Water and drains

Any problems with water or drain fittings should be immediately reported to the maintenance company. Leaking taps or toilets, radiator leaks and blocked drains need urgent repair. If the problem is not nipped in the bud, it can cause considerable damage to the entire property, and the repair work can significantly increase the cost of living. You should check your kitchen drain pipes on a regular basis. If you notice a leak or a connection leaking, please notify your building’s maintenance company without delay.

Blocked drains

Good drain maintenance helps to prevent blockages. The traps in your toilet and bathroom drains should be regularly cleaned. A bad smell or slowly draining water are signs that the drain is almost blocked.

Preventive use of products meant for unblocking drains is suitable for cleaning the kitchen drain trap. Residents should avoid putting large quantities of food scraps, coffee grinds or grease in the drain, because they may block the trap and thereby the whole drain. Before rinsing dishes, you should wipe off grease and food scraps onto a piece of kitchen towel and throw them into the organic waste container.

Blocked floor drain

Cleaning the floor drain is the resident’s responsibility during the residency. If your floor drain is blocked, try to unblock it yourself first. If you cannot unblock the drain, report the problem to the maintenance company.

Floor drain cleaning instructions

• Remove the floor drain cover. If the cover is difficult to remove, use a screwdriver, etc.
• Remove hair and debris from the floor drain.
• Wash the walls of the floor drain using an old dish brush and detergent, for example. Remove debris falling off the walls from the drain.
• Clean the cover of the floor drain and replace it.

The floor drain may smell after cleaning. You can neutralise the odour using floor drain unblocker or, for example, vinegar. First pour a couple of litres of water into the floor drain and wait a minute. Then pour in a couple of decilitres of vinegar and let it work for several hours. Please note that an odour may linger in your bathroom for a while after cleaning the drain. If the odour does not disperse, let the maintenance company know because this means that the problem is probably located in the trap seal of the floor drain.

Blocked trap

Cleaning the trap:

• Place a bucket under the trap, because dirty water may leak out when the trap is opened.
• Open the trap cover and keep hold of the seal. There are different types of traps, but in most cases you can open the trap by twisting it.
• Remove loose scraps, for instance by using a pipe cleaner or, if possible, by hand.
• Replace the seal and twist the cover plug back in place.
• Pour some water in the drain and check that the trap is not leaking.

Old drain traps may be brittle and difficult to open, or they may break when replaced. Old seals can also easily break when the trap is being cleaned. If this is the case, fill in the problem report describing the situation. You can also submit a problem report, if you cannot solve the problem on your own. In such a case, record the actions you have taken up to that point in the problem report, so that the report can be sent to the maintenance company as soon as possible.

Blocked kitchen drain

Try to unblock the drain by using a drain unblocker (e.g. Kodinputkimies or Mr Muscle). Please note that you should not disassemble the trap or drain. If the drain unblocker does not unblock the drain, report the problem, citing the measures you have taken. Remember that household waste does not belong in the drain because it can cause severe blockages in the long term. If the maintenance company notices that the blockage is caused by, for example, food scraps or an incorrectly disassembled/assembled trap or drain, the resident must pay for the visit by the maintenance company.

Blocked toilet

Extra waste does not belong in the toilet bowl. Do not place pads, nappies, cat litter or any objects that may cause a blockage in the toilet bowl. Waste placed in the toilet finally ends up in landfill, unless it becomes stuck in the pipes. In the worst-case scenario, blocked pipes may block the sewer and cause sewage to rise into your or a neighbour’s home.

However, if your toilet bowl is blocked, contact your building’s maintenance company immediately.

Stinking drain

An odour coming from the drain may signify a dry drain. You can fix the problem by flushing the drain with water. If this does not fix the problem, contact the maintenance company.

Leaking tap or hose

If you notice that a tap in your home is leaking, for instance, through a seal or that a tap is dripping, please notify the maintenance company. Also notify the maintenance company, if the hose or head of a shower or bidet shower in your home or the common areas is leaking.

Washing machine and dishwasher connections

Dishwasher and washing machine water pipe connections are the resident’s responsibility and should always be made according to existing instructions and regulations. It is a good idea to use a professional to avoid accidents. The insurance does not cover dishwasher or washing machine leaks caused by an incorrect connection, nor the resulting damage.

Good to know:

• Remember always to close the tap when the washing machine is not in use. The water pressure may break the water hose, causing water damage.
• It is not safe to leave the washing machine or dishwasher running when you are not at home.
• If you disconnect the dishwasher or washing machine, remember to block the ends of the water intake/drain pipes. You can buy suitable plugs in a hardware store.
• The resident is responsible for blocking the ends of the intake/drain pipes.