Managing a commercial building is challenging enough without having to deal with plumbing problems. Be prepared by knowing the most common plumbing problems that may affect your business.
Clogged Drains
In commercial buildings, clogged drains are a common problem. And clogs can cause serious issues if you’re running a business or restaurant. You don’t want to look unprofessional to customers, so keeping on top of clogs is essential.
You may not always know you have a clog, so watch out for some key indicators. Be on the lookout for water that drains slowly, water that pools around a drain, water that backs up, gurgling sounds coming from a drain, and water puddles near a sink.
Prevention is key. Make sure you avoid putting coffee grounds, eggshells, and fibrous plant material down your drains. In commercial restaurants, a grease trap must be installed, which helps to avoid grease and oil clogging up your pipes. Have your bathrooms cleaned regularly so the sinks can be checked for clogs. And if you do get a clog, call in a plumber to fix it as soon as possible.
Clogged Toilets
Along with clogged drains, clogged toilets are another popular commercial plumbing problem. Commercial bathrooms are used more frequently than residential bathrooms, so clogs occur more. They also occur more because, unfortunately, commercial bathrooms are not as well respected by the public. Your bathroom can easily fall victim to clogged toilets as you never know what your customers are flushing.
If a toilet gets clogged, be sure to attend to it right away. A plunger is something you need to keep on hand for smaller clogs. If the clog is not resolving or a toilet is clogging frequently, call in a professional to help fix the situation.
Hot Water Issues
Commercial properties rely heavily on commercial water heaters. So when there’s a problem with the hot water supply, you may only get hot water coming out of a specific faucet, or no hot water comes out of any faucets in the building. For some businesses (hairdressers, spas, etc.) lack of hot water can be disastrous.
Issues can vary depending on the hot water system, but some common issues relate to the thermostat or the insulation. Regardless of what the problem is, this is something you don’t want to wait to fix.
Sewer Odor
The good thing about this plumbing problem is that you know immediately if you have it. The bad news is the smell of sewage lingering in your business will not only drive customers away, but it means something is wrong.
There can be quite a few reasons sewer smells get inside your building. These include a dry trap, a blocked vent, or a damaged drain line. If you want to try solving this on your own before calling in a plumber, there are a few things you can try. First, pour two cups of tap water down every drain in your building. If the odor goes away after a couple of days, the issue was a dry trap. If the smell remains, try to identify the problem drain. Once you find it, remove the grating and disinfect the drain thoroughly. If the smell persists, then it’s time to call in a plumber.
Silent Pipe Leaks
In commercial properties, there are often miles of pipework, so leaks are bound to happen at some point. However, it’s not always obvious where and even when you have a leak on your hands. It’s important to locate a leak as soon as possible because leakages can develop into much more serious problems that are expensive to fix.
Checking your kitchen and bathroom sink pipes regularly will help you catch a leak quickly. To look for a silent leak, you need to do a little more work. First, note your water meter reading then turn off the main water valve. Check your meter reading in two hours. If the number has increased, you have a leak.
Let City Plumbing Services take care of your plumbing needs.
Let City Plumbing Services Handle it
Commercial plumbing problems can have a big effect on your business. If you require commercial plumbing services due to leaking pipes, clogged drains, and broken water heaters, don’t do it yourself. Let City Plumbing Services take care of your plumbing needs. Our local commercial plumbers are licensed, bonded, and insured, and will get the job done easily and efficiently. We’re located in Cave Creek, but are ready to help those in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Surprise, and most of the East Valley of Arizona.
