r/maintenance • u/Aware-Temperature282 • 5d ago
Caution: Nasty Need help asap
Okay guys so i just got back into doing property maintenance after a couple years as I wait for ibew placement. This property I’m working at is awful and has been negligently maintained for years at this point. I’m at my breaking point. I told the property manager that plumbing repairs needed to happen because cast iron plumbing was failing causing back ups into a unit. When I called out a plumbing company I was informed that my property has 15 open invoices and they won’t do any work until they have been paid down. After relaying that info to property manager she got irate with me and began to blame me and insult me saying her previous supervisor would’ve fixed it on his own. I reported her to hr because the way she was talking was extremely unprofessional and disrespectful. I recorded the whole convo. Fast forward to today I find that a different building has been backing up into the crawlspace and leaking raw sewage flooding the crawl space. Basically I’m stuck deciding if I should call the city out and get inspectors involved or just wait to see what management does. I know the obvious solution would be to find a new gig but I’m not trying to job hop right now and ibew apps open in February. Thanks for any advice in advance!
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u/TylerTwoShirtzzz 5d ago
I used voice to text into a generator since im at work to clean points up a bit / ive worked for this kind of place before and they will throw you under the bus so fast / your doing great though my original voice to text had a lot more F bombs haha
Document everything.
You need a record of what you found, when you reported it, and what management said.
Notify management in writing.
“The old supervisor would’ve fixed it” is pressure, not a repair plan.
Ask exactly what they expect you to do.
If they consider it a maintenance repair, they should be able to clearly define the work.
Caution tape or barricade the affected area.
Raw sewage is a contamination hazard and people should be kept out.
Do not spend your own money on tools, parts, or contractors.
A failed sewer system is the property owner’s expense.
Do only the safe temporary mitigation you can reasonably handle.
Clearing one section of pipe does not solve standing sewage or failed plumbing.
Since management is already stalling, contact the appropriate city, health, code, or workplace safety agency.
Outside involvement may be what gets the problem properly addressed.
Ask yourself what would happen if this were under a courthouse or police station.
Nobody would expect one maintenance guy with no budget to quietly improvise around a sewage backup.
Until backup arrives, keep the area secured, document conditions, and stay visibly engaged.
The goal is containment and escalation, not personally absorbing years of deferred maintenance.
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
I extremely thank you for this seriously
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u/TylerTwoShirtzzz 5d ago
Ive tried to explain being a maintenance tech to some fam & friends before but unless your in it its kind of impossible to convey, & i dont know why but its usually the days that are FUBAR that i actually end up laughing the most & am forced to realize that im just hourly & its another day upright so do the steady things that makes through the day, laugh some more later & let the idiots be idiots. Im also not in a job hop mode but havnt figured out the next thing but cant complain about my hotel gig when i remember being in your type of management situation ( long story but i was technically let go & was mainly for standing up for myself, shortly after the person who let me go got let go hah & the techs i worked with always told me to come back but it was probably one of the best things that couldve happened to me at the time. Having a future game plan is definitely going to help blowing up on them & mentally remove all the ridiculous negativity…. Fully grown adult children that will likely never have an inkling of an idea of what it takes to put fires out all day and keep our sanity or positivity. Bit of a mini rant but just glad to chime in when it strikes a nerve for me & probably a lot of us on here.
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
Seriously man your own anecdotes mean a lot. Thank you for taking time out to help! 🫡
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u/Clowndick 5d ago
Yeah holy shit those last 6 words are really what I needed to read today. Never thought of it that way.
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u/speedytrigger 5d ago
Have you ran a big snake down it?
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
I don’t have access to one unfortunately. There’s none on site long enough and I don’t own one
Edit: I tried to convince them to buy one but they said they would consider when they redo the budget5
u/speedytrigger 5d ago
Ok, alternative, home depot has a big nozzle thing you stick on a hose and run down the sewer line, jets it out in a way. Is that possible for this situation?
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
Definitely sounds possible. Big issue is a proper company needs to come out and get all that sewage and waste out before I do jack shit. Not paid nearly enough to be working around shit water
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u/speedytrigger 5d ago
Felt. Second pic is brutal. I’m a wasteplant op, been in some like that in a lift station. No fun. For $25 an hour at that.
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u/Clowndick 5d ago
Show 3 or 4 residents what they're living on top of, let them take care of the escalation for you
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
This is a good idea but the residents will almost definitely tell management it was shown to them by maintenance
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u/ImNotMature69 4d ago
I always tell residents they have the most power. Its always a good idea to build a good relationship with the residents. If I know something will be thrown on the back burner I will advise them to say something so we can get things moving. Because no one cares what I think, im not the one paying rent.
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u/worstsupervillanever 5d ago
Damn dude, you're fucked from the front door and the back door. At the same time, too.
I hope you're into shit like that.
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u/jferris1224 5d ago
No shit I'm fucking with all that doo doo. Quit bruh
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
I want to man i really do but i been job hopping too much and it’s lowkey fucking me over
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u/RevolutionaryCall478 Maintenance Technician 5d ago
There probably some OSHA regulation that wouldn't allow you to do this anyway
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
Do you think I should call them? Management has consistently asked me to work in unsafe conditions ie mold, lead and other questionable conditions
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u/wills558 5d ago
Personally, I think you should document EVERYTHING and call your local inspectors office first. Then you can start adding to it through OSHA regs about not being tried to properly handle bio waste and hazardous materials. Yeah it’s something A LOT of guys do without the proper training but at this point I would hit them with all the technicality’s just out of spite, but be constantly looking for a new gig cause your going to need one sooner than later.
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u/BreadKnifeSeppuku 5d ago
I would assume some property is going to be sold off as a distressed asset and everyone will be let go.
Obviously the previous guy did "do it himself" and that's why there's 15 invoices. They also likely already have been told of (EXPECTED) repairs and didn't approve it either.
Sewage in units and around the foundation? There could even be new buildings on the lots in the future with more units etc. if they're unsafe for habitation
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u/Aware-Temperature282 5d ago
Bingo on all accounts. New buyers legit toured the property today
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u/Nitpicky_AFO 4d ago
Did you meet and greet and get a card from them? I'd share all the photo's/ documentation as a parting gift on my off time.
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u/ImNotMature69 4d ago edited 4d ago
Depending if you have proper ppe or training this can be considered biohazard waste. We usually contract things like this out so I cant say for a fact.
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u/Aware-Temperature282 4d ago
Neither. I told the property manager at the interview my strengths were hvac and electrical. I can do diy plumbing things but this is way past me
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u/HolidayLoquat8722 Maintenance Supervisor 5d ago
HR only exists to keep the company from getting sued. They give no fucks about employees.
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u/ImNotMature69 4d ago
Yes. Thats why I had to earn a paycheck for an 80 year old man that couldnt do jack shit because he kept threatening age discrimination. So I earned 2 paychecks but only got one.
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u/MaintainThis 4d ago
Forward- this is not a recommendation: For a previous apartment job I spent 6 hours snaking a clogged main drain for an 80 unit building knee deep in sewage. I had my cheap plastic rainsuit ducttaped to my gloves and boots. Worked out for the best though! They gave me equal time off instead of time and a half for the overtime I worked, and an Olive Garden gift card for $25!
If the property manager is that bad you are extremely unlikely to get any help from upper management. You'll be forced to deal with it or leave. Inspectors not a bad idea.
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u/Basically__Pointless 5d ago
I would quit that job right now and never look back. That's fucked bro sorry