In an apartment building the drainage is a shared network: the pipes of each flat end in vertical stacks and from there in one horizontal main pipe that leaves towards the yard or street manhole. When it blocks there, the problem does not stay on one floor, which is why a correct diagnosis matters more than speed. Apartment buildings are common in Kozani, and this article explains how to tell a problem in the shared network from a problem in one flat.
Signs that the shared drain is the problem
- The ground floor or basement drains slowly or overflows first, because water that cannot leave rises from the lowest points of the network.
- Fixtures in different flats on the same stack block at the same time.
- There is gurgling or a smell from floor drains in shared areas.
- The manhole in the pilotis or yard is full or overflows after water is used in the building.
If only one flat blocks, the cause is usually in its own pipes and not in the shared network.
Stack or horizontal pipe: why it matters
A blockage in a stack affects the flats above the point where the obstruction is stuck, while a blockage in the horizontal pipe at ground or basement level can affect the whole building. The difference decides where the work has to be done and which residents need to be told, so it is worth finding the exact position of the obstruction first.
How the cause is found
A colour camera inspection with a length counter shows what is inside the pipe: built-up grease, wet wipes, roots that entered through the joints or a sagging section of pipe. It also shows how many metres from the manhole the obstruction is, so the work is limited to the point that needs it. The pipe is then cleaned with high-pressure water across its full bore.
If the camera finds damage to the pipe itself, the repair is usually done without excavation, from the existing manhole, so the shared yard or pavement does not have to be opened.
What to prepare before we arrive
- Tell the building manager and the floors to limit water use while the work is under way.
- Make sure the manhole and the shared areas (pilotis, yard, basement) are accessible. If they are locked, find out who has the key.
- Move cars or objects that cover the manhole lid.
- Note which flats and floors are affected and since when: it helps to find which stack holds the obstruction.
How to stop it coming back
In a shared network, the habits of a single flat affect the whole building. Wet wipes, cooking grease and food scraps are the most common causes and should not end up in the drain. A notice at the entrance and a camera inspection when the problem repeats cost less than repeated unblocking.
Ma.Ster OE serves Kozani and the whole of Western Macedonia from its base in Ptolemaida. If the same problem keeps coming back in your building, a camera inspection of the main pipe shows the cause before any work is decided.