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Is That a Drain line? This Can't Be Good

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Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819

Okay, so I’m looking at a property to give the owners an estimate for repairs in Placerville, and I see the darnedest thing. I am looking at the back side of the building and I see this galvanizes pipe poking out of the building. It is not strapped and is loose to the touch. It is connected to some flexible rubber tubing going away from the property. So I followed it.

 Improper drainage line for washer

In the middle of the yard is a puddle of soapy water. What? This can’t be good. Apparently the pipe at the house is the clothes washer drain line. It flows out to the middle of the yard and soaks into the ground.

 Soapy water from washing machine

I am sure that this is not the proper way the drain this water. Looking inside the room was not done with a permit, it couldn’t have. There were many things that needed attention. The drain line was just the tip of the iceberg.

Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

That does look pretty hokey.  At least if you're going to use your washer gray water, you could use th proper plumbing parts and put it out of sight too.

Mar 07, 2012 01:01 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Good to know Laure.

Mar 07, 2012 02:52 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I agree that the plumbing needs to be better Bea.

Mar 07, 2012 02:52 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I guess it makes sense, do they water vegetation that people consume? I have never heard of water being hauled in. I live a sheltered life Jim.  :)

Mar 07, 2012 02:53 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Many of the local utilities in California use recycled water, not to be consumed, but not at the individual home level Rick.

Mar 07, 2012 02:53 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

 

I've spilled soay water onto the lawn once, all the worms came to the surface. Maybe the insects were eliminated Bob.

Mar 07, 2012 02:54 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Sound like you had quite a showing last weekend Jon, funny story.

Mar 07, 2012 02:54 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Can an ice rink be listed as an amenity of the home?  :)

Thanks Bill

Mar 07, 2012 03:00 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It could be Bob, I'm not sure why. I have learned that some areas are doing it regularly.

Mar 07, 2012 03:00 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I love my job Karen, there is so much out there to experience.  :)

Mar 07, 2012 03:01 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I can get a bit warm sometimes Kim.

I would think the local governments would want a say in what we can pump into our ground.

Mar 07, 2012 03:01 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Maybe we can find an endangered species too Gene.

Thanks for the comment.

Mar 07, 2012 03:01 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for your input Wayne, I have learned some new things here.

Mar 07, 2012 03:06 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Lots of cash for rehab... it solves a lot of things doesn't it Claude.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Mar 07, 2012 03:06 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I had no idea that detergent helps the trees Rueben.

Mar 07, 2012 03:06 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

That's true Georgina. If this were properly plumbed it wouldn't look so "hokey".

Great to hear from you.

Mar 07, 2012 03:06 PM
Michael J. O'Connor
Diamond Ridge Realty - Corona, CA
Eastvale - 951-847-4883

I've seen this in my area too.  I agree with the comments of others that some people look at it as a green solution but that's usually just marketing-spin for a hack job without permits.

Mar 08, 2012 01:21 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

That appears to be a true statement Michael. I know that know permits were involved here, that much is certain.

Mar 08, 2012 06:10 AM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

Wow, that is amazing! I never have seen that! Always something new when we're out in the field!

Mar 08, 2012 10:05 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Always!

Thanks for the comment Sylvie.

Mar 09, 2012 12:20 PM