Top Five Plumbing Problems In High-Rise Apartments

As much as landed properties are coveted amongst homebuyers, the reality is that with land scarcity, such developments are becoming more scarce. Hence, with more people living in high-rises, it is crucial for homebuyers to be aware of potential plumbing problems because if they are not addressed quickly and efficiently, will lead to many other issues such as molding and cracking of walls.

Most high-rise buildings have either multi-storey or multiple dwelling plumbing systems. Buildings that are too tall to use pressure from the municipal water supply to reach the entire building will mostly utilise the multi-storey plumbing system as these taller, vertical buildings need systems that can reach each unit. Multiple dwellings also have separate units but don’t have the same water pressure issues and can use plumbing systems like those in a house.

In Malaysia, the most common plumbing pipes include the ABS pipe, PEX pipe, copper pipe, PVC pipe and galvanized steel pipes. If you remember back in the old days, homes usually use the copper piping system due to its easy maintenance and corrosion resistance characteristics. Here are some of the most common plumbing problems in high-rise buildings and how you can overcome them.

1. Clogged toilets and drains

Hair, food waste and dusts cause clogged drains and this is the most common problem in high-rise buildings. You will notice that water is unable to flow down the drain and chugging sounds surfaces whenever water is trying to flow. What you can do is to get a toilet plunger to remove the clog or a hydro jet to dismiss the waste materials. If it doesn’t work, get an expert to come and have a look at it.

2. Leaking pipes and faucets

Leaky faucets are usually due to a worn rubber washer that simply needs to be replaced while a leaking pipe also may burst in your home at any time. Turn off the water supply so that you don’t end up with a massive water bill later on.

3. Unmaintained safety/control valves

Each apartment unit comes with a control valve to reduce the risk of cross-contamination between units. When these valves aren’t maintained, it can lead to low water pressure and slow drainage, hence they need to be properly inspected, maintained, and tested by building management to ensure they function as intended.

4. Bathroom flooding and ceiling damage

Recall watching horror movies where the ceilings form water marks and moulding? A real-life horror story would be water leaking through your ceiling from the flooding caused from the unit upstairs which is also known as inter-floor leakage. Usually caused by corroded hose in a washing machine, always inspect the connection between your washing machine and the building’s plumbing system from time to time.

5. Rusty water

If you open your tap and you see yellowish water coming out, check if the rusty water is coming out of one faucet. If it is, then replace or clean the pipe. The problem escalates when the water comes out from multiple sources. If your neighbours are facing the same issue, contact your building manager to get this sorted out.