Insights
Our blog on how community owners and operators can protect value and resident health with pipe replacement.
The Power of Hydronic System Upgrades
In many parts of the country, multifamily apartment and condominium communities have switched from winter heating to summer cooling and discovered that their hydronic HVAC systems are in jeopardy. Systems that have kept building climates steady and residents comfortable for 30+ years are breaking down or leaking under the...
When A Design-Build Solution May Be Best for Your Community Renovation
When looking to complete a capital improvement project like a community-wide piping system replacement or upgrade, you have several contracting model options. We’ve previously written about why one model—hiring your service or maintenance provider for a large capital improvement project—is often not the best choice. Even among the qualified...
Stop chasing leaks. It’s a race you can’t win.
When apartment community owners and condo boards face repeated piping leaks, they may start “chasing leaks,” which means treating each incident as an isolated event instead of committing to a systemic solution. It’s so much easier to call a plumber or HVAC service technician for a quick repair than...
Diagnosing Defects: Understanding plumbing problems in your newly constructed building
It’s a terrible feeling for every property owner and manager. Your brand new condo or apartment community has finally opened. The finishes are beautiful, the paint is perfect. But then, a spot emerges on a unit’s pristine new wall. There’s moisture seeping through.
Your maintenance team cuts the drywall and...
UPDATED: Planning Capital Improvements? Evaluate Contractors with These 10 Questions.
Earlier this year we published our most “liked” blog post, which listed 10 questions you can use to select the right contractor for a capital improvement project. Since the only constant is change, it’s already time for an update! We’ve updated the list with a new question about how...
Top 7 Reasons to Use a Specialty Pipe Replacement Contractor
Paramedics excel in medical emergencies. That doesn’t mean they have the skills and experience to perform heart surgery, too. Apply this same logic when you undertake a mechanical or plumbing capital improvement in your apartment or condo buildings. For leaks, maintenance, and fixture installs, your service provider is a perfect...
Including Pipes in Capital Improvement Planning
Leverage Useful Life Estimates, Incident Tracking, and Pipe Assessments to Prepare Your Community for the Inevitable
Maybe you’ve never considered that you may one day have to replace a whole piping system in your community. The fact is, it’s becoming more common as about half of U.S. apartment and condominium...
The Science Behind Costly Pipe Breakdowns
Compatibility is the key to longevity. That’s as true for human relationships as it is for piping systems. Without compatibility, breakups—and breakdowns—are inevitable.
At SageWater, we see a high volume of premature piping system failures due to the use of incompatible materials. Think of a mixture of metals, or...
When to Repipe Your Community—and How to Fund It
In any condo or apartment community, maintenance and repairs are inevitable. Over time, building materials will begin to fail, and pipes are no exception. Depending on the material, pipes may begin to develop cracks and leaks within a few decades of installation, sometimes less.
Planning Capital Improvements? Vet Contractors with These 10 Questions.
When planning a large capital improvement project, it’s crucial to select the right contractor. You want to find the right mix of skills, price, process, credentials, and capabilities. Employ a disciplined selection process to recognize potential risks and realize the right value.
Here are 10 questions to ask contractors that...