Sunday, April 11, 2021

Apartment Life #247

 
This is a weekly blog post that I'm calling Apartment Hell  Life. I've mentioned a few times some of the crazy things that go on in and around my apartment complex in the past 23 years that we've lived here and people keep telling me I should write a book. But instead of a book, I've decided to share the crazy things that have happened in and around my apartment complex in the last 23 years here in a weekly blog post. 
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I wanted to show you guys a news article about my apartment complex from 2017. It's about raw sewage leaking out all over the common area and the alley where people parked their cars. I am showing this because it happened again. Just like the news story says, it happens over and over several times a year. I'll post a picture of what's happening now down below. But now there's no on site manager and maintenance hasn't plugged the problem. 


After this article appeared in the paper a few years ago, the guy that called them was evicted a short time later which is why I'm not calling the paper or health department. Plus the fact that it keeps happening and they refuse to fix the problem. I've lived here 23 years and this happens at least 3 times a year and the health department has been called several times already in that time and it hasn't fixed the problem so I'm just venting about it.

This is what was happening this week. At first it was just a little bit and all that white stuff you see is used toilet paper that's coming up out of that pipe. 

Then on Thursday, the water started pouring out and leaking down to the sidewalk that leads to the stairs and people are just walking through it. This pipe is at the end of my building and it's been like this for a couple of weeks. 

The funny thing is everyone in my building got a notice the other day that said they wanted everyone to stop flushing paper towels, baby wipes, flushable wipes, feminine care products and plastics down the toilet because they have to keep calling the plumber to clear the pipes. They said if it continues to happen that everyone in this building will be getting charged for the plumbing bills from now on. My husband used to work apartment maintenance for this apartment complex when we first moved in here and he used to tell me all the time that the pipes in this complex were all messed up. Tree roots have broken through the pipes underground and that's what anything that gets flushed down the toilet gets stuck on. That the plumber has to use a special cutting tool on the snakes to cut the tree roots so the toilet paper and whatever else will move smoothly through the pipes. But hey, what the hell do I know. I've only lived here for 23 years. 


I noticed when I took Falcor out that raw sewage was pouring out at the end of the building across from me too. There's supposed to be a cap on that hole. There are caps on the holes like this one on other buildings. 

Thankfully on Thursday evening the plumber did come out and fix the problem.  I was in the bathroom and the toilet started gurgling. So I put the toilet lid down cause I wasn't sure what the hell was happening. I wasn't sure if some snake or mouse was swimming up the drain in my toilet or what. I wasn't about to sit down though. Don't want to have to explain a snake bite on my rear to an ER doc. 

Right as I'm walking out of the bathroom, there's this really loud squealing noise coming from the walls in the bathroom or the pipes, not sure and all of the sudden water starts erupting from inside the toilet onto the floor. The noise disappears, the dog is barking his head off and so I look out front from my bedroom widow and see the plumbers truck is out there. So I went out there and told them what happened and he said the maintenance will be by with a wet/dry vac if I need it. I told him no, I put down paper towels and will mop it up when I go back in. He said the pipes are clear but then he said there was plastic bags, hair extensions, rags and a diaper that had all been flushed down the toilets which had clogged everything up. But at least the outside drains are no longer over flowing with raw sewage. I wonder if everyone is going to get charged for the plumbing bill like they said they would in the last notice they sent out. I spent 20 minutes cleaning up the water that got all over the bathroom floor. But at least the raw sewage has stopped overflowing from the pipes outside.

So that's it for this week's Apartment Hell  Life! Be sure to come back next week for more.

52 comments:

  1. Hope these pipes will work fine from now on! Have a lovely new week!

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  2. Eeeuw. I hope this fix lasts - and that you don't get charged.

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  3. Once again, this brings back some disgusting memories from my time in the maintenance department at an aging property where events like this were more commonplace than I'd care to say. We relied heavily on plumbers, too, but I was expected to manage the situations more than I cared to. I kept a large self-feeding snake on hand with all the attachments, and more times than I'll ever care to remember had to remove all sorts of "goodies" from the hooks and cutters. Ahh, fond memories...

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    1. Yeah, sounds like some great memories. lol

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  4. this makes me wonder if there's people stealing pipes in your neighborhood.they were a huge commodity in mpls at one point. very disgusting.

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    1. If they had been copper or brass maybe. But the ones under my place are all plastic. The big ones in the street are concrete.

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  5. That is just awful. You really shouldn't have to live with that. Next time, call anyway and tell them you need to remain anonymous.

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  6. What a nightmare! I’ve heard that with so many people at home, plus the increased use of antibacterial wipes, that many apartment complexes are having plumbing issues. But if it’s been happening for years, that’s not the problem!

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    1. I'm sure with everyone being home using wipes that it isn't helping.

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  7. That's horrible Mary. Nobody should have to live with that and be afraid to report it. If it happens again call and refuse to give your name!

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    1. I would if it would help but it really doesn't. I'm just glad they fixed the problem this time.

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  8. There's self-destructing toilet paper on the market, but people buy the cheap and standard that blocks the pipes.

    I'm very particular about what goes down the sink or toilet as I know plumbing issues could be very costly.

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    1. I know that's true. I don't flush anything weird down the toilet but I can't say the same for my neighbors.

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  9. That's awful! I can't believe the guy who talked to the paper got evicted. And that this same problem keeps happening over and over. What a mess! At least it's fixed again for awhile. (Fingers crossed.)

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    1. Yes, hopefully this fix will stay for a while.

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  10. "But hey, what the hell do I know. I've only lived here for 23 years."
    😂

    OK, the pipes are messed up, but what's with these people? "there was plastic bags, hair extensions, rags and a diaper that had all been flushed down the toilets"? Regardless, SOMEONE IN CHARGE SHOULD DO SOMETHING, for goodness' sake.

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    1. The people are around here are idiots.

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  11. That is a terrible situation for any tenant to live under. I can't understand why someone would flush a diaper down the toilet. I guess they don't care. Hopefully things will be better and you get to enjoy your week.

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  12. We hope all stays unplugged and that's really a load of crap, awful.

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  13. "Don't want to have to explain a snake bite on my rear to an ER doc"

    Right?

    Wow. that's just crazy. They clearly have no idea what's going on with the pipes. but they should if you've known for years! Although maybe they just don't want to pay whatever it would cost to fix it... that's my guess lol. Although people flushing diapers????? WTF lol

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    1. I doubt they want to pay the plumber as much as they come out here. A diaper...I know.

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  14. Oh, ugh! So gross! Sorry this keeps happening to you guys.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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  15. That is absolutely horrifying and I'm so glad they got it fixed. It honestly sounds like people need a refresher course of what can and can't be flushed, I mean seriously? They are only doing it to themselves. All the crap (literally!) has to go somewhere!! I am so sorry people are so inconsiderate Mary, that is an awful situation to be in.

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    1. It makes no sense for some of these people to be flushing things that should be going in the trash.

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  16. Thank cannot be healthy! Disease breeds from that kind of stuff! A diaper and hair extensions?! What are people thinking?! Sounds like they need to do some extensive refurbishing, though.

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    1. Yeah they really should do something about the pipes.

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  17. It must be quite complicated... It's too bad people don't understand

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    1. They should understand what can and cannot be flushes.

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  18. Sounds like it is a combination of the bad pipes with roots entangled etc. - and people flushing ridiculous things down their toilets. So sorry you have to deal with this type of problem three times a year. That is crazy! You have a lot of patience. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. It's crazy. How do they not know they can't flush rags and stuff.

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  19. Gasp! or Gag! What a mess. I'm glad it got fixed. You'd think people might stop flushing non-flushables after the 1st time... or 2nd time...

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  20. What a nightmare. I am glad the problem seems to be fixed for now. The things people flush down toilets . . .

    In the last house I lived we had issues with tree roots and pipes and ended up cutting a couple of trees down to prevent the problem from happening again. I hated seeing those trees go, but it was either that or have the problem happen again and again.

    I hope you have a good week, Mary. Take care.

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  21. No wonder the pipes were clogged if people were flushing those things down the drain! I am so sorry you have had to deal with this.

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  22. Ugh. Plumbing problems are the worst! That's too bad that people are inconsiderate and keep flushing bad things down the pipes.

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  23. The main problem seems to be people flushing completely unflushable items down their toilets. Hard to see how you can get everyone to be more responsible. People don't like to be told what to do, even if it's just common sense.

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    1. Hopefully they grow a brain cell and stop flushing bad things.

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  24. What a dang nightmare! No one should have to go through this at a place they call home. I'm glad you're okay. Yes, people should be responsible, but an apartment complex should also take the time to ensure they have modern, safe and working equipment. Crazy! Hugs, RO

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    1. I know. Such a crazy thing to have to deal with.

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  25. Ugh. 😩😩😩

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