked all aspects of it. Other condo boards allow individual unit owners to use their plumbers as long as they are licenced and insured.
All parties affected need to be notified of arrival in the building. In addition, some elevators need to be booked for the time used. If there is a significant amount of noise involved in the job, other condo owners will need to be notified too. The fire department may also need to be notified if there is any soldering.
There is a lot of coordination that goes into the organization of work that will be done whether it is in the common spaces or individual units.
Plumbing in an individual unit may also require access to the building’s plumbing system.
Three-way coordination between the unit owner, plumber, and building manager or superintendent isn’t easy. It can be time-consuming to arrange a job, schedule a repair, and access to do the work.
Each unit has a water shut-off. The water may also be turned off for repair work such as replacing a cartridge in a faucet or installing a new one.
If there is a leak, the water will need to be shut off until it is fixed. The shut-off itself is also subject to age and may need to be replaced.
Depending on the age of the building, some older plumbing valves may not work anymore. A variety of different types of plumbing valves may be used that isolate, regulate, open, and close the flow of water to a fixture such as a hot water tank.
All valves are subject to wear and when that happens they leak. Shut-offs isolate fixtures such as a toilet to one unit. A fixture shut-off will not impact other condo owners.
Sometimes leaks are not visually obvious. A leak from a shower, faucet, or toilet could be hidden in the walls or beneath the floor where it will affect other units.
Low water pressure could occur when the water restrictor in the shower head is plugged or the aerator in the sink faucet is clogged.
If the water drains slowly or makes gurgling noises, there could be a partially blocked pipe. A clogged drain could lead to blockages in the main drain pipe which leads to the sewage system. A backup in the sewage system will likely affect more than one unit.
A little maintenance can go a long way to eliminate problems and keep plumbing in good working order. It is the collective responsibility of the unit owner, condo board, building manager, and superintendent depending on the area being maintained.
The most common issue in a condo or apartment is a plugged drain which may impact drains in other units. It could also cause a back-up in the main drain and sewer system. The first sign of trouble is the slow draining of water and gurgling noises.
Plumbing maintenance in the building ranges from clearing and cleaning the main drain, backflow installation, testing, and maintenance, as well as installing and maintaining pumps. In addition, rain leaders that transport rainwater from the roof to a storm drain or sewer system through a vertical pipe may require maintenance.
Individual unit owners can maintain their drains by keeping them clear of cooking oil, fats, and grease as well as bits of food. Cooking oils, fats, and grease may be liquid when heated or at room temperature but will solidify at colder temperatures in the drain. In addition, mixed with food debris in the kitchen or hair, soap, toothpaste, etc in the bathroom it becomes a congealed mess which will eventually block the drains.
Toilet drains are at risk from the accidental flushing of pets’ or children’s toys which will become stuck. It’s also a good idea to dispose of dental floss, tissues, wipes, napkins, diapers, cat litter, and hygiene products in the garbage, not the toilet.
Clearing a drain will likely require a plumber. Plumbtech Plumbing has a variety of plumbing ‘snakes’ and cameras to locate where the blockage is in the drain system. A plumbing snake is a long, flexible metal cable that can range in length from 10 to 100 feet or more. At the end of it, there is a coil, called an auger, that comes in different sizes and configurations to break up the blockage and push the debris through the pipe until it flows freely with the rest of the wastewater. Similar to the action of a corkscrew, it can also pull the blockage out.
A plumbing auger or snake can range in size to fit different drain pipes and sizes. They can be operated by hand or powered by electricity.
The process of snaking the drain pipe should clear the blockage but it won’t tell you where it was blocked, why it became blocked, or where it is located. Unless all these factors are known and the cause is corrected, the blockage will likely reoccur.
Plumbtech uses a camera that is attached to a long, flexible cable. The camera won’t be able to ‘see’ until the drain is cleared and there is no water in it. As a result, a plumbing ‘snake’ is put through the drain first, if needed. The drain camera is available in a range of sizes and cable lengths that plumbers can use. The camera is specially designed to fit in a three-inch (or greater) drain pipe, main wastewater drain, or sewer system and has a live video feed that can send pictures of its journey back to a monitor where it can be viewed by the plumber. It can also be recorded onto a USB stick for the homeowner at their request and Plumbtech Plumbing makes a copy in case of reoccurrence.
Plumbtech Plumbing provides services to condominiums and apartments across Simcoe County, Muskoka, and Parry Sound areas. Plumbtech also maintains a 24-7 emergency plumbing service.
Did you know that Plumbtech provides free written estimates for renovations, upgrading, and improving plumbing services and projects? We always recommend a written estimate that lists the work and materials as well as the cost before we proceed with your job. Call us today. 705 722-7209
We have been providing area customers with high-quality workmanship and peace of mind for over 30 years.
We offer service and pumpwork, certified backflow installation and testing, drain services and video drain inspection.
We can take care of your basic plumbing needs any time you need with our 24-hour emergency service available.
We have the best customer service with friendly and courteous plumbers who have impeccable product knowledge.
Burst pipes, flood, pump malfunction? – no problem. Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. offers a 24 hour emergency service. Call us at (877) 705-7209 and your call will promptly be returned by one of our skilled plumbers who will resolve your plumbing emergency.
Burst pipes, flood, pump malfunction? – no problem. Plumbtech Plumbing Inc. offers a 24 hour emergency service. Call us at (877) 705-7209 and your call will promptly be returned by one of our skilled plumbers who will resolve your plumbing emergency.
Office Hours
Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:00pm
Emergency Hours
24 Hours a Day
Call: 705-722-7209
Fax: 705-734-2965
Copyright© Plumbtech Plumbing Inc 2024
Website designed by NetGain SEO in collaboration with Zoup Creative Inc.
Please allow 2 to 3 business days for a response.
For 24 Hour Emergency Service, please call 705-722-7209.
