Toilet Stopped Up (by Slim [FL]) Aug 7, 2002 9:29 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by kerry [co]) Aug 7, 2002 10:07 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Dan [MA]) Aug 7, 2002 10:22 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by jmas [nj]) Aug 7, 2002 10:58 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Steve [TN]) Aug 7, 2002 11:56 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by David [Mo]) Aug 7, 2002 12:03 PM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by to jmas[nj]) ..LL [Mi]) Aug 7, 2002 1:21 PM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by LL [MI]) Aug 7, 2002 1:25 PM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Tom [IN]) Aug 7, 2002 9:27 PM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Mike [TN]) Aug 8, 2002 8:29 AM
        RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Slim [FL]) Aug 8, 2002 10:20 AM

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Toilet Stopped Up (by Slim[FL])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 9:29 AM
Message:
The toilet is stopped up in my tenant's apt. Should I try to unclog it myself with a toilet auger, or should I just call a plumber. --208.62.41.69



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by kerry[co])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 10:07 AM
Message:
Unclog it yourself and put the $60 service call directly into your own pocket. --209.245.12.177



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Dan[MA])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 10:22 AM
Message:
It all depends on you and the way you run your business. Personally you can't pay me enough to unclog a tenants toilet. I'll send the plumber and leave my own time free to make more money. --206.216.119.117



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by jmas[nj])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 10:58 AM
Message:
This is a very good question. I used to unglog toilets all the time, either with a plunger or an auger. Then I ran into two problem toilets, both times I would unglog them and then a few hours later they were clogged again. Finally I called a plumber in and he removed the toilets and found a small hair brush stuck in one, and a fork in the trap of the other. These items would snag feces and toilet paper and create a clog on every flush that was anything more than urine. These plumber bills were about $300 each and trying to get the tenant to pay it was like getting water from a rock. This and clogged kitchen sinks from tenants pouring grease into them gave me the idea to add a clause to my lease something like what I state below, not sure if it is 100% legal, but it has been working. I added the following under a section in my lease titled:

Repairs that are not included in Landlords maintenance and are tenants responsibility:

1. Broken windows, all the windows in your unit have been inspected and are found to be in proper working condition, if you break a window you can call a repairperson at your expense or we can fix it for you for a fee of $60 for single pain and $120 for double pain windows.

2. Torn Screens, all the screens in your unit were inspected prior to your taking possesion of the unit, if you tear a screen you can have a repairperson repair it at your expense or we can fix them for you for a fee of $15.00.

3. Lost Keys, if you lose your keys we can make copies from ours for you for a fee of $10.00 per key, if it is after hours and you are locked out you can page us and pick up our copy and make your own, you will need to leave a refundable $50.00 deposit when opicking up our key.

4. Clogged drains, your drains have been inspected and found to be in proper working order during your move in inspection. Do not pour grease, food particles, fats, paints, or any other substance other than soap and water down your drain. If you clog the drain you can have a repairperson repiar it at your expense, or we can repair it for you for a fee of $75.00

5. Clogged toilets, your toilet has been inspected and found to be in proper working condition. DO NOT put anything in your toilet such as paper towels, sanitary napkins, plastic objects, or disposable razors in your toilet. If you accidentily drop an item like a bottle top, hairbrush, toothbrush or any other iten into the toilet you must remove it by hand, it will clogg the toilet. If your toilet becomes clogged a plunger should be all you need to force it clean. If you clog your toilet you can call a repairperson at your expense, or we can repair it for you for a fee of $120.00.

6. Light Bulbs, all your light bulbs were working when you moved in, if a light bulb burns out you are responsible for replacing it, also be sure that all bulbs are in and operational when you move out of the unit.

thats all I can think of now, I would like to hear from anyone that is adding things like this to a lease, and if I am twisting the law at all let me know. --141.153.133.181




RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Steve[TN])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 11:56 AM
Message:
Try the plunger. If that doesn't work, call the plumber.

I put in my lease that the tenant is responsible for all drain stopages, burned out light bulbs, and damage of any kind. --198.151.12.20




RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by David[Mo])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 12:03 PM
Message:
I always provide a plunger for my rentals with hand written instructions on how to use it. --64.12.96.40



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by to jmas[nj]) ..LL[Mi])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 1:21 PM
Message:
What you state sounds reasonable to me, Law or no law, if it is working for you why change it? the present tenant/landlord laws are much one sided every where! I for one will spin the wheel and take my chances, rather than beg MAY I! with unindated laws. --68.40.248.88



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by LL[MI])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 1:25 PM
Message:
P.S. forgot to add, I've been spinning the wheel for 20 years, (knock on wood) haven't had a legal problem in that area yet, nor did I waste my time being concerned or to worry over it. --68.40.248.88



RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Tom[IN])
Posted on: Aug 7, 2002 9:27 PM
Message:
Our new city dump has an open barn for recycle items. A friend borrows my truck to go to the dump once a month or so. He always scans the barn for toilets and tries to keep five to ten toilets lined up in my back yard at all times. We don't unstop toilets. We simply replace them.

Of course, we will try the plunger once or twice. But problem toilets just leave. --205.188.209.136




RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Mike[TN])
Posted on: Aug 8, 2002 8:29 AM
Message:
Problem toilets can also be fixed very easily. I can pick up Mexican made toilets at Big John's closeouts for $50, get a new seat for $5 and get the wax ring, etc. for a couple of bucks. I figure about $65 will replace one. I like the dump idea, but I'm not going to take a chance on replacing a bad toilet with another bad toilet.

Personally, I don't like dealing with bodily discharges, so I try to make these problems GO AWAY. I also include a clause that basically says the tenant gets to fix their own drainage problems. They worked when they moved in and should work now. My drains at home never get stopped up because I treat them properly. --65.107.242.194




RE: Toilet Stopped Up (by Slim[FL])
Posted on: Aug 8, 2002 10:20 AM
Message:
I ended up trying to fix it myself with a toilet auger I bought from HOME Depot. I could not get it unclogged so I had a plumber look at it. Turns out he used a larger auger and unclogged it.

NOw where can I get on of those?

It took the plumber under 5 minutes to unclog, but it cost me $75. I figure I could by a professional one myself for that price and unclog it next time. --216.77.131.69




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