Hi - I had a blockage on the Easter holiday and the problem resurfaced a month later. I reached out to the group here on how to patch the hole in the communal pipe, and many are very helpful, so I hope the experts and experienced ones can help me again.
My plumber suggested installing a non-reverse valve but the builder, who I trust less** said it would result in pipe bursting if blockage happens. The pipe runs from my kitchen through my wardrobe, then under my bedroom carpeted floor (please see the diagram attached), so I sincerely do not wish such a scenario to occur. Is the bursting possible? I'd like to hear your thoughts about where to install the NRV to minimise such a scenario, and make it easy to maintain. I read in Google that a NRV needs constant maintenance.
After spending hours with the builder observing water tests, we concluded that when any of the washing machines from upstairs is running, a heavy influx of water would come into my floor (first floor), and travel all the way into my kitchen. When they use h their bathroom sink, it’s fine.
The water also carries debris into my pipe (ref. the star at the bottom of the diagram) as we found a small amount (half a pinky toe amount) of hair there. My pipe is connected to my kitchen sink, washing machine and dishwasher, builder said all of them have filters to prevent hair from entering the pipe. In this instance, with a slight blockage (the said hair) and backed-up water, it resulted in an overflow in my kitchen and damaged the ground floor's ceiling during a week that I was abroad.
My upstairs neighbours are seldom at their flat as this is their second home. But they are selling the flat so I think the overflow will continue more frequently when the new owners move in.
** I had to use the builder who charged more than 3x more than what the plumber quoted because my 2 neighbours insisted that they trusted him because he did the work for the building for the past 6 years before I moved in last year. When I saw the amount of work conducted and the charges imposed, I had reservation about the builder's opinion.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you
Best,
Patty
View attachment 343684
My plumber suggested installing a non-reverse valve but the builder, who I trust less** said it would result in pipe bursting if blockage happens. The pipe runs from my kitchen through my wardrobe, then under my bedroom carpeted floor (please see the diagram attached), so I sincerely do not wish such a scenario to occur. Is the bursting possible? I'd like to hear your thoughts about where to install the NRV to minimise such a scenario, and make it easy to maintain. I read in Google that a NRV needs constant maintenance.
After spending hours with the builder observing water tests, we concluded that when any of the washing machines from upstairs is running, a heavy influx of water would come into my floor (first floor), and travel all the way into my kitchen. When they use h their bathroom sink, it’s fine.
The water also carries debris into my pipe (ref. the star at the bottom of the diagram) as we found a small amount (half a pinky toe amount) of hair there. My pipe is connected to my kitchen sink, washing machine and dishwasher, builder said all of them have filters to prevent hair from entering the pipe. In this instance, with a slight blockage (the said hair) and backed-up water, it resulted in an overflow in my kitchen and damaged the ground floor's ceiling during a week that I was abroad.
My upstairs neighbours are seldom at their flat as this is their second home. But they are selling the flat so I think the overflow will continue more frequently when the new owners move in.
** I had to use the builder who charged more than 3x more than what the plumber quoted because my 2 neighbours insisted that they trusted him because he did the work for the building for the past 6 years before I moved in last year. When I saw the amount of work conducted and the charges imposed, I had reservation about the builder's opinion.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you
Best,
Patty
View attachment 343684
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