How to clean sewer pipes in an apartment

Sewage repair in an apartment building

Many residents of our country live in apartment buildings, inside of which there is an integrated sewer system that collects wastewater in each apartment and discharges it into the main sewer collectors. This is a rather complex engineering construction structure consisting of several parts. And like any complex device, sewerage in apartment buildings tends to wear out and therefore a smell appears from the pipes in the bathroom. What to do? This question arises when there is a need to repair the sewer system in an apartment building.

Schematic diagram of the sewer system

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The legislative framework

Most residents of apartment complexes ask questions about who is responsible for the water supply, who to contact if breakdowns occur in the system, and who is obliged to compensate for the damage. In addition, in force majeure situations, partial or major repairs of the pipeline are required. The law helps you figure out who to contact in each of these cases.

As follows from Art. 36-37 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the management company (MC) or housing and communal services are responsible for maintenance and repairs. Current expenses are covered by the monthly utility bills of the building's residents. However, if the user himself is to blame for the breakdown, he will compensate for the damage caused.

The fact that housing and communal services are obliged to restore the operation of water supply systems in apartment buildings is also indicated by the Federal Law of July 21, 2007 No. 185-FZ “On the Fund for Assistance to the Reform of Housing and Communal Services.”

Who is responsible for the condition of the sewage system in the apartment building?

The sewerage system in the apartment building can be divided into three sections:

outside the house,
in the house,
in every apartment.

The public sewerage system is monitored by a company responsible for managing housing and communal services, or a residents' association (HOA). These organizations are responsible for troubleshooting problems that arise. Moreover, the repair team workers must not only weld the crack or replace the pipe, but also make sure that there is no moisture in the basement, which can cause the appearance of fungus and mold.

We propose to understand in more detail what the rights and responsibilities of the management company of apartment buildings are.

The owner is responsible for the condition of the pipes in the apartment. Responsibility for the system located outside the home lies with the city authorities.

Preventative work

Preventive measures can prevent blockages from occurring. These events include:

flushing drains with boiling water;
a ban on throwing household, food waste and chemical components into the toilet;
using a fat separator.

In everyday life, cleaning drains in an apartment is often done with vinegar and soda. There are many cleaning products available at your local hardware store that can help keep your pipes in optimal condition.

Preventive actions are aimed at extending the life of the pipeline and minimizing the likelihood of blockage.

In some cases, you can clear communications yourself, but in more serious situations you should contact specialists.

Why is the sewage system clogged in an apartment building?

Clogs are a common plumbing problem. The methods for independently removing blockages in a private and apartment building are not particularly different.

The main reason why water does not flow well in the toilet is the accumulation of fatty deposits on the inner wall of the pipes. Blockage also occurs in the following cases:

Deterioration of communications.
Using pipes that are too small in diameter. Such a pipeline will be constantly clogged until the system is brought into optimal condition.
Incorrect laying technology, as a rule, violates the requirements for pipe slope. Experts recommend maintaining a suitable degree of slope, raising each subsequent meter of pipe by 2 cm.
Incorrectly installed toilet. The use of cement when installing the product reduces the diameter of the pipe, which increases the risk of blockage.
Sewer leakage. The system must cope with self-cleaning. Let's say an item of clothing got into it. If the system is tight enough, the item will quickly fly out of the pipe, otherwise it will get stuck for a long time.

Sewage cleaning is more often required when cast iron pipes are installed in the apartment building, which are highly resistant to wastewater. With the appearance of corrosion, roughness and irregularities form on the walls, blocking the flow of water.

Also, water may drain slowly due to a clogged siphon. Before cleaning the pipes, disassemble it and check it.

Cleaning pipes with a plunger

A plunger is a plumbing device that is a specially shaped rubber cuff attached to a plastic or wooden handle. Using a plunger, you can create a pressure difference that can remove the blockage.

When using this method, you need to fill the bathtub or sink with water 10 centimeters, close the overflow hole with a stopper, immerse the plunger in the water and press the plunger handle several times to create a pressure difference. The plunger will resist, at the same time draining wastewater. Finally, the plunger is pulled out of the water, which can cause debris to come out of the drain hole. If necessary, the procedure is repeated. When using this device, you can remove quite complex blockages without disassembling the system, but it will not be able to remove old dense sludge plugs.

Removing the blockage

At first glance, it is difficult to determine whether it will be possible to clean the pipes on your own, or whether you can do without the help of specialists.

If you cannot clear the blockage in the sewer in an apartment building using steel wire, a plunger, or chemicals, contact the utility service.

We deal with the problem ourselves

In a situation where the pipeline capacity leaves much to be desired, you can try to solve the problem on your own. There are many ways to clean sewer pipes:

chemical;
mechanical;
hydrodynamic;
traditional methods: soda, salt and boiling water, soda and vinegar.

It is very effective to remove blockages in the sewer system in an apartment using chemicals. It is important to remember safety precautions and use gloves, a mask, and goggles.

User action algorithm:

Pour or pour the required amount of product into the drain hole.
Add 300-500 ml of water.
Wait 10-15 minutes.
Flush the drain well with water. 2-4 buckets will be enough.

The chemical “Mole” is especially popular; you can also find drugs from Domestos, Mr.Muscle and others in stores. Chemicals should be used only as a last resort, since the composition contains acid or alkali. You cannot use different means at the same time so as not to cause a reaction.

Another answer to the question of what to do if the sewage system in an apartment building is clogged is to clean the pipes mechanically. You will need a wire, brush, cable or plunger. The choice of tool depends on the complexity of the situation. If the blockage is not serious, it is enough to use a brush.

Communications are often cleaned using a plunger:

The drain hole is covered with a device.
Let the water run so that the bowl of the plunger is covered.
Check that there is no water underneath.
Without lifting the plunger from the sink, make 15-20 vertical movements.

The cable has a rigid structure, so it must be used carefully. After completing the steps listed above, you need to open the water. If the liquid leaves quickly, there is no blockage, otherwise the procedure should be repeated. Experts recommend this method to those who do not know what to do if the water in the toilet does not drain.

A more complex method is hydrodynamic cleaning. To do this, it is necessary to use equipment that creates a powerful jet of liquid. Hydrodynamic cleaning is performed using devices with spiral nozzles of various diameters. They are placed near sinks or toilets, a spiral is inserted into the drain hole, which then begins to rotate and breaks through a blockage of any density. Only professionals can perform such cleaning.

Who to contact if your drain is clogged

Almost every resident at least once in his life has had the question of who to call if the sewer in his apartment is clogged. The choice of specialist depends on the situation:

There is a clog in the toilet or a pipe has burst in the bathroom - you should call the plumbing installers of the housing department or another management organization.
Sewage wells are serviced by the city water utility.
The tenant clogged the pipe, causing several apartments to flood at once. In this case, the emergency service must respond to an emergency call.
Dispatch services are responsible for repairing and cleaning pipes. Their numbers are indicated on utility bills.

If for some reason you cannot find the dispatcher’s phone number, you should contact the city administration or emergency service hotline. Operators will tell you who to call when the sewer is clogged.

We recommend that you learn more about what functions the emergency housing and communal services service performs.

Common problems

One of the problems that may arise with the pipeline is a violation of the technology for installing the sewer system during construction, associated with inattention and oversight. Failure to comply with all parameters when installing the system leads to stagnant zones, freezing of the outer part of the system, resulting in flooding of the home with wastewater. Repair in such cases takes a lot of time, becomes labor-intensive, and costly.

Most often, the cause of a sewer malfunction is its improper maintenance and operation, causing clogging. The passage of sewage decreases, and channel blockage occurs. The wastewater rises and finds its way out through the toilet. This phenomenon is especially often observed in multi-storey buildings. There are three types of blockages:

domestic;
intra-house;
yard

In the first case, cleaning of pipes inside the apartment is required, in the second - sewer risers, in the third - street wells. A large blockage causes an emergency situation for the entire system, from which, as always, the first floor of the house and the basement suffer. This problem can only be resolved with the help of a repair and maintenance service for water supply and sewerage networks. Failure to carry out preventive cleaning of pipes in a timely manner worsens their condition and leads to an emergency.

Sewer pipes

Deadlines for emergency response

According to clause 5.2.2 of the TEZhF PiN (Rules and Standards for the Technical Operation of the Housing Stock, approved by Resolution of the State Construction Committee of the Russian Federation No. 170 dated September 27, 2003), applications for damage to utilities and structural components of the house are considered within a few hours after their submission, and carried out no later than the next day.

Sometimes it takes a longer time to fix an emergency in the sewer and water supply, or the technicians do not have the necessary spare parts. Taking into account the circumstances, a decision is made, of which the applicant is informed.

The deadlines for eliminating accidents in the housing and communal services sector are set out in Appendix 2 of the Rules and Regulations of the TEZhF.

If a breakdown poses a threat to the safety of residents, it is repaired as quickly as possible. Emergency faults of pipes and their connections with fittings, fittings and various devices should be dealt with immediately.

Guarantees provided by timely maintenance

Owners of private houses and apartments who practice regular maintenance of sewerage networks receive the following guarantees:

Uninterrupted operation of the system, ensured by the technical features of the pipeline, its throughput and the expected technical indicators of the equipment being operated;
Minimizing the likelihood of emergency situations;
Due to the fact that eliminating accidents with the subsequent restoration of sewer networks is much more expensive than timely preventive maintenance, prudent owners have the opportunity to save a significant amount of money;
Timely information about the current state of sewer networks, as well as the need to carry out planned activities and reconstructive measures.

Who is to blame and how to compensate for losses

To determine who is to blame for a clogged sewer in an apartment building, you should analyze the situation. In most cases, breakdowns in sewer pipes are not the fault of residents. If there is no reason to believe that the blockage between floors was caused by the tenant, there is no need to pay to eliminate the damage.

If suspicions arise that a specific person has violated the terms of operation of communications, it is necessary to organize an examination. An important role in this situation is played by a commission from the housing department, which will determine how and who neglected the requirements for the operation of sewer pipes.

Utility accidents can also occur due to the fault of the management organization.

If representatives of the management company have not proven that they properly maintained the common property, they are to blame. The fact of the accident confirms the improper maintenance of the building's common property. However, if the plaintiff has not proven that the management company improperly maintained the common property, the management organization is considered innocent.

Find out in more detail in what cases the management company is liable.

If maintenance is carried out by an outsourced contractor

It is a common practice when the maintenance of a house is carried out by a management organization (MA) through an external contractor. The agreement for the maintenance and repair of common property in an apartment building between the management company and the contractor is considered bilateral - it does not regulate the relationship between the management company and the apartment owners.

In such cases, damage from flooding of premises is recovered from the management company if its guilt is proven.

Example of writing an application

An application for replacement of the riser must be submitted in free form. It must describe in detail the situation that has developed and requires urgent outside intervention. The application is submitted to the head of the management company or housing office.

As an example of a statement, you can take the following sample:

the header indicates the details of the recipient, the full name of the head of the organization;
in the middle of the sheet the word “statement” is written;
the content includes the sender's data (full name, residential address). Also, when submitting an application for replacement of risers, it would be useful to clarify that the owner of the property pays for utilities on time and in full and that the housing office, in turn, is obliged to immediately provide high-quality service;
give examples of violations of the provision of services, the quality of which contradicts the norms of current legislation;
at the end of the application you should write a specific request that the apartment owner wants to receive;
also in the final part you should write a request to inform the applicant about the measures taken;
The application is signed and the date of application is set.

If you have problems writing an application, you can use the sample that is available in every management company and housing office.