4 Common Apartment Plumbing Problems

Share:

4 Common Apartment Plumbing Problems

Daphne Mallory · Nov 17, 2010

It’s wishful thinking to expect zero plumbing problems in your apartment. No matter how new or updated the apartment, you may have to call the landlord and ask him to make plumbing repairs. There are few things you can learn to do on your own, and ask the landlords to deduct the parts you paid for from the rent. Knowing some of the problems can help you notice issues before it gets worse, and protect your belongings and the apartment from getting damaged.

Problem #1: Clogged Toilet

Most, if not all, renters have had the experience of a clogged toilet. It’s an all too common problem that can be easily fixed, and in most cases you don’t need to call your landlord about it. If you don’t already have one, buy a toilet plunger. Use it to unclog the toilet. If your apartment has a new or remodeled bathroom with new toilets, then it won’t take any time and little effort for it to work properly again. Older toilets require a little more patience.

Problem #2: Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes that burst is one of the most damaging plumbing problems that’s common in areas with colder climates. When freezing temperatures hit, the water in the pipes expand and the pipes burst open. Water spills all over the place, and it can lead to apartment flooding or water damage. You’ll need to call your landlord immediately when this occurs, and do what you can to get out the items that will be easily damaged by water. That’s why renters insurance is so important and necessary. If any of your items gets damaged due to frozen pipes, you can file an insurance claim and receive money to replace the items. Do your part to prevent frozen pipes in the first place, by opening kitchen and bathroom cabinets that enclose the pipes during colder temperatures. The heat will circulate to the pipes to prevent water from freezing. You can also allow kitchen and bathroom faucets to drip a little to encourage the flow of water, which will prevent freezing.

Problem #3: Clogged Drains

Food gets stuck down the kitchen sink, even if you do your best to use a kitchen sink strainer. When you wash your hair, some of it gets down the drain in the tub as well. At some point, you’ll get clogged drains. A liquid drain cleaner is adequate to unclog the drains. You can get some at any supermarket or hardware store. Follow the instructions, which consists of pouring a certain amount directly into the drain. You’ll have to wait for it to work, but liquid drain cleaners are very effective. Some people like to use a toilet plunger, but that’s not a good idea unless you use it exclusively for your kitchen or bathroom drains.

Problem #4: Dripping Faucet

Don’t ignore a dripping faucet. It’s one of those plumbing problems that goes under the radar, until someone gets sufficiently annoyed. By then, you will have wasted water and money, because of the associated electricity costs. You can fix a dripping faucet on your own if you’re the do-it-yourself type, or you can call your landlord. It requires taking apart the pipes, and possibly replacing a washer.

Don’t panic when apartment plumbing problems arise. Call your landlord for the ones you can’t handle on your own. 

You might also like:

Moving into a new apartment or rental property can be both exciting and stressful. From packing up your belongings to coordinating logistics, there’s a lot to manage. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is what to expect on move-in day regarding the condition of your new unit. Surprisingly, according to recent surveys, a significant […]

Jessica Lee

 · Mar 12, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and or living in the communities. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight apartment communities whose […]

Jessica Lee

 · Feb 28, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and/or living in them. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is truly like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight a major city across […]

Jessica Lee

 · Jan 31, 2024