Next Question
RSS
Short answers: Number 1 is the emergency situation. If your landlord doesn't have it worked on within the day, I would get out. Number 2 sounds like simple static from the humidity dropping, common for apartments. Number 3 sounds like something to investigate, but not something that will cause you immediate harm.
1) If you have not already done so, determine which circuit breaker in your box controls the bathroom and shut it off. If the water causes a short across the lines (and this can theoretically happen even when the switch is off), then it can result in damage to your apartment.
As far as repairs go, a good repairman can begin by reaching through existing holes (bathroom vents or false bottoms/backs in under sink cabinets) to access the piping. If he cannot make the repair that way, he should cut the smallest required hole to reach the damaged pipes as he should be able to see where the damage has occurred.
Assuming that the water worked in the upstairs apartment previously, you need to make sure that you do not get accused or blamed for doing anything that could have resulted in the damage (such as hanging heavy objects from your shower head).
2) I am going out on a limb and guessing you live in a temperate climate. It is getting cold, to the ambient humidity is dropping. As the air dries out, you will experience more static electricity. If you want to try an experiment, go get yourself a cool mist humidifier (~$30 @ walmart) and run it on low settings for a full night. The next day, I expect you will notice much less static.
The reason I am dismissing this as static is because if it were a strong enough charge to go from an electrical line through wood/plastic/plaster and reach your door knob, it would have killed you already. There is not a direct connection between door knobs and electrical wires, so for electricity to travel between them, it would need to be on caliber with lightening.
3) Possibly a loose wire in the wall or something. It doesn't sound serious to me, but then I am not living with it. I agree with @windowshopping, try shutting off your main breaker and see if it goes away. If it stays, it is someone else's line, if it stays, it is yours. You can go a step further if it is yours and turn your main breaker on, but turn each individual breaker off to see what circuit contains it. Finally, if it is yours, is it associated with any of your major appliances: TV, computer, refrigerator, stove, etc.
I would mention it to the landlord as a concern and please to address it in the next week or two.
Source(s):
I have personally had the exact same bathroom from above leaking problem in my old apartment; I am painfully familiar with static; http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=464; and Personal Speculation
Tags: water, apartment, static, maintenance, hazard
Helpful Answer?
(0)
(0)
Tip ferg2kk for this answer
Permalink |
Report
If they drag their feet as far as making the necessary repairs, make sure your request is in writing the next time you ask. As far as the flooding goes, flooding can soak insulation and electrical wires -- AND can cause fires & mold growth.
Seeking some legal advice and looking into some legal action wouldn't be out of the question as far as a course of action, either.
The following link should be of interest:
http://www.samlaw.net/LandlordTenantLaw.shtml
Source(s):
http://www.samlaw.net/LandlordTenantLaw.shtml
Permalink | Report
As for your safety... consider going to a friend's house/apartment/place for tonight. If you stay, just for tonight, until you can address this with your apartment manager or owner, try not to walk around barefoot - put on some shoes, even if it is just rubber-soled flip-flops. Make sure you have a functional smoke alarm. Make sure the "leak" has stopped (could be a leak from a drain rather than from a live water line - but that makes no difference if it has affected structural integrity in the one wall you are talking about).
If major re-work will be required (plumbing, drywall tear-down and then repair, electrical wiring), see if your apartment management can move you to a currently vacant apartment in the building/complex or in another complex they might own and ask for a break on next months rent fort he inconvenience of having to move. If they can do that, then you can continue without breaking your lease and they can make the required repairs without totally disrupting your life on a long-term basis.
Bottom line: If you are not comfortable staying there tonight, don't stay. It might be perfectly safe, but you'll be awake all night wondering and every sound will make you jump. Go to a friend's place, crash for the night, do what needs doing tomorrow, then work this out with the apartment manager/owner.
Permalink | Report
I hope this will be solved soon. :( I'm a bit worried with your situation. Take care of yourself, okay? If you could stay somewhere at least before things are fixed, please do so.
Permalink | Report
Contacting your landlord is the answer.
Problem 2 @ 3 ,
Do you have a door bell? Most door bells have small low voltage transformers, that are placed high up on a wall. If the transformer has gotten wet or a condensation build up it will fault the ground. Being low voltage it will search for a path to ground thru ie; door knobs stove anything metal that has a contact with the concrete under your floor. If you push aginst the wall and the buzzing goes away I would say it is the door bell. In houses they are normally in the attic but in an apartment complex the only availiable space is the area between floors or top of the wall.
I would not vacate, I would check all my smoke detectors for proper function and wait on the repair man. ( ask about a door bell, most of the time if they go bad they will not repair them because they have to tear out the wall to get to it. )
Hope this helps
Source(s):
experiance
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
M$3.10
October 21, 2009 05:00 AM
Are these problems in my apartment related, and should I fear for my safety?
Problem 1) A couple times this week I've come home and noticed my bathroom floor has been soaked. I figured the shower curtain was just hanging over the edge or something and water had leaked out... Well today I made sure the floor and everything was dry before I left and I came home to another flood.. but this time there it's obvious the leak is coming from the apartment above me.
Problem 2) I've lived here a few months, and just the last several days I've noticed I'm getting shocks whenever I touch something metal in my apartment. I can repeatedly touch a doorknob and get repeated shocks.. not just one. This has never happened before.. it's like my whole apartment is electrified! (and yes, I do have carpet, AND wear socks, but those things have always both been true). I'm scared it's related to...
Problem 3) In the wall between my storage area and living room at the top (a wall that runs perpendicular to my bathroom - on the opposite side of the leak), there is a VERY loud electrical buzz - like what you sometimes hear from a transformer on a power pole. I've never heard this before, and it's not something that can be missed. There are no outlets or anything on that wall (though there is on the adjacent wall at the bottom) the sound is definitely coming from the top of the wall. The strange thing is that when I put my hand on the wall and put a little pressure on it, the noise stops.
I'm worried that the buzzing has something to do with all the shocks, and that it could be caused by the leaking. I've put in a repair order and notified the people in the apartment above me (where the leak and possibly the buzz are coming from)... is there anything else i should do, or just wait until It's fixed? Is it some sort of emergency situation or anything I should be really worried about?
Thanks for any suggestions!
Problem 2) I've lived here a few months, and just the last several days I've noticed I'm getting shocks whenever I touch something metal in my apartment. I can repeatedly touch a doorknob and get repeated shocks.. not just one. This has never happened before.. it's like my whole apartment is electrified! (and yes, I do have carpet, AND wear socks, but those things have always both been true). I'm scared it's related to...
Problem 3) In the wall between my storage area and living room at the top (a wall that runs perpendicular to my bathroom - on the opposite side of the leak), there is a VERY loud electrical buzz - like what you sometimes hear from a transformer on a power pole. I've never heard this before, and it's not something that can be missed. There are no outlets or anything on that wall (though there is on the adjacent wall at the bottom) the sound is definitely coming from the top of the wall. The strange thing is that when I put my hand on the wall and put a little pressure on it, the noise stops.
I'm worried that the buzzing has something to do with all the shocks, and that it could be caused by the leaking. I've put in a repair order and notified the people in the apartment above me (where the leak and possibly the buzz are coming from)... is there anything else i should do, or just wait until It's fixed? Is it some sort of emergency situation or anything I should be really worried about?
Thanks for any suggestions!
RSS
Best Answer Decided by Votes
| October 21, 2009 01:39 PM |
1) If you have not already done so, determine which circuit breaker in your box controls the bathroom and shut it off. If the water causes a short across the lines (and this can theoretically happen even when the switch is off), then it can result in damage to your apartment.
As far as repairs go, a good repairman can begin by reaching through existing holes (bathroom vents or false bottoms/backs in under sink cabinets) to access the piping. If he cannot make the repair that way, he should cut the smallest required hole to reach the damaged pipes as he should be able to see where the damage has occurred.
Assuming that the water worked in the upstairs apartment previously, you need to make sure that you do not get accused or blamed for doing anything that could have resulted in the damage (such as hanging heavy objects from your shower head).
2) I am going out on a limb and guessing you live in a temperate climate. It is getting cold, to the ambient humidity is dropping. As the air dries out, you will experience more static electricity. If you want to try an experiment, go get yourself a cool mist humidifier (~$30 @ walmart) and run it on low settings for a full night. The next day, I expect you will notice much less static.
The reason I am dismissing this as static is because if it were a strong enough charge to go from an electrical line through wood/plastic/plaster and reach your door knob, it would have killed you already. There is not a direct connection between door knobs and electrical wires, so for electricity to travel between them, it would need to be on caliber with lightening.
3) Possibly a loose wire in the wall or something. It doesn't sound serious to me, but then I am not living with it. I agree with @windowshopping, try shutting off your main breaker and see if it goes away. If it stays, it is someone else's line, if it stays, it is yours. You can go a step further if it is yours and turn your main breaker on, but turn each individual breaker off to see what circuit contains it. Finally, if it is yours, is it associated with any of your major appliances: TV, computer, refrigerator, stove, etc.
I would mention it to the landlord as a concern and please to address it in the next week or two.
Source(s):
I have personally had the exact same bathroom from above leaking problem in my old apartment; I am painfully familiar with static; http://www.ccmr.cornell.edu/education/ask/index.html?quid=464; and Personal Speculation
Tags: water, apartment, static, maintenance, hazard
Helpful Answer?
(0)
(0)
Tip ferg2kk for this answer
Reply
Other Answers (4)
October 21, 2009 05:14 AM
It sounds like your apartment has some serious health and safety issues. Talk to the management at your apartment and ask them to take care of the problem. If they drag their feet as far as making the necessary repairs, make sure your request is in writing the next time you ask. As far as the flooding goes, flooding can soak insulation and electrical wires -- AND can cause fires & mold growth.
Seeking some legal advice and looking into some legal action wouldn't be out of the question as far as a course of action, either.
The following link should be of interest:
http://www.samlaw.net/LandlordTenantLaw.shtml
Source(s):
http://www.samlaw.net/LandlordTenantLaw.shtml
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: minak
Reply
October 21, 2009 04:27 PM
funny, I'm reading your question while watching the movie The Money Pit.
Report
October 21, 2009 05:40 AM
If your apartment has an electrical breaker box with a master breaker for your apartment, try turning the breaker off and seeing if the buzzing goes away. Make sure to have a flashlight handy before you turn the master breaker off. If the sound goes away, the problem may be associated with wiring in your apartment. If it does not, if may the a conduit supply to your apartment or a supply from another apartment. If the buzzing stops when you turn off the master breaker, consider leaving the power off overnight. It's inconvenient (especially if you are "cramming"), but you might feel safer until the problem can be addressed. As for your safety... consider going to a friend's house/apartment/place for tonight. If you stay, just for tonight, until you can address this with your apartment manager or owner, try not to walk around barefoot - put on some shoes, even if it is just rubber-soled flip-flops. Make sure you have a functional smoke alarm. Make sure the "leak" has stopped (could be a leak from a drain rather than from a live water line - but that makes no difference if it has affected structural integrity in the one wall you are talking about).
If major re-work will be required (plumbing, drywall tear-down and then repair, electrical wiring), see if your apartment management can move you to a currently vacant apartment in the building/complex or in another complex they might own and ask for a break on next months rent fort he inconvenience of having to move. If they can do that, then you can continue without breaking your lease and they can make the required repairs without totally disrupting your life on a long-term basis.
Bottom line: If you are not comfortable staying there tonight, don't stay. It might be perfectly safe, but you'll be awake all night wondering and every sound will make you jump. Go to a friend's place, crash for the night, do what needs doing tomorrow, then work this out with the apartment manager/owner.
Permalink | Report
Reply
October 21, 2009 07:38 AM
Thanks. It's quite late and I only have the opportunity for a couple hours sleep anyways...the smoke detector is between me and the problem area so I should have a fiar bit of warning, but I'm certainly going to make sure they've seen it in the morning.
Report
October 21, 2009 07:43 AM
It's a Murphy's Law Corollary - stuff always happens late at night when you can not possibly get it fixed or have someone more knowledgeable evaluate the risk. Hang in there and be safe.
Report
October 21, 2009 03:51 PM
I'm not really sure of what I could suggest than have the landlord informed of your situation. I'm also living in an apartment and every time there's a problem with the house, I inform the owners right away or just have some technicians fix the problem. I hope this will be solved soon. :( I'm a bit worried with your situation. Take care of yourself, okay? If you could stay somewhere at least before things are fixed, please do so.
Permalink | Report
Reply
October 21, 2009 10:23 PM
Problem 1, Contacting your landlord is the answer.
Problem 2 @ 3 ,
Do you have a door bell? Most door bells have small low voltage transformers, that are placed high up on a wall. If the transformer has gotten wet or a condensation build up it will fault the ground. Being low voltage it will search for a path to ground thru ie; door knobs stove anything metal that has a contact with the concrete under your floor. If you push aginst the wall and the buzzing goes away I would say it is the door bell. In houses they are normally in the attic but in an apartment complex the only availiable space is the area between floors or top of the wall.
I would not vacate, I would check all my smoke detectors for proper function and wait on the repair man. ( ask about a door bell, most of the time if they go bad they will not repair them because they have to tear out the wall to get to it. )
Hope this helps
Source(s):
experiance
Permalink | Report
Reply
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Can you analyze these google analytics images? Please help to be clear about these fe...
How can I improve my teamplay rating on NHL10 EASHL Be a Pro?
How many pre-marriage habits should a person be allowed to retain after he/she ties t...
My friend is dating a married man should I tell her that I don't approve?
How can I improve my teamplay rating on NHL10 EASHL Be a Pro?
How many pre-marriage habits should a person be allowed to retain after he/she ties t...
My friend is dating a married man should I tell her that I don't approve?
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
-
Arts & Design
-
Beauty & Style
-
Books & Authors
-
Business
-
Cars & Transportation
-
Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
-
Education
-
Entertainment
-
Environment
-
Fitness
-
Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
-
Health
-
History
-
Hobbies
-
Home & Garden
-
How Tos
-
Humor
-
Jobs
-
Legal
-
Local
-
Love & Relationships
-
Mahalo Answers Community
-
Money
-
Music
-
News
-
NSFW
-
Parenting
-
Pets
-
Science & Mathematics
-
Services
-
Shopping
-
Social Science
-
Society & Culture
-
Sports
-
Technology & Internet
-
Travel
-
Video Games
Welcome New Members
- jle012, November 26, 2009 07:17 AM
- cellphonefocus, November 26, 2009 07:07 AM
- thejordee, November 26, 2009 06:11 AM
- soccormommi, November 26, 2009 05:59 AM
- gluckman1, November 26, 2009 05:22 AM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
So they haven't had a chance to deal with it yet as I've just brought it to their attention but I wanted to make sure (ask?) that I'm in no immediate danger.
I was worried that their leaking could be causing the electrical issue.. the chance of fire is what really bothers me.