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toilet backupJan 25, 2022

Hi There,
If anyone could give some advise..please? Live in a co-op and having an issue with our toilet backing up. It starts off making gurgling sounds when neighbor upstairs flushes his toilet then all this water comes spewing up..just great..we call to tell management. They send the plumber...Plumber snakes the pipe...2 weeks not even ...later gurgling noises again and water spewing ...tell the plumber..comes back snakes it again...not quite 2 weeks and its making same noises etc..I contacted management...their girl in the office starts yelling at me (shareholder) that i the plumber was here twice already and I can't keep calling them to have plumber here to unclog my toilet! What??? Excuse me but first we can't just call the plumber unless it goes through management and the toilet getting clogged is not of my doing?? There is a problem clearly in the sewer pipes is my understanding if when the neighbor flushes my toilet gets backed up.
Management is trying to put the responsibility on me to pay to have this done?? I need to "maintain" my toilet. What?? If the toilet is 7 years old and the toilet isn't the problem its the plumbing.
How do go about getting them to get this resolved? The plumber has been working this property for 30 years and I honestly think he's been just milking this place. He never went upstairs to check neighbors toilet, never went under building to check pipes. My memory plumbers are all over the place checking to see whats going on..

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Toilet - Pooh Jan 25, 2022


Hello:

Where is your Super? He should be involved and speaking with the plumber and the management company. You’re right it’s more then snaking. It’s not your responsibility. What happened with your neighbor? Also where is your managing agent. I’m assuming it’s not just whoever answers the phone at the management company. Speak or email the President of the management company and/or Board about the girl being disrespectful to you - the client.

Have you contacted the Board?

Anyone else on the line that has this issue besides two units?

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pooh - dee Jan 26, 2022

They let go of the super 2 years ago. We now have no on site maintenance person. They hired someone who quit. Probably due to the board. Someone on the board asked him to stay and he said; "Its not worth it"
The office keeps saying "its only my unit" funny i've seen the plumbers truck here all year in various units in this building and the Duplex behind.
Think they are trying to push the problem ($$$) on me. Yet you can't just call anyone if you wanted too without asking the office first. (which i"m sure you know how that works) I had cleaned out the toilet last night just to make sure no overflow and woke up this am to what must have been the neighbor flushing and now his stuff is filled my toilet this am!
I dont know if I should call the board of health, my neighbor upstairs suggested to call the state..Im trying today to get the management by phone. I emailed them twice yesterday with photos of whats going on and heard nothing back I even took a Video of the toilet backing up after asking the neighbor to flush for me...
Due I threaten to stop making any payments to them and use the $$$ to pay a plumber?? A police report? I dont know but this am I am so upset..this is disgusting..

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Neighbors - Christian Jan 28, 2022

Are you friendly with other shareholders who might support your request to the Board? We have an issue in our co-op and I'm basically organizing my neighbors (even though I'm on the Board) to get the old timers to do something about it.

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pooh - dee Jan 29, 2022

yes I am...and did get some help..they thought it was terrible no response from management. As you can imagine board members try not to be seen to often unless of course they are looking for a vote..then their knocking at your door..right now they remedied the problem but its going to happen again unless they fix the cause. Maybe if i put an out house on the front lawn they'll wake up..lol

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call 311 - DM Jan 27, 2022

Nothing worse than a lazy managing agent. Email them saying you give them 24 hours until you call 311.

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pooh - dee Jan 28, 2022

i had my finger on the towns board of health..when the plumber called in...of course snaked the toilet again..now they have to get back with a camera and look down there...my guess ...pipe needs replacing..over 60 years old ..Its TIME...then they want to put an access pipe IN MY BATHROOM?? uh ..no that goes on pipe under buidling..talking about cutting through pipe in wall and perhaps making a door to access...crazy..they won't go under building ..why is that?? all that pipe will do is make it so they don't have to lift toilet off...so make my bathroom a mess ...try again..or try fixing the problem with the clogged pipe..

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Toilet Back-up - Mike MacGowan Jan 31, 2022

You should try snaking the vent pipe, sounds like the vent is starving for air with the gurgling sound? I had a problem like this and we found the vent pipe was partially clogged with scale and other items that people throw down the pipe.

Good luck!

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pooh - dee Feb 01, 2022

Yes! I have suggested this and it seems the plumber that comes here doesn't even want to go under building to check pipes, upstairs to neighbor whenever it is suggested. I get a "no" when i suggest that the stack pipe may be the problem. I dont understand why?? Any plumber I've ever seen work is checking the whole house when they arrive?? Either this guy is milking the co op by visiting and then "we' the shareholders are getting remarks from management like "you can't keep calling the plumber every time your toilet gets clogged! Later for them...happens again im calling department of health, or the state..

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