• just_kitten
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    2 days ago

    Okay so I’ve always had this problem with the hot water tap in the shower where if you turn it far right enough it turns on again and goes to full blast (not an analogy for conspiracy theorists, I promise). I have usually been able to turn it to just the right point to get it to stop running without starting again.

    However as of the last 3 days or so the showerhead has been dripping incessantly and getting worse and worse. Right now it’s a constant trickle. Even if I turn off the tap as much as possible and turn the shower head upside down. I tried to turn it off completely at the mains and IT STILL WONT TURN OFF (and I can see it’s my meter for sure as when I have the tap running I can see the mini meter spinning). update: I was an idiot and turned the mains tap the wrong way, it took a lot of turning to go completely off but I managed to shut it down thankfully.

    This is beyond an attempt to DIY fix the shower tap, right? Contact the REA asap instead? The main bother is the dripping at night as I can’t sleep (E: not without turning off hot water at the mains each time). Nobody’s charged me for hot water so far so that’s not the issue … It would be costing the owner a lot though I imagine

    E: email sent. Making it sound as dire as possible. Basically either I have increasing dripping or no hot water. I hope they get someone in asap, but it’s the same REA who didn’t even respect the law and tried to arrange an inspection 2 months into a 6 month lease, so…

    • melbaboutownOP
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      2 days ago

      Definitely contact someone and don’t try to tackle it yourself (just in case). I’m no expert but there could be something wrong that could go sideways and result in difficulty turning off a strong flow

    • Catfish
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      2 days ago

      A tap shouldn’t full circle like that in the first place. It’s a safety hazard. You could probably DIY it, but what are you paying the bastards for?

      • just_kitten
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        2 days ago

        If it was minor it would be the kind of thing I figured would keep me on their good enough side if I fixed it myself (lease ends in mid May with potential for extension and I really do need it for just 1-2 extra months).

        But the fact that even turning off the hot water at the mains did nothing has me worried

    • StudSpud The Starchy
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      2 days ago

      Contact the REA for sure. It may classify as an urgent repair even, per the tenantsvic website:

      screenshot-

      Specifically:

      • A failure or breakdown of any essential service or appliance provided for water, hot water, cooking, heating or doing laundry
      • A failure or breakdown in any appliance or fitting supplied by the rental provider that will result in a large amount of water being wasted

      Link: https://tenantsvic.org.au/advice/common-problems/repairs/

      • just_kitten
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        2 days ago

        This is great to know. I wasn’t sure it counted as urgent repair but I will definitely be making that clear to them now. The leaking is pretty bad now, I think all my tap turning has made it worse. I may have to put a towel in the bathtub to soak up the water so I can sleep at night.

        Shit timing though, idk how long to wait before getting my own plumber and trying to get LL to reimburse

        • StudSpud The Starchy
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          2 days ago

          I believe on that website, the REA has to have it repaired ASAP! No waiting period, only waiting for as long as it takes for the LL/REA to get a plumber

          If they don’t do it in a reasonably timely manner, then you can take them to VCAT, in which it will be heard within 2 business days and/or get a plumber yourself and have the REA reimburse you. But the tenantsvic website should lay it all out for you in regards to your rights and reimbursement

          • just_kitten
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            2 days ago

            Thank you thank you thankyou. Good update is I managed to turn off the hot water at the source, like an idiot I had turned the knob the wrong way around. At least I can sleep tonight. Took video of dripping shower head and faulty tap mechanism and will hope for the best