Grrr townhouse vent

Jkip0705 · December 2009

So we live in a fairly nice townhouse (better than our old 1 bedroom apt) Our dishwasher has never really worked and now it is really bad. And now our fan in the upstairs bathroom is leaking.

I called it in today and the guy came out, played with the dishwasher for a few minutes then said it "seems to be doing everything it should be doing". Ok then explain to me the dishes that are always dirty after I run it and the buildup on everything. I've tried cleaning it myself, putting in a rinse agent, washing with a commercial product and nothing works. Even pre-washing dishes and turning the dishwasher on immediately does not clean them. I have been hand washing lately. I've never had a dishwasher so I really want to be able to use this one!

Then he went upstairs, took a look at the bubbling ceiling around the fan and the water marks and we have to wait until Spring to get it fixed. Understandable that they can't be on the roof till then, but what happens if it gets worse? It has already gotten worse in the past 2 weeks and more water has been dripping.

Ugh! Part of the reason why I want to get a house so I don't have to wait on people, but then again we probably wouldn't want to be fixing this stuff ourselves if we did have a house!

Karen2905 · December 2009

I'd consider getting a second opinion about the dishwasher. It's not "doing everything it's supposed to be doing" if it's not cleaning the dishes. Have you looked at online reviews for that particular model dishwasher? If it's not in disrepair, it may just be a really sucky dishwasher (sorry to say).

Are there any particular electrical dangers with the water bubbling around the fan? That doesn't seem like something that could wait.

jlk0219 · December 2009

We live in a townhouse too and have had similar issues with management- they just don't care. We have a leak in our roof and they've been out three times to "fix" it and it's still leaking around where our toilet vents- so that the plaster on our bathroom ceiling is starting to crumble from the dampness. I could see your fan shorting out if there's water getting into it- at least when that happens they'll have to replace it. Too bad your dishwasher won't "break" all of a sudden- that would be a shame...

krc18 · December 2009

Ugh that sucks! We live in a TH now but its privately owned and our landlords are really good about any issues we have. However, we just moved out of an apartment that we were in for 3 years and it was the same thing. Literally EVERY summer the ac broke and when you live in FL no ac is a crisis. They would "fix" it and then three days later it wouldn't work again. The only way I ever got them to actually fix something is when we had a problem with our toilet and DH told them about it and days had gone by and they still hadn't come to fix it (I was having to use the bathroom in the apartment buildings public laundry room) so DH and I decided to try to fix it...well I accidentally dropped the lid (to the back of it) into the part it rests on (the part with the pump) and it cracked and water started gushing out of the bottom of the toilet and flooded my bathroom....then they came out and fixed the whole thing. They never knew it was me who cracked it but it got the job done! If maybe something like that could happen to your dishwasher....

Witchys_Woman · December 2009

We have the same types of issues. I knew the maintenance man was going to be in the bulding today because our bolier froze and burst about 3 weeks ago. They were coming around to all the apartments to check to see that the pipes in them were ok. I called the office and asked if he could come and look at our fridge at the same time since it's been collecting water at the bottom and is now leaking out the door. Yes, fine someone would be by. So he comes, looks at it and says oh, this is your problem but I can't fix it, i'll have to call the other guy to bring parts. I told him this was the thrid issue we've had with this fridge, first it was freezing everything, then the motor burned out and all our food spoiled and now this, can't we just have a new fridge. Oh he says, that's up to the landlord...I was like can you ask him about it. No he says, we'll just fix it. Like you've fixed it 3 times, let it die already so we can have a new one!!!! So i've been waiting all day and no fridge man has come and now I have to go to work. Seriously, I feel like we should just buy one and take it our of our rent money!!!

Jkip0705 · December 2009

DH was not happy when I told him. He wants to figure out some way to jam the motor in the dishwasher so they have to fix it. It is ANCIENT. I'm sure it's older than the complex. I just want a dishwasher that works!

I never thought about the electrical and the fan! Now I am a little nervous!

wittyschaffy · December 2009

Get a second opinion on both counts. If your dishwasher isn't cleaning, it isn't working. It may run through the cycles but something isn't working, obviously. Also, I'd be worried about the danger of your fan with water as well. I'd call him back and let him know that "waiting until spring" to fix it isn't going to cut it and you want it fixed pronto. If they say no, call management.

Jkip0705 · December 2009

I'm not sure if there is another guy for a second opinion. He's the only one who has ever come to fix anything. And as for the management, they are who I called the report the problem and they told me first that the fan would have to wait until spring. Confused

wittyschaffy · December 2009

I suppose you could call a local HVAC contractor and simply ask if it is possible to fix a leaking fan vent in the wintertime. If it is, talk to your management firm and let them know that you have a contractor who can fix it and would they like their number to arrange to get it remedied? hehe, I just don't take "no" for an answer, especially when my personal property is at stake like it sounds yours might be.

Jkip0705 · December 2009

H thinks it should be fine so long as the electrical is done right. But I'm the negative one about it because I don't know who did the electrical so we can't no for sure! H thinks I'm over-reacting. I think I may call again to voice my concern

wittyschaffy · December 2009

For what it is worth - I used to work for an Electrical Contractor and any time someone would call in a service call that involved water - we got someone out immediately. Just be sure to keep written records of your contact with your management company though so they don't try to screw you out of a deposit for the damage to the ceiling that they didn't feel like fixing.

Grrr townhouse vent

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