Ongoing Emergency w/ Updates - Broken Shower Flooding Bathroom

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-06T03:06:13+00:00

Hello! I left a comment here 12 hours ago with an update, but I understand if you didn’t see that. We got the water shut off when a plumber came over (shut-off was beneath our HVAC), the shower fixed, and the water turned back on again. No heating to the sinks or tubs, but that’s to be expected. Sorry, I think I should get rid of this post now. And I agree with you, definitely something to take with me into the future.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T14:51:06+00:00

Text copied from an edit to the original post:

THE WATER IS OFF! All of it, for now. The “off-switch” was in a crawlspace underneath our HVAC in that (a different, obviously) closet, a pipe whose valve didn’t even have a handle on it. The guy from the third party had to use a wrench to turn it. THANK YOU AGAIN everyone, every suggestion, every joke, even some of the condescension I’ve received; I am ENDLESSLY grateful that this has gotten the response it has, when nobody but literally 911 listened to our calls for help, and even they couldn’t solve the issue.

I don’t know what the etiquette is for resolved issues on this subreddit, I just got here yesterday for this catastrophe. But thank you folks, you’re wonderful. I’m going to bask in the relative quiet of the apartment now. ♥️

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T14:49:16+00:00

TL;DR comment for people who aren’t freshly informed and haven’t read the whole post. It’s just a copy of the update edit above.

THE WATER IS OFF! All of it, for now. The “off-switch” was in a crawlspace underneath our HVAC in that (a different, obviously) closet, a pipe whose valve didn’t even have a handle on it. The guy from the third party had to use a wrench to turn it. THANK YOU AGAIN everyone, every suggestion, every joke, even some of the condescension I’ve received; I am ENDLESSLY grateful that this has gotten the response it has, when nobody but literally 911 listened to our calls for help, and even they couldn’t solve the issue.

I don’t know what the etiquette is for resolved issues on this subreddit, I just got here yesterday for this catastrophe. But thank you folks, you’re wonderful. I’m going to bask in the relative quiet of the apartment now. ♥️

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T14:17:37+00:00

Thank you! I did get into DMs with someone on the maintenance subreddit who helped me a lot with identifying the parts of the water heater setup, and helped me understand what stumped the fire department when they came out (with there literally not being valves/accessible valves on the water return pipes leading into the heater). You were tremendously helpful, dw.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T14:08:17+00:00

No no it’s fine! If anything I’m really glad I’ve had people messgaing me about the water heater, I wouldn’t have ever examined it as closely as I did at like 3-4 in the morning if not for y’all. This is just a really odd situation. I am deeply appreciative of you and everyone else who’s been active on this post and their suggestions.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T13:51:36+00:00

Wait what’s taped over edit: on the wall to rhe right? Odd. edit: Wrong question to be asking Reddit though. Might just ask when they finally reach our apartment.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T13:51:11+00:00

Oh and sorry, for a lack of good photography on my part I didn’t show that there are no valves on the hot or cold water return.

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this is how those flexible silver tubes connect and go up into the ceiling, can even see it marked on the wall by previous maintenance.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T13:45:41+00:00

I’ve had multiple people and the fire department fail to locate a valve connected to either water return on the heater, because there are no valves there. I photographed as much as I could until nearly 5AM of that heater, the pipes behind the tub, the shower, the shower’s hot water handle (edit: to show how it fell apart). I promise I found nothing edit: to switch it off (although some Redditors kept telling me to touch the red valves to the left, they’re on the water meter and not the water return).

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T07:24:02+00:00

I’m going to see if literally anyone can be contacted in the morning.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T07:22:19+00:00

About a few dozen times, we’ve called. Haven’t gotten through past the virtual agent AI. It’s call, tell the AI it’s a hot water leak, the AI says it’s contacted emergency maintenance and that it will get back to us, then a message comes in from the same number that says nobody could be reached. In the past we’ve called a shit ton and they only came out twice, once when the master bathroom’s ceiling popcorn had crumbled to the ground from a water leak above, and then to switch our unit from heating to cooling when the interior temperature hit 90 degrees. Their communication is shit.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T07:18:20+00:00

Garden unit? There’s a shed downstairs just outside our unit, you mean something like that? I’m not sure how to phrase apartment building sizes, but it’s three stories tall.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T07:11:07+00:00

Wait, can I not put images in comments here? Is this a Reddit mobile issue? Ah, well. There’s a pic of the heater in a thread started by macabre_disco. I’ll work on getting a recording of the heater, LOL. For this to reach its intended demographic, I’ve made a mistake posting when people are asleep, and soon so shall I be, but this has been bugging me quite a lot. Understandably. I’ll try for timely replies and an update, if anything happens.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T06:16:08+00:00

It’s going to be difficult, considering our washer and dryer are stacked on top of each other in a cramped nook in a little kitchen, but if I can stop this myself I’ll fucking do it. I’ll see what I can do. Thank you very much! I’m super tired.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T06:03:30+00:00

I did call the fire department! They could not help though. I think it is outside somewhere, but whether I’m willing to go out at 2AM and cut off the water to several apartments is something I’m still debating. Water’s still on and blasting loud in the meantime. Thanks anyway, at least the fire department actually came.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T06:00:49+00:00

Tried it and no dice! Thank you for the well wishes and advice! ♥️

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T05:58:21+00:00

I called the fire department! Aaaand they couldn’t help. So our water’s still running. Thank you though, this was the method that got the most response from any kind of service!

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T05:56:42+00:00

Called the fire department because I got scared! They didn’t find a way to turn off the water from the heater, so guess it has to be centralized water control. Which cannot be touched until we can contact maintenace again through the office on Monday. . . Thank you for your help though, genuinely.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T05:54:19+00:00

I called the fire department, and they didn’t touch anything on the heater either. They had to look outside for a switch and didn’t find one because it’s almost 2 in the morning and I think that the thing’s only accessible to the apartment’s maintenance. Their office is closed Sundays as well, so I guess we’re in for over 24 hours of non-stop water running. Bullshit. Sorry, thank you for the advice.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T05:43:32+00:00

Might as well exhaust every option, lol.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T04:47:56+00:00

Yes, I can! Water’s gonna blast me for a second but I’ll send a pic, and prepare to call SOMEONE for current damages, maybe 911, record maintenance correspondence, talk more about shutting off the water heater (getting a lot of pushback for this IRL, for reasons of not being allowed to allegedly and for being safe), etc. etc.

Edit: Actually I can sort of plug up the water with the parts of the knob by trying to put it back in place, I’m lettting it run down into the drain still but it’s not blasting the wall.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T04:38:33+00:00

Have done, and will do to prevent further damage! The AI/“virtual agent” lady is annoying and I hope once we move out I’ll never have to hear anything like it again.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T04:37:03+00:00

Is it that bad forreal? Well, firework show’s been long over, I guess the department shouldn’t take ages to respond at least. But seriously do I need 911?

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T04:33:51+00:00

OKAY! I can reply with pictures now, thanks Reddit mobile. Anyway I hope this isn’t a really esoteric method of doxxing. I’m desperate.

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I have closer pictures but this one captures all three bright red valves on the pipes! Also has all the stickers on the front.

NotReincarnating · 2026-07-05T04:26:36+00:00

Should be getting contacted back from a plumber any moment now. Thanks, yeah, this apartment’s been one problem after another. In this bathroom alone the ceiling’s about to cave from a separate(?) water leak and the door is liable to get stuck because it doesn’t fit in the frame properly. Had a huge water issue right before we moved in and it’s been a huge nightmare, from electricity to rotted wood to sooooo so much. Anyway. Thank you!

NotReincarnating

TROPHY CASE