Commercial ยท Multi-unit
Condo Stacks and Building Risers
In a building, one clog can flood three suites. We work with the superintendent to find the riser, isolate it and clear or repair it with the fewest units affected.
- Work scheduled around opening hours
- Branch or riser isolated, rest of the building kept running
- Camera footage and written notes for your file
- One phone number for every site you manage
Diagnosis first, tested after
- Licensed & insured: ask us
- Camera before cutting
- Water-tested repairs
- Booked by phone
Shared pipe, shared problems
Kitchen stacks in mid-rise buildings collect grease from every suite above. Washroom stacks catch wipes. Garage and ramp drains fill with grit every winter. When something stops, the water finds the lowest suite on that line.
- Kitchen sinks backing up on a lower floor when upstairs runs a dishwasher
- Water appearing in a ceiling from a suite above
- Riser valves that will not close fully when a unit needs isolating
- Garage trench drains and catch basins filled with sand and salt
- Low hot water pressure on upper floors at peak times
What we handle
- Kitchen and washroom stack clearing, from the roof vent or a cleanout
- Riser and suite shut-off valve replacement
- Leak tracing between suites with meters and moisture readings
- Garage drain and sump clearing
- Camera footage of stacks and the building drain for the board or manager
How we coordinate in a building
- Contact management first so notices go out and keys or fobs are arranged.
- Locate the stack or riser serving the affected suites.
- Shut down only what is needed, for as short a time as possible.
- Clear or repair, then run water from the upper suites to confirm flow.
- Report back with what was found and which suites were entered.
Who is responsible for what
In an Ontario condominium the declaration is the document that draws the line between suite and shared property. As a rule of thumb, fixtures inside a suite are often the owner's and shared stacks are often the corporation's, but check your own declaration before assuming.
Our commercial process
- Phone triage. Site, floor, what is backing up and whether you are open.
- Access arranged. Keys, fobs, tenant notice or a quiet window.
- Isolate and fix. Only the affected branch or riser shut down.
- Record and report. Footage and notes for the owner or manager.
Common questions
Can you clear a stack from inside one suite?
Sometimes, through a cleanout in that suite. Often the better access is the roof vent or a cleanout in a service room, arranged with management.
Do you need the board to approve the work?
For common-element pipe we take instructions from the property manager or the corporation, not individual owners.