Can HOA force me to replace something in my unit?

Started by SteveM41 • 7 replies • 217 views

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SteveM41 (California)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Hi, I live in CA, 9 story condo, I live on the ground floor and a neighbor a couple of floors above me is complaining of the water pipes rattling. HOA wants everyone in this stack to replace the water hammer arrestors on their washing machines. I got a quote for $234. Is this just a shot in the dark? Hammer arrestors rarely if ever go out. Can I decline fixing my arrestors if it's not bothering me?
thanks,
Steve

ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 4,420

Posted:

Are you asking if the proposed solution (new arrestors) to the noise is a shot in the dark?

Has a plumber weighed in on the source of the noise?

If the noise is a nuisance and it is on account of something you did or did not do, then you may be guilty of violating covenants prohibiting nuisances.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

It might not be bothering you, but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem - maybe you've gotten used to it. Have you asked the board how they come to this resolution? Perhaps they had a contractor come out to check tbe problem - perhaps you shoukd ask to review their written summary. Maybe you should take to the neighbor - did you consider running the machine and then go to your neighbor's unit to hear fir yourself what's going on?

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

SteveM41 (California)
Posts: 2

Posted:

Thanks ElleN, a plumber did come and access the situation and told HOA that a few units need the arrester replaced.
Thankss SheliaH - I'll ask for that written report and do some more testing to hear it for myself.
If I do pay for the repair and it doesn't fix the problem then it might be hard to get my money back.

I guess I could ask for a guarantee that the repair will fix the problem.
thanks,

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

No one can guarantee it will be fixed. Plus you won't get your money back if it doesn't work. Someone did the work and the part was bought. It's not like they don't deserve to be paid for their work. It does not become "free" because the result wasn't as expected.

Example: I take my car to be repaired. Prior to the repair, I buy the part that believe needs replaced. Which was a master cylinder once. I am paying the mechanic their rate for that part to be replaced. If I still don't have brakes, then they still get paid. I just go on to the other part it may be.

Former HOA President

JoeN6 (Virginia)
Posts: 94

Posted:

Why Doesn’t someone propose finding the faulty devices by running one washing machine at a time ? There would have to be cooperation with the 9 neighbours , to co ordinate one- at-a-time washing machines operating and the sensitive neighbour listens for noise ? Find out by process of elimination.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Keep in mind that piston style water arrestors do go bad.

A chamber style arrestor rarely go bad.

I would suspect that the builder used the least expensive one.

CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299

Posted:

For a few years I lived in a ground floor condo, and noise transmission was an issue in general - although plumbing noises generally flowed downward and not upward. It felt like I had invisible roommates that I couldn't get rid of.

I'm sympathetic to noise complaints in general, but in stacked homes with connected plumbing systems you have to expect them. Even fixing the alleged cause of the noise in this case may not achieve the desired result for the complainer. (I wonder if this is a new condo owner who has unrealistic expectations of what's involved.)

It may be more effective to enact a community rule limiting the hours when residents can run their appliances, although I expect some will squawk about that as well. And it won't help those who do shift work or otherwise keep different schedules.

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