Sewer back up flooded 8 Condo units what to do next?

[DaBank]

My mother lives in a Patio Home/Condo, she shares 2 ways in her unit with neighbors.
The towns sewer line backed up and they are taking responsibility but this is a nightmare. Happened yesterday morning at 7am and the water ran for a hour and forty minutes plus. The pressure wa so strong it lifted one on my moms toilet up and ripped the one bolt out of the tile. Then it fill the bathtub about 3in of water in a 1200square foot house and water ran out the slider doors. The water drain out of one entire side of the house from the outside stucco. The city had every department there yesterday and posted all 8 units unsafe to occupy. I just left ripping out carpet and pads and bought a couple air movers. I was there the entire day yesterday with towels and mops and pretty much dried up everything expect 2 bedrooms and closets with carpet. The water clean up company was there yesterday the city sent out and they said 10 plus weeks to do repairs and the city is making temporary housing plans now. The problem is it has been 24 hours and only place half way cleaned up is mine since I am doing it, most people are 80 to 90 and have no family local and a couple left with red cross and the animal control took their pets until the city get housing. I thought these clean up crews come in immediately and rip up carpet and dry out the house and start cutting out drywall and then basically sub out everything else. I am about to do all this today because I dont want to wait.....what is this damage going to turn out to be since it is sewage instead of just water?

 

[RiverDave]

I think it's going to turn into your mother moving to another home / condo.. At least that's what it would turn into if it was me. The mold will set in, and as you said that isn't water it's sewer.. F That.

RD

 

[c_land]

Does she own the condo? i would definitely get her insurance involved.

I would maybe request a backwater valve on all the sewer laterals to prevent it from happening again.

 

[NicPaus]

Call a restoration Company and send them the bill. I hate to refer servpro but sometimes only option in area. Need to get on it ASAP. If you were close to Torrance we could handle it. Have a crew putting a condo back together now that was flooded with sewage. Insurance keeps saying they will issue a check in 2 weeks but it has been months. Owner had to lawyer up to fight HOA insurance as they hired plumber that flooded unit.

Forget the name but Scottty Monroe owns a restoration company he might handle that area.

 

[rightytighty]

Bad deal when cause of back up is off of premises. Your homeowners insurance will likely not cover, so forces you to use The City as a 3rd party claimant.

In short, anywall that got wet will be cut 2 ft up (flood cut is the slang) and floorings replaced. Hopefully water stayed out of kitchen . Bath vanities are likely toast. Showers will be fine.

 

[RiverDave]

Bad deal when cause of back up is off of premises. Your homeowners insurance will likely not cover, so forces you to use The City as a 3rd party claimant.

In short, anywall that got wet will be cut 2 ft up (flood cut is the slang) and floorings replaced. Hopefully water stayed out of kitchen . Bath vanities are likely toast. Showers will be fine.

Only 2' up even with Sewer?

RD

 

[DaBank]

Call a restoration Company and send them the bill. I hate to refer servpro but sometimes only option in area. Need to get on it ASAP. If you were close to Torrance we could handle it. Have a crew putting a condo back together now that was flooded with sewage. Insurance keeps saying they will issue a check in 2 weeks but it has been months. Owner had to lawyer up to fight HOA insurance as they hired plumber that flooded unit.

Forget the name but Scottty Monroe owns a restoration company he might handle that area.

They came out yesterday with 10 people. That is who the city had come put, there was over 30 people from the city here and the mayor. The problem is they did nothing but walk through the condos. The city is here today replacing 100 yards of pipe and installing a manhole for the future.
I went through service pros with a fire and would never hire a company like this myself again. I would just sub everyone out and let them make so much money on clean up and subbing everything out. So since nothing was done yesterday my feeling is for me to get the clean up done now myself.

 

[CLdrinker]

Call a restoration Company and send them the bill. I hate to refer servpro but sometimes only option in area. Need to get on it ASAP. If you were close to Torrance we could handle it. Have a crew putting a condo back together now that was flooded with sewage. Insurance keeps saying they will issue a check in 2 weeks but it has been months. Owner had to lawyer up to fight HOA insurance as they hired plumber that flooded unit.

Forget the name but Scottty Monroe owns a restoration company he might handle that area.

I’m dealing with Servpro right now. Fuuuuuuuuuuck then!
Been a week and still haven’t got my estimate. And insurance adjuster already said she will be using their bid.
So here I sitfucked 10 ways to Sunday.

 

[DaBank]

Does she own the condo? i would definitely get her insurance involved.

I would maybe request a backwater valve on all the sewer laterals to prevent it from happening again.

I own it free and clear.

 

[DaBank]

Bad deal when cause of back up is off of premises. Your homeowners insurance will likely not cover, so forces you to use The City as a 3rd party claimant.

In short, anywall that got wet will be cut 2 ft up (flood cut is the slang) and floorings replaced. Hopefully water stayed out of kitchen . Bath vanities are likely toast. Showers will be fine.

My insurance does not cover sewer just water leaks. I was told most people dont realize that it is 2 different coverages. I am asking today if our HOA covers sewer. But the city is going to pay, there line clogged and built pressure and blew my toilet off the ground, all the other units the water shot out of the toilets 2 feet.

 

[Yellowboat]

Only 2' up even with Sewer?

RD

You should be fine with 2' if the water is under 6" after about a foot you are better off cutting it at the the joint.

 

[DaBank]

Bad deal when cause of back up is off of premises. Your homeowners insurance will likely not cover, so forces you to use The City as a 3rd party claimant.

In short, anywall that got wet will be cut 2 ft up (flood cut is the slang) and floorings replaced. Hopefully water stayed out of kitchen . Bath vanities are likely toast. Showers will be fine.

100% off the house flooded. I am now dealing with water from other units coming through the common walls. Remember every other unit the old people just walked out and where relocated I was there cleaning up the whole day. The bath top shot water and toilet paper and shit on all the tumble stone. The water was mostly clear for the hour and 45 minutes I was there until it stopped.

 

[DaBank]

You should be fine with 2' if the water is under 6" after about a foot you are better off cutting it at the the joint.

So this would be the same as city water leak.....this is sewer water. The fire department red tagged the entire 8 unit building. I dont know if it has anything to do with breathing the fumes all day but my thoat is swollen and I am.at doctors now for medication......so maybe I should tell him about yesterday.

 

[Yellowboat]

That's going too happen until they get dried out, best you can do is stay on top of it.

 

[Yellowboat]

So this would be the same as city water leak.....this is sewer water. The fire department red tagged the entire 8 unit building. I dont know if it has anything to do with breathing the fumes all day but my thoat is swollen and I am.at doctors now for medication......so maybe I should tell him about yesterday.

you should, you may have been exposed too a lot of shit.( funny, but not funny) the good thing about drywall is it tells you how fat the water traveled. You only ever cut it at 1 2 or full sheet. Anything else is a waste of materials and labor.

 

[EmpirE231]

Most insurance does not cover sewer backup. In most cases it is an optional coverage, and average limits are around 5k-10k.

 

[NicPaus]

If they are not currently on it. Then hire your own clean up. The one I am on I just happened to be working on another property of there's when they got the call. The restoration company they called dry down never showed up so the owner said for me to handle everything. Depending on location I could send guys tomorrow but they should be on it today. I would not leave it in the cities hand as who knows what you will get.

 

[2Driver]

My God. Be careful handling that stuff. Get a tetanus shot update and a hep vaccines if you arent up to date

 

[NicPaus]

I’m dealing with Servpro right now. Fuuuuuuuuuuck then!
Been a week and still haven’t got my estimate. And insurance adjuster already said she will be using their bid.
So here I sitfucked 10 ways to Sunday.

You can get your own bids but usually servpro price is high. And they will cause a lot more damage than done by water. I have had several where we get the repair work after servpro does the water damage removal and drying. Since bought a bunch of blowers and humidifiers and do it in house for our customers. Common to have to get several bids and submit to adjuster to get them to pay. If you were close could help you out. Good luck and be prepared to get your own bids to get it done right.

 

[DaBank]

The sill plates I am worried about because the house drained for hours out of the stucco. This is a picture I took when it 1st started.

 

[Captain Dan]

Does she own the condo? i would definitely get her insurance involved.

I would maybe request a backwater valve on all the sewer laterals to prevent it from happening again.

If the finished floor elevation (fixture unit base elevation) is lower than the next upstream manhole rim there should already have been a BW valve on the sewer lateral if the system was designed properly, in accordance with the California Plumbing Code. The backup would have exited the manhole rim rather than inside the unit.

 

[DaBank]

You can get your own bids but usually servpro price is high. And they will cause a lot more damage than done by water. I have had several where we get the repair work after servpro does the water damage removal and drying. Since bought a bunch of blowers and humidifiers and do it in house for our customers. Common to have to get several bids and submit to adjuster to get them to pay. If you were close could help you out. Good luck and be prepared to get your own bids to get it done right.

I am in Apple Valley Ca. I am not sure what to do so I am doing the drying and clean up for now so damage is not more. I dont want to be caught in the middle and be told they are working for the city and not me the homeowner.

 

[DaBank]

If the finished floor elevation (fixture unit base elevation) is lower than the next upstream manhole rim there should already have been a BW valve on the sewer lateral if the system was designed properly, in accordance with the California Plumbing Code. The backup would have exited the manhole rim rather than inside the unit.

There is no man holes, just smaller covers almost like bigger clean outs. The city water guys say it looks like the LA freeways connecting to the 8in line. The complex was made in 1987 and they said it is their original sewer line and what happened I'd the rubber gasket connecting 2 pipes was not seated and has been blocking the pipe and it took this long to dam up.....at 1st they thought a utility wire was bored through the pipe.

 

[Mandelon]

I do remediation work. Black Water is what comes up from the sewer line. Serious issue. There can be all kinds of horrible things in the water.

I would seriously recommend a professional flood service company handle it. I would go as far as hiring an Industrial Hygienist to make sure the clean up is done thoroughly and nothing is missed. The immune system of older folks can be seriously compromised by mold and other toxic exposures.

You should be able to recover all losses from the City. Find out who is in charge and discuss plans with them.

 

[CLdrinker]

You can get your own bids but usually servpro price is high. And they will cause a lot more damage than done by water. I have had several where we get the repair work after servpro does the water damage removal and drying. Since bought a bunch of blowers and humidifiers and do it in house for our customers. Common to have to get several bids and submit to adjuster to get them to pay. If you were close could help you out. Good luck and be prepared to get your own bids to get it done right.

Already have purofirst there working. Bill will be north of $15,000.

 

[CLdrinker]

I am in Apple Valley Ca. I am not sure what to do so I am doing the drying and clean up for now so damage is not more. I dont want to be caught in the middle and be told they are working for the city and not me the homeowner.

Where did this happen in AV?
Purofirst has been great to work with. They handle a bunch of the middle man shit between them and the insurance.

Ask for Cassandra. 760 245-5545
She has 4 people at my house right now. 6 yesterday.

 

[DaBank]

I do remediation work. Black Water is what comes up from the sewer line. Serious issue. There can be all kinds of horrible things in the water.

I would seriously recommend a professional flood service company handle it. I would go as far as hiring an Industrial Hygienist to make sure the clean up is done thoroughly and nothing is missed. The immune system of older folks can be seriously compromised by mold and other toxic exposures.

You should be able to recover all losses from the City. Find out who is in charge and discuss plans with them.

Like I said, they had every department from city there and fire department, animal control, poilce,the Mayor and a consultant for the city. I assume they are concerned and want to do it the right way to avoid lawsuits but I want to educate myself on the right way and not be told by there hired company it is being done the right way.
I am not doing anything but getting the wet stuff out and it dried asap. I dont want it to sit longer than it has to. So I still will need it professionally clean and repaired but for now I am trying to protect my investment. I dont see the advantage of everything sitting on wet carpet even if I consider everything that is on it is trash now.

 

[NicPaus]

Already have purofirst there working. Bill will be north of $15,000.

Not bad depending on cause. Bill is well over 100k on this one. The main issue is what they cover. Environmental after our clean up was 16k with testing that portion there insurance does not cover as they said part of clean up was mold and the HOA insurance plan has no mold coverage.

 

[DaBank]

Not bad depending on cause. Bill is well over 100k on this one. The main issue is what they cover. Environmental after our clean up was 16k with testing that portion there insurance does not cover as they said part of clean up was mold and the HOA insurance plan has no mold coverage.

So you are dealing with a clean up now with a HOA and common walls?

 

[rightytighty]

My insurance does not cover sewer just water leaks. I was told most people dont realize that it is 2 different coverages. I am asking today if our HOA covers sewer. But the city is going to pay, there line clogged and built pressure and blew my toilet off the ground, all the other units the water shot out of the toilets 2 feet.

Some good information has been mentioned. Mandelon at the bottom is succinct and correct. Get professionals involved.

As for your carrier not covering sewer back up, that’s a yes/no answer. I’ve worked for and trained for many of the major carriers. If the sewage back up is on the premises (I.e tree roots caused back up into house and tree is on your premises) then resulting interior damage is covered.(not fixing pipe though). If backup is due to issue off premises (sounds like your case here), then no coverage on your policy and have to go direct to city (called a 3rd party claim. Note: 1stparty claim is when you file on your own policy)

Good luck. Bad day for sure.

 

[CLdrinker]

Not bad depending on cause. Bill is well over 100k on this one. The main issue is what they cover. Environmental after our clean up was 16k with testing that portion there insurance does not cover as they said part of clean up was mold and the HOA insurance plan has no mold coverage.

Mine is all smoke damage from a fire.

 

[Captain Dan]

There is no man holes, just smaller covers almost like bigger clean outs. The city water guys say it looks like the LA freeways connecting to the 8in line. The complex was made in 1987 and they said it is their original sewer line and what happened I'd the rubber gasket connecting 2 pipes was not seated and has been blocking the pipe and it took this long to dam up.....at 1st they thought a utility wire was bored through the pipe.

That's too bad. Either manholes or cleanouts, it would have provided an exit point. The finished floor is clearly lower and the lateral should have been equipped with a BF valve.

 

[NicPaus]

So you are dealing with a clean up now with a HOA and common walls?

It only affected the 1 unit but HOA is responsible. 1st floor unit they turned off water before it made it through to next door unit. Few more loads of laundry by top unit and it would of. Raining sewage in parking structure so manager turned off water main and called owner. HOA has same insurance as home owner State Farm. They are making claim under HOA policy.

 

[2Driver]

They should just do a buyout. Probably be cheaper.

 

[DLC]

Make sure you take pics of everything and take pics during all the steps
Dry out
Rebuild
Finish

Try to document as much as you can keep a journal of happenings

Did the kitchen get wet? If so all base cabs need to be removed.....

Get someone in there ASAP!

 

[Justfishing]

I wouldn't worry about the sill plate if you get it dried out. The key right now is getting all the wet stuff out and start drying. I think it would be a perfect time to set up an ozone machine as it drying, I don't know if they do that though .

 

[arch stanton]

We had a down stairs apartment unit that was vacant after a rehab for a few weeks during the summer and had a clog that nobody knew about until the adjacent unit to this called about a bad smell, all the shit for 2 up stairs units ended up in this one. We had good insurance that covered the clean up, but we payed for the repiped to get ride of all the old cast iron pipe.

 

[DaBank]

Make sure you take pics of everything and take pics during all the steps
Dry out
Rebuild
Finish

Try to document as much as you can keep a journal of happenings

Did the kitchen get wet? If so all base cabs need to be removed.....

Get someone in there ASAP!

I am doing pictures and videos. I have all carpet and pads and tack strips out and air movers going. Tomorrow I will have the rest of personal stuff not damaged out and the company the town hired is going to take all the furniture and other stuff out that got wet to clean.....I told them i want it thrown away and let's see what happens. Then they will have a contractor start cutting dry wall to see damage. At that point I will decide if I will go with who the city hired or not. But at this point I have half the clean out and drying done beside behind the dry wall, but I am sure the air movers are helping.

 

[riverroyal]

Get a lawyer now. Document every call, talk, pics, every nickel spent.
It will end up on the home record and hurt resale.
Time to lawyer up

 

[riverroyal]

We had a down stairs apartment unit that was vacant after a rehab for a few weeks during the summer and had a clog that nobody knew about until the adjacent unit to this called about a bad smell, all the shit for 2 up stairs units ended up in this one. We had good insurance that covered the clean up, but we payed for the repiped to get ride of all the old cast iron pipe. View attachment 707586 View attachment 707585 View attachment 707584

Looks like my bathroom after chipotle

 

[Carlson-jet]

Isn't there some lawyer on here named Parker or something like that? LOL
Sounds like you have done very good so far. After handling those Tack-strips and carpet that might have had staples, make sure your tetanus is up to date. I saw someone mention it but didn't see a reply.

 

[Larry H. Parker]

Isn't there some lawyer on here named Parker or something like that? LOL
Sounds like you have done very good so far. After handling those Tack-strips and carpet that might have had staples, make sure your tetanus is up to date. I saw someone mention it but didn't see a reply.

My office stands ready to assist in anyway possible. Please feel free to email me with any questions.

Larry H. Parker

 

[rrrr]

This happened to my parents about 20 years ago. The city crushed the main while working on the street behind their house. The black water was 4" deep in some places.

They had called State Farm, who said they would cover the damage and go after the city. I don't remember the details, but they said they wouldn't pay for a hotel, and it was going to take a couple of months to fix. My mom was crying when she told me this.

I got on the phone with the adjuster, don't remember exactly what I said, but I tore into the guy. Told him if they were going to pursue subrogation, wtf did it matter how much money was spent? After a 20 minute ass chewing, my folks were headed to a hotel and had an open room service account.

Things are probably different today.

 

[NicPaus]

I am worried about the common walls and that both sides are repaired correctly. Plus I know all common walls have 2 sheets of drywall on each side so not sure if that is going to be a huge deal with moisture trapped or spreading faster?

Make sure a third party environmental does testing of unit and ones adjacent and clears them before any repairs are made. I can get you the number to Lawyer tomorrow if interested.

Anything that came into contact with the sewage you want replaced. All new personal items, doors, cabinets, toilets and tubs you want replaced not cleaned. Make sure you bill them for the cleanup should be around $10k to clean and dry minimum not including repair.

 

[DaBank]

Make sure a third party environmental does testing of unit and ones adjacent and clears them before any repairs are made. I can get you the number to Lawyer tomorrow if interested.

Anything that came into contact with the sewage you want replaced. All new personal items, doors, cabinets, toilets and tubs you want replaced not cleaned. Make sure you bill them for the cleanup should be around $10k to clean and dry minimum not including repair.

I feel everything should be thrown away. Her furniture is maybe $5k to replace, nothing special. Cleaning furniture sounds like a joke and I am sure by the time it is done i could have bought new stuff (her stuff is 5 years old). They know i am in there myself doing it because someone from the city has been on site yesterday and today so not sure how I can charge them, I do buy the air movers so was going to charge them for that.
I might need the lawyer information. Thank you, Frank

 

[Havalife]

IMO the city should have put up all the people involved in an apartment or hotel the same day, with pets. I don't know what protection you used but it sounds like you got it done, but that is a scary thing when you think about it. I have dealt with a lot of issues like this in past work and it is not something you jump in and do if you do not have proper knowledge of the cleanup procedure and gear.
Tetanus shot is only 1 of many shots you should have gotten BEFORE you were exposed. I would suggest you get a lawyer asap, dealing with the city will be a long and tiring process unless they are trying to make it right now.
I don't know what experience or training you have in this field but what you jumped into is A PILE of shit. If you are licenced in the great state of Cali to do this cleanup great, if not I would suggest back off and let the cleanup crew you have take over, stay away from the condo, get checked by a doctor and do full blood tests. Sewage is not something you play with.

 

[Havalife]

I feel everything should be thrown away. Her furniture is maybe $5k to replace, nothing special. Cleaning furniture sounds like a joke and I am sure by the time it is done i could have bought new stuff (her stuff is 5 years old). They know i am in there myself doing it because someone from the city has been on site yesterday and today so not sure how I can charge them, I do buy the air movers so was going to charge them for that.
I might need the lawyer information. Thank you, Frank

Who else is cleaning the other units?
Just a thought but air movers without filters being blown to the out doors could be a liability to infecting others, but you probably know that. Or the city guy watching may know that.

 

[DLC]

Look at renting dehumidifiers instead of air movers, call around at rental places, janitorial supply houses, carpet cleaning supple stores

You can rent then for cheap but if a restoration company brings them out they will be big bucks.... they have an air filter and suck out the moisture, stick the little rubber hose is a trash can to see how much water /moisture you collect.

This is a lot of info from a lot of people, a lot to diegest so to speak.....

Good luck

 

[Canuck 1]

I feel everything should be thrown away. Her furniture is maybe $5k to replace, nothing special. Cleaning furniture sounds like a joke and I am sure by the time it is done i could have bought new stuff (her stuff is 5 years old). They know i am in there myself doing it because someone from the city has been on site yesterday and today so not sure how I can charge them, I do buy the air movers so was going to charge them for that.
I might need the lawyer information. Thank you, Frank

I'll throw my .02 in here

1. shut the air movers off now
2. find the local cleaners supply and get a disinfectant and spray all affected areas
3. if it is particle board or soft goods, throw them out. carpet, clothes, furniture, whatever..... document with pics
4. cut affected drywall out, stagger cuts if doubled on fire walls
5. open up under cabinets, under stairs, any hidden areas
6. power wash all hard walls, sill plates, floor area
7.then install drying equipment
8. call Mandy and pay him to do a walk through to direct you or call me and I can walk you though the process

 

[DaBank]

Make sure a third party environmental does testing of unit and ones adjacent and clears them before any repairs are made. I can get you the number to Lawyer tomorrow if interested.

Anything that came into contact with the sewage you want replaced. All new personal items, doors, cabinets, toilets and tubs you want replaced not cleaned. Make sure you bill them for the cleanup should be around $10k to clean and dry minimum not including repair.

I feel everything should be thrown away. Her furniture is maybe $5k to replace, nothing special. Cleaning furniture sounds like a joke and I am sure by the time it is done i could have bought new stuff (her stuff is 5 years old). They know i am in there myself doing it because someone from the city has been on site yesterday and today so not sure how I can charge them, I do buy the air movers so was going to charge them for that.
I might need the lawyer information. Thank you, Frank

I'll throw my .02 in here

1. shut the air movers off now
2. find the local cleaners supply and get a disinfectant and spray all affected areas
3. if it is particle board or soft goods, throw them out. carpet, clothes, furniture, whatever..... document with pics
4. cut affected drywall out, stagger cuts if doubled on fire walls
5. open up under cabinets, under stairs, any hidden areas
6. power wash all hard walls, sill plates, floor area
7.then install drying equipment
8. call Mandy and pay him to do a walk through to direct you or call me and I can walk you though the process

They had a company there yesterday that started taking people's entire belongings to clean and sanitized and store. I let my mom take a couple outfits put of drawers and a few keepsakes and paperwork. I was going to take a few personal items this morning, do you think that is ok? I have removed all carpet and pads. Like i said they are clearing out items in each unit to be sanitized and then inspected to be cleaned and/or thrown away. The company is in La so everything will be 2 hours away. They are putting everyone stuff in the same truck and that does not seem right?
They want everything out today so the contractor can start cutting walls tonight/tomorrow. My moms closet was the worst area with overnight moisture and the smell was intense since it has carpet and was the closest to the toilet. So I am thinking the clothes are trashed, but i dont know if should let the company inventory and bag and tag everything and take it since the city is paying or throw it away....all I know is we dont want it back.
I talked to the city yesterday and my mom will be going to a hotel starting tonight.
It is just hard for me not to be hands on and make sure nothing gets ruined even though I feel it should be thrown away. My mom is just concerned with stupid stuff like toiletries and her food,can goods,plates and stuff like that because she says she paid for that stuff and what's to use it and I dont think she should?