Commercial plumbing systems are more complex than standard residential systems. They generally work harder and at a higher rate. For this reason, they commonly experience problems; sometimes on a daily basis. As a commercial property owner, it is important to ensure your building is up to code and maintaining a functional and safe plumbing system. Not only does this protect your investment and prevent devastating disasters and costly repairs, it also protects your guests and employees, and provides a safe and comfortable environment for everyone. Continue reading to learn some of the most common plumbing issues in commercial buildings, as well as, some helpful preventative maintenance tips.
Common Commercial Plumbing Issues:
Water Leaks
There are several areas that can experience leakages. Pipes, faucets, fixtures, and more can leak if they are defective or improperly installed. The most common are faucet leaks, which typically occur as a result of a corroded rubber gasket or O-ring. Keep in mind that leaks can happen wherever there is a seam in the plumbing. When seals wears off, loosens, or breaks, a leak can occur. In extreme cases, cracks and ruptures in pipes are the cause of water leaks.
Silent Leaks
Water leaks are tricky because they can start very small, just a single drip a minute, but then overtime, turn into a large, costly disaster. There is a common plumbing issue known as silent leaks, wherein water leaks are hidden. Overtime, silent leaks become worse because no one knowns about them and they are not repaired. These types of leaks can, and often do, cause a significant amount of structural damage. Toilets and underground piping are the most frequent spots for silent water leaks.
Clogged Toilets and Drains
Whether your commercial building is open to the public, or just employees, the bathrooms get a lot of attention. For this reason, plumbing clogs are a common issue. Unfortunately, not everyone follows the rules of what not to flush down the toilet when it is not their own. Drains too frequently become clogged in bathrooms, but also in employee breakrooms, commercial kitchens, gyms, and businesses like groomers and salons. Things like food, paper, leaves, and grease, are contributory to clogged drains.
Prevention Tips:
Discuss good plumbing practices with staff. For the general public, create posters to place in public restrooms and breakrooms demonstrating good plumbing practices.
Find a professional plumber and consistently use them for all your commercial plumbing needs. Be sure they are state-licensed master plumbers with at least 10 years of experience with commercial plumbing.
Stick to a routine plumbing maintenance and service schedule to ensure efficient and dependable performance, and to catch small problems before they can turn into large ones.
As soon as you are aware of an issue, have it resolved immediately. When it comes to plumbing, small problems can turn into big ones, overnight. And the bigger the problem, the more costly and invasive it is to have it repaired.