Here is some information regarding a term you may have come across, stacked plumbing, in our condo building.

Understanding this concept is essential for all residents as it directly impacts the functionality of our plumbing systems.

What is Stacked Plumbing?
In a condo building, the term "stacked plumbing" refers to the vertical arrangement of plumbing pipes.
Instead of having separate plumbing systems for each unit, our building utilizes a shared vertical stack that runs through all floors.
This stack typically includes pipes for waste removal, venting, and water supply.

Key Components:

1. Drainage Stack: This part of the system is responsible for carrying wastewater from individual units down to the main sewer line.

2. Vent Stack: The vent stack allows air to enter the plumbing system, preventing airlocks and ensuring proper drainage. It also helps eliminate sewer gas odors.

3. Water Supply Lines: Stacked plumbing also involves shared water supply lines that deliver freshwater to each unit.

4. HVAC Heating and Cooling Core Loop: This stacked plumbing fixture is whats called a two pipe system.
One pipe for up flowing water that enters our fan coil units, another flowing down for the return water.

Implications for Residents:

Understanding stacked plumbing is crucial for residents because it affects how we use water and manage waste within our units. Here are a few key points:

1. Shared System: Since the plumbing is shared vertically, actions such as flushing, drainage, and water usage in one unit can have an impact on others.
Being mindful of how we use water and dispose of waste helps maintain smooth operations for everyone.

2. Maintenance: Routine maintenance and repairs to the plumbing stack may occasionally be necessary.
Our management team will communicate in advance about any planned maintenance or repairs to minimize disruptions.
As currently scheduled, the drainage stack lines are cleaned on a 5 year rotation to reduce the chance of clogs.

3. Cooperation: A shared plumbing system requires cooperation among residents. If you notice any issues, such as slow drainage or unusual sounds, please report them promptly to our maintenance team.

Additional Information:

Common devices that can cause issues in stacked plumbing include: touch faucets, toilet seat bidets, any device which maintains an open valve when the output is not flowing.

The reasoning for this is two fold. With stacked plumbing our pipes allow water to flow to our neighbors, above and below us. The cold water runs at a higher pressure than the hot water for safety reasons. Because of this, when an open valve mixing hot and cold water is kept in that state, such as a touch faucet with the handle open but the tap turned off via the touch feature, the higher pressure cold water flows up and down the hot water pipe causeing the residents above and below the faucet install location to experience cold water from their hot water taps and it taking longer for hot water to start flowing.

As always, please let me know if you have additions, changes, or corrections.