Condo... water temp... Balance Valve...

[basil1211]

Hello...

I need some advise regarding the water temperature in a condo. There is a unit above and below.

Recently I was unable to get cold water. After some testing I determined that the balance valve in the shower was defective. I have since replaced the balance valve and the mixer valve in the shower and my testing seems to prove that the balance valve is working properly. However it is still hard to get cold cold water in the shower and sinks. It starts cold and eventually gets hotter.

Is it possible that if a balance valve below/above my unit is defective that this could affect cold water?

Thanks,
MCA

 

[Mr_David]

There can be a few other contributing factors. If you have a common cold and hot system with other units it can be hard to evaluate even for me with out access to the other units. How knows what someone may have done in their unit.

could be the system. failed check valve on a hot recirc line.
Maybe a plumber made a repair and changed something.

Ask your neighbors if they are having the same issue.
If so have building management check into it

 

[basil1211]

Thanks for the reply...

Yes, we do share hot and cold. My plan was to contact each above and below to check their water and perform my test. The unit one door down and across the hall has cold water.

Just FYI... I tested my balance valve by turning off say the cold to that unit and then open the cold faucet. I got flow and hot water. Since replacing the balance valve this test passes.

Thanks,

MCA

 

[frodo]

you said "condo" In my area a "condo" is an apartment that the occupant owns

the reason I said that is, you said you share the water system.

Is it illegal in your area for someone else's utilities to be on your property ?

here, each condo must have its own utilities and the piping from another can not pass thru your "owned" space

just curious..

 

[basil1211]

It is condo that I own... but the HOA pays only for the water via our HOA dues.

I suspect something like the attached pic.

MCA

 

[frodo]

so, what happens with your homeowners insurance if unit B's water line breaks in your unit A ?

unit B insurance will say the break did not occur in the space that is under the contract. and unit A insurance will say it will not cover another units piping.

confusing

 

[Mr_David]

Sorry about the change on OP's original topic.


Here if the common water system leaks it is the association that is responsible to repair the leak.
Water damage caused by common line leakage is also covered by the association in most cases.
That can change if the line that leaked is a branch line that only supplies water to a single unit.
Then that line is no longer common.
Damage in a unit below or adjacent to, now becomes the unit's owners responsibility.
Often depends on the HOA and how they want to address it.
There are a lot of CONDOS here that used to be apartments that were converted.
Some HOAs just take care of any leaks that occure inside wall.
Most will toss it back to the units owner if it is not a common line that leaked, even if it was inside the wall.