Crappy Toilets

[cstrunk]

I've got two toilets in the house that I rent. Both are prone to clogging/backing up. At first I chalked it up to using too much toilet paper at once, but now that we've known it's an issue we have tried being more careful and it's happening more frequently now. I can call the landlord and they will send the maintenance man with a snake to clear it up. I have a plunger but I'm out of town a lot and only have limited success using it when I'm around.

Should I just put keep putting up with it and calling the landlord to send someone when it clogs up? Or is there a better way to clear this up besides running new larger plumbing lines?

Thanks in advance.

 

[cmjh10]

Are there tress in your yard? If there is, they might be clogging up the sewer line. We had this problem back home a couple years ago, and we had to replace everything.

 

[Acylum]

Gross.

 

[cstrunk]

Are there tress in your yard? If there is, they might be clogging up the sewer line. We had this problem back home a couple years ago, and we had to replace everything.

Yes there are. Interesting. I hope that's not the case because then I'll have to convince the landlord. Or I guess just keep calling them until they get the picture.

 

[Die4Cy]

Maybe it was something you ate?

 

[cstrunk]

Also, the lot the house sits on slopes downhill to a small creek in the backyard. The backyard stays wet most of the time even when it hasn't rained in a while. I guess I should let them know about that too since it could be related.

 

[keepngoal]

write a letter to your landlord explaining (POLITELY) what is happening and how you are being careful, yet this problem continues. Then ask him to fix it so normal use isn't an issue.

 

[jbhtexas]

Ask the landlord if he would be willing to call a plumber with a boroscope to check the sewer lines for tree incursion, breaks, etc. If the problem is nagging enough, you might even consider paying for this on your own.

 

[keepngoal]

Ask the landlord if he would be willing to call a plumber with a boroscope to check the sewer lines for tree incursion, breaks, etc. If the problem is nagging enough, you might even consider paying for this on your own.

IMO, never. zero return for the renter. If he follows a few steps and believes this is a problem for living there, it allows him to break the lease (after following certain steps) or be reimbursed for the cost of repair.

OP: What city/state are you in?sd

 

[SoapyCy]

our house was built in the 1970s and two of the toilets would clog with even the slightest amount of TP. we bought new toilets and the problem was solved.

 

[cstrunk]

I live in Texas. Is writing a letter better than calling as far as putting a record together for evidence I may need in the future?

 

[cy4prez7]

I also have a crappy toilet.

 

[keepngoal]

I live in Texas. Is writing a letter better than calling as far as putting a record together for evidence I may need in the future?

ABSOLUTELY. Send it certified. And call within a week of sending it to follow up. It isn't rude, it shows you are serious. Leave emotion out of if... the fewer the words used the better. Just the facts ma'am.

In iowa there is Iowa Legal Aid. I'm sure there is something similar to that in TX. Find some FAQs / Tips on filling a complaint/asking for repairs then send the letter.

 

[kilroy]

Sorry for the seriousness of this situation butt,

really doesn't anyone else see the irony in the title?

 

[theantiAIRBHG]

Ask the landlord if he would be willing to call a plumber with a boroscope to check the sewer lines for tree incursion, breaks, etc. If the problem is nagging enough, you might even consider paying for this on your own.

What?

 

[theantiAIRBHG]

The place we rented in Waterloo had terrible plumbing. The toilet would back up so bad that the tub would have water standing in it. Also, a few times over the two years our carpet in the hallway and into the bedroom would be damp and would make footprints every time we took a step. Our landlord constantly blew us off. We took pictures if everything! Come to find out they had laid the carpet over the sewer clean out which is against code, so they knew they were in for a fine. They tried to pin everything (carpet replacement, cleaning etc) on us saying it was our fault we kept clogging the toilet. Once I told him we had pictures his tune changed pretty significantly.

 

[Acylum]

Sorry for the seriousness of this situation butt,

really doesn't anyone else see the irony in the title?

Not to mention the irony in your post.

 

[cowgirl836]

I live in Texas. Is writing a letter better than calling as far as putting a record together for evidence I may need in the future?

absolutely agree with Keep. Unless you get the NSA involved, no one will know what was actually said in a phone call. Keep it to letters and he can't claim to have misunderstood/not talked about it/twist your words. Well, not as easily, anyhow.

 

[jbhtexas]

What?

Don't mess around with sewer problems, especially if you are living on a slab foundation (which there is a good chance since he lives in TX).

For me personally, I'd want to know what the problem is. And if it's a cracked pipe or tree incursion into the pipe, and if the landlord isn't going to fix it, I'm looking for a different place to live ASAP. The problem is only going to get escalate.

 

[Bret44]

absolutely agree with Keep. Unless you get the NSA involved, no one will know what was actually said in a phone call. Keep it to letters and he can't claim to have misunderstood/not talked about it/twist your words. Well, not as easily, anyhow.

Snapchat + screen shot.

"Look at this toilet YO!"