Major sewer backup has taken place, which is associated with prior incidents rather than being a new issue. The ticket is titled "1345 Main St - Major Sewer Backup, 3rd Occurrence."
Dear Owner Partner,
Mike Flannery, founder of Acme House Company, brings 18 years of experience in vacation rental management and 25 years as a general contractor. Insights and clarification regarding policies are being offered following the recent major sewer backup at the property.
After experiencing a third significant backup, we feel obligated to protect both our guests and staff from the ongoing risk of similar incidents. Given the recurring nature of these issues, we also want to help protect you, our partner, from escalating costs, as failing to address the underlying cause will likely result in more frequent backups.
Next Steps: To ensure everyone's safety and the continued success of your property, we will need to block your calendar for future bookings for the next 30 days. During this time, we will work with you to implement a permanent solution to the problem.
Key Information and Policies:
- A major sewer backup is defined as an event where multiple rooms are affected, or it is caused by deteriorating pipes or root intrusion.
- Temporary fixes like hydro jetting or root killer chemicals have proven ineffective in preventing recurrence. We’ve seen a 100% recurrence rate with these methods.
- We acknowledge that guests sometimes exacerbate the issue by flushing inappropriate items, but unfortunately, this is a reality we cannot fully control.
- Plumbing solutions for residential homes can differ greatly from those required by businesses like vacation rentals, hotels, or restaurants. Failing pipes and roots in such systems can lead to significant costs, far beyond the price of replacing the damaged sewage lines.
Long-Term Solutions:
- While pipe relining can be effective for cracked or bellied pipes, it becomes complicated when dealing with root intrusion. If you're not planning to sell the property soon, replacing the pipes may be the best long-term solution.
- Although relining may work temporarily, issues may resurface in a year or two, making replacement a more reliable option.
Our Role: Acme House Company specializes in incidental and preventative maintenance but is not equipped to manage large-scale repairs or replacements. We recommend you take the lead in selecting and working with a trusted plumbing contractor. However, if you need assistance, we can step in and manage the process, but we would need a signed agreement acknowledging our limitations in handling such projects.
Action Items:
- Find a trusted plumbing contractor to assist with a permanent solution. If needed, we can provide a list of recommended vendors.
- Request a comprehensive assessment of the issue, including camera inspections, and ensure that the plumber guarantees the pipes will function properly for 5-10 years.
- Discuss the two projects: First, pay for the thorough assessment, and second, obtain an estimate for a permanent solution (e.g., replacing pipes, adding cleanouts).
- Review the cost and scope of the solution with Acme’s director of engineering to ensure it aligns with your needs.
- Schedule repairs during the off-season to minimize disruptions to your bookings.
- Notify us if we can assist in any way.
If another major backup occurs, we will need to block your calendar for bookings and relocate guests in one-month blocks until a permanent solution is in place.
We are here to support you through this process and look forward to resolving this matter swiftly.
Best regards,
Acme House Company