When you own or manage a commercial property, you’re familiar with working with contractors for various maintenance issues. As experienced commercial plumbing professionals, we are familiar with every one of the most common plumbing issues that business owners encounter. We know how to manage new construction, regular maintenance, preventative services, or emergencies.
Be prepared to prevent the most common problems. By knowing what you could encounter and having a working relationship with a local commercial plumbing team, you can provide the best services for your property.
New Construction Commercial Plumbing Needs
When you’re building a new property, send us a bid package.
We are knowledgeable and professional, experienced working with other contractors on new construction to provide the best system for your employees and customers. Do you have specific insurance requirements? Will your property be installing a fire sprinkler system? How many bathrooms, kitchen sinks, and exterior drains will you need?
Before you try to answer any of these questions, call us. Some of the most common plumbing issues that your business will run into down the road can be prevented by examining the architectural designs and thinking ahead about your business’ needs.
From schools and office buildings, to small coffee shops and retail outlets, we are prepared to help you build the right plumbing system to last your building for decades.
Common Commercial Plumbing Maintenance
When you have many people using plumbing equipment every day (or most days), you will eventually encounter all of these common issues:
Clogged drains and toilets
In commercial plumbing, a clogged drain can be caused by many things. Inappropriate items flushed down a toilet or poured into a sink can cause major issues over the long run – and could backup your entire system. In restaurants, it’s common that the “mop sink” or “mop drain” gets clogged with grease, mop threads, and other debris. In office buildings and retail stores, people commonly try to flush items that should have gone in the trash. When these clogs happen, you may need a professional plumber to get things running smoothly again.
A commercial plumbing service can bring in a device with a long hose and attachment at the end, designed to unclog deep clogs well below the building in the underground pipes. This is sometimes called a “snake”, and “snaking a drain” is probably the most common reason that business owners call in commercial plumbers.
Faucet and fixture leaks
When you have a leak inside the building, from a commonly used faucet, a commercial plumber can not only repair the issue quickly, but may be able to upgrade your appliances to prevent future leaks. If you have a repeat leak that you’ve attempted to fix several times yourself, but it keeps coming back, call a commercial plumber. There may be a bigger issue that you can’t see and aren’t prepared to fix.
Large leaks or pipe breakage
It happens to many people. They arrive at their place of work to find water pouring through the ceiling, or a flood on the floor, or a patch soaking through the wall. Unfortunately, because buildings encase so many miles of piping in their walls, there are many potential ways that your system can begin to leak. If a valve fails, if a pipe becomes corroded, if something damages the pipe – all these things can cause it to fail. Sometimes, leaks build slowly over time without your knowledge. And sometimes, leaks happen all at once.
If you discover flooding, a large leak, or a pipe breakage, always call a commercial plumbing professional. They have the expertise and the appropriate tools to isolate the leak or breakage, repair it appropriately, and take measures to prevent future problems.
Tip: Prevent Frozen Pipes
One of the most common reasons that pipes break is due to below-freezing temperatures. If you live in a location that experiences temperatures below freezing, remember your pipes! If the thermostat is going to read 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below, leave a sink faucet at a slow drip during the freezing period. This helps keep water flowing through the pipe, which prevents it from freezing solid. When water inside a pipe freezes solid, it can expand to the point that it cracks the pipe from the inside.
If you operate in a building with multiple floors, leave at least one faucet dripping on each floor. For more advice regarding how to avoid damage to your commercial plumbing in freezing weather, contact your professional, experienced plumber.