[stagafolaysa]

Hello
SUMMARY: Neighbors found water tonight on their ceiling right below my working RO machine. Possibly due to use of chemical clog remover in my bathroom.

I am a bit stressed right now and I wrote a lot. If you know much about plumbing, I beg for your attention here. Got a lot at stake :\

The story: I've lived here for two months, been growing for a month. My RO machine has been working non stop in the last few days for flushing plants. I had a minor flood in that room the other day, but it was mostly soaking the clothes on the floor and I handled it.

This afternoon I was using a clog remover (sodium based stuff "corrosive" stuff). The instruction said use it, wait at least 30 mins and then run water through sink. Stoned me, I went to sleep and woke up three hours later. I opened the tap and water was draining well, I was happy. The RO machine is still working.

Two hours later my downstairs neighbor shows up, saying he's got water leaking from the ceiling right below where my RO is at. I rush there and see, indeed water was running there. I immediately stopped the machine, and started worrying.

In my previous apartment I also had problems with my RO. The wall it was on became wet in a line that shows the pipe inside it. I assumed this was because of high pressure in the pipe due to RO pressurizing its water intake (3/4"-->1/4"), causing the pipe to leak. I don't know if this was a valid assumption.

So there's three options for the source of this leak:
1. Using the clog remover and leaving it for so long did serious damage to a part or parts of some drain pipe, causing water to leak all over. The bathroom where I used the clog remover is right next to where the RO is at (laundry room), so it's likely to be the same drain pipes, and the damage is perhaps not limited to the RO - for example if I take a shower now, it might start to rain on my neighbor?

In this case, this thing would be my fault, for misusing the remover. If the pipes are fixed, will my landlord or his plumber be able to tell I am at fault?

2. Like in the previous apartment, the RO's pressure on the pipes caused a leak. It is merely a coincidence that only tonight the leak started to show on the ceiling (and it's a big leak), as it has been going on for about a month, since I started using the machine.

3. As above, only some weakness in the drain pipe that takes in the drain water from the RO is leaking. Like 2, this would mean that it's been going on for long now.

I find it hard to believe that a leak that's been going on for a month would in one night start showing not only water on the ceiling but also dropping down to their floor. This is unlikely, isn't it? It has to be that the leak started tonight, and then it can only be that the clog remover caused it, and only by chance the RO machine triggered it.


I will have to call a plumber tomorrow morning to come and inspect the problem. Right now I'm planning on removing the RO machine thus avoiding difficult questions. I am considering whether to tell the man I used the clog remover. If I do, it may mean that this is my fault, and the landlord will find out - I might have to pay a lot of money. But maybe I ought to?

If I don't - the plumber may face serious health risks if he tries to handle the pipes without knowing of the corrosive liquid used?

Will they find out? Is my grow in jeopardy? Should I leavee everything as it is and tell the truth about the RO machine? Except lie about why I'm using it?

My contract say the landlord is only responsible for damage if there was "ordinary and reasonable usage" can I count on using an RO machine as being such usage? Or should I hide it?

In the picture you can see the RO machine where it's connected. The metal pipes on the wall seem to be going from the roof ( I live in the uppermost floor of the building) down the wall to the neighbors without any connection in my apt. The leak on their ceiling seems to be originating from those pipes but I can't be sure at all about this.

[Sam the Caveman]

what you say about the RO putting extra pressure on the pipes does not happen. The pipes experience the most pressure when all the values are closed.

First thing I would do is either scrap your grow or get it in a room away from all leaks, a room they are not likely to go in.

don't know what to tell you about the rest, but your neighbor has probably already called the landlord and he is probably going to call a plumber soon, if he hasn't already done it.

I would get cleaned up fast, and come up with a good reason why you have an RO filter.

[stagafolaysa]

thanks man! that's helpful.
The plants are in a room with no plumbing. No one is likely to go in there, no reason. If my landlord comes to visit, and he might, I can even fold the tent and put all plants in a closet. I only have plants in veg so odor isn't a problem.

The neighbor has done nothing yet. They gave me a number for a plumber and I said I would call one in the morning.

I guess I should put away the RO machine. No one has to know I've been using it.

[Sam the Caveman]

If the leak was from your RO machine and you put it away, the plumber will dig and dig until he finds where the leak was from. That means he may venture off into other areas to try and figure it out.

It may be better to leave it there, because if it was leaking, that will be as far as he goes. Just tell him you use it for drinking water, personally I only drink RO water, or spring but RO is cheaper. Or, its for an aquarium, aquarium guys use ro water filters.

And cook some bacon right before he comes to stink up the place to make sure the odor is covered.

Post abetter picture if you can..One thing-if your dumping a lot of RO water/the piping is wrong somehow-it is extremely low in minerals and will leech them out of copper piping.We have to use plastic piping for RO distribution-copper pipe will develop leaks in no that long of a period. You "should" be dumping non RO water that the membrane filtered/uses for flushing so this should be fine for copper drains etc I need a better pic though to see whats up.Perhaps this is why the water line leaked in the past.

As for the drain leak recently-most likely the caustic compound ate a hole in a drain that was in bad shape already OR it ate the slime lining off the inside and that slime was plugging a drain leak that was per-existing yet plugged by slime

[stagafolaysa]

thanks... here's a photo, the piping is ok... red goes to tank is filtered water, mylar coating goes to drain hole in the floor, this is the "dirty" water... I've seen it with my own EC meter.


do you think I should tell my landlord I used the caustic? (It's not exactly caustic but close)

[WasntMe]

For future plumbing clogs, especially in an apartment building ... always use a


stay away from chemical clog dissolvers! they damage pipes and are horrible for the city water system.

[teemu shalanie]

sounds like the corrosive cleaner u used ate througth a weak drain pipe or fitting somewhere in your neighbours ceiling space. , you can also get h20 forming(sweating) on the outside of the r.o lines due to very cold h2o temps,in a warmer room.difference in temp.
The drywall will have to be replaced,if lots of damage occurred , hide your grow or take down 100%......sounds like a plumber will be making an appearance in nthe near future,

[stagafolaysa]

yes i must call one today.
i think the grow is safe for now, the grow room has no plumbing in it. but i'll make sure to hide everything just in case.

[stagafolaysa]

so the landlord's insurance company will be coming over to inspect tomorrow.

i'm screwed :\

can they see that I used the caustic?