4 Common Commercial Plumbing Issues

While commercial buildings and residential properties can experience similar plumbing issues, the scale – and subsequent costs – are often far greater for commercial spaces.

With customers and sanitation regulations involved, plumbing issues can be more than inconvenient for commercial property owners. Leaks, cold water and toilet problems could deter business or result in temporary closure.

Due to these factors, fixing an issue yourself is likely not worth the effort. Working with a plumbing professional can often yield a more impactful result.

If you own a business or commercial property, be on the lookout for the following plumbing problems and make sure to address them right away.

Clogged Drains

Although this issue can affect all types of businesses, restaurants are particularly vulnerable with their sinks and dishwashers. You might try a few DIY methods to lessen your risks but long term, ignoring a clogged drain can have costly consequences.

Considering the incident of fatbergs – rock-like masses of waste matter in a sewer system – you might be dealing with a more pervasive problem. If your restaurant or business has recurring drain clogs, work with a plumber to determine the cause and develop methods for proper grease and food disposal. Rules should also be established for customer bathrooms, such as keeping debris out of the sink drain.

Hot Water

In the home, not having hot water might mean you take cold showers for a few days or weeks, until you can get the water heater fixed. This issue becomes more complicated with commercial entities, as health board regulations require certain establishments to have hot water for sanitation purposes.

At this point, your facility may no longer pass inspection and could be placing customers at risk. It’s a good idea to determine the decrease in temperature and have parts or the full unit replaced in a timely manner to keep business running.

Toilet Issues

No matter if you own a restaurant, office building, hospital or gym, toilet issues can interrupt operations and lead to high water bills. Part of the issue stems from how customers treat public restrooms: They may not give these areas the same level of care as their own homes.

Commercial bathrooms see a high degree of traffic and businesses need to anticipate the inherent risks of this arrangement:

• Clogs: Whether your business regularly sees customers or you have a large workforce, a great amount of strain is placed on commercial toilets. This aspect doesn’t take employee or customer behavior into account, including flushing paper towels, feminine hygiene products and other items that can cause clogs and damage pipes.
• Running Toilets: A toilet may not always shut off or, with today’s sensors, flushes at random. These factors can overlap with silent or undetected leaks, causing a company’s water bills to sharply increase on a month-to-month basis.
• Broken Parts: The handle is particularly vulnerable, but even with motion-activated toilets, other parts still experience wear from repeat usage. To continue offering a working restroom, these issues will need to be dealt with swiftly and efficiently.

Plumbing Leaks

Certain leaks are more obvious than others. You may see a thin stream of water coming from the faucet or hear a dripping sound. This occurrence can waste thousands of gallons of water per year and come with high costs.

Commercial buildings have to contend with another issue: Silent leaks. These may be from a toilet or pipes hidden below the floor or behind drywall. Like a leaking faucet, higher water bills accompany a silent leak but other costs need to be considered.

If these leaks go undetected, your facility may be dealing with a mold problem, pervasive water damage and structural issues that require extensive repairs. At the same time, especially with mold and rot, you could be placing the health of others at risk.

If you notice a sudden drop in water pressure, this sign could point to a silent leak within your building. Instead of waiting and allowing the damage to worsen, contact a professional to determine why this is happening and recommend necessary repairs.
 
Is your facility dealing with any of these commercial plumbing problems? The professionals at MJ Fahy & Sons can identify and resolve the issue in a timely manner. To make an appointment, contact us today.