Westgate at Williamsburg Condominiums

Westgate at Williamsburg Condominiums

Westgate at Williamsburg Condominiums

November 3, 2016

Dear Residents:IMPORTANT NOTICE/INFORMATION

The Association and your neighbors need your help! We have had another sewer back up that has affected more than one unit. It is necessary to ask each of you to monitor what you put down your drains, your garbage disposal, and your toilets!

Your garbage disposal, sink drains, and toilets are designed with a particular purpose to make our homes sanitary.

TheGarbage disposal pulverizes small particles of food wastes, so the drain can carry them away. It is not a garbage can for large portions of food!

Here are some tips on what not to put in a garbage disposal: Fats, Oils, and Grease*Starchy, stringy or fibrous foods*Pasta*Eggshells*Fruit pits and seeds*Bones*Coffee grounds.

Avoid potential disaster, and don’t put any non-food items into your disposal.

Kitchen and Bathroom Drains: NO Fats. Oils.Grease. Grease comes from foods like gravies, fat from cooking meats, and skin from boiling poultry. It solidifies at room temperature and will collect in your pipes, harden like concrete and clog the drain. It should be discarded in the trash as mentioned above.

TOILETS: In the bathroom, you need to be careful what you flush, and this includes not flushing any Fats, Grease, Oils, and -- other items such as:

  • Baby or Personal Wipes—Even if they say flushable, they ARE NOT
  • Bandages
  • Dental Floss
  • Cotton balls
  • Cigarette butts
  • Kitty litter
  • Hair from your brush
  • Food
  • Fabric softener sheets
  • Diapers
  • Paper towels
  • Cosmetics
  • Feminine Products

To be completely safe, only flush toilet tissue, urine, feces and vomit.

Maintenance: Keep Your Unit Clean

When it’s time to change the baking soda in your fridge, use the old box to clean and deodorize your garbage disposal, drains, and toilets. If you don’t have old baking soda, you can use new.

Follow these simple steps:

Pour in the cup of baking soda, add ½ cup of white vinegar, let it sit for several minutes, then run the hot water in your sink or disposal. Flush the toilet (do not pour additional water into the toilet)

Do this every couple of months to clean the inner workings of your unit.

Despite your best efforts, you have a clog, what do you do:

For a sink:

  1. Bail out any standing water first. Stuff a rag in the flow drain if you are attempting to unclog a kitchen sink. This allows you to increase pressure while plunging.
  1. Place the plunger firmly over the drain and pump vigorously.
  1. Continue pumping up and down for 1 to 2 minutes and repeat, if necessary.

For the toilet:

  1. Bail out excess water, leaving enough to cover the plunger cup.
  1. Place plunger cup snuggly over the drain opening.
  1. Standing directly over the plunger, pump up and down at least 10 times vigorously.
  1. On your last stroke, yank the plunger upward using a strong pull.
  1. Repeat these steps if necessary.

Do Not Use Chemical Substances! Call a licensed plumbing professional for assistance.

If you have a sewer backup into your unit, do not try to flush the toilets or run water. Call the following numbers for assistance in this order:

City of Williamsburg Public Utilities, 757-220-6188, emergency/after hours, 757-229-6196

Berkeley Realty Property Management, Inc. 757-229-6810 There is a 24 hour answering service for assistance after business hours. If during regular business office hours, speak directly to the receptionist. Do not leave a voice mail hoping for a return call.

Thank you for your assistance in keeping our neighborhood’s drains and sewers in tip top shape!

Yours,

The Board of Directors for Westgate Condominiums, Inc.

Top View