7 Tips to Avoid Commercial Plumbing Problems

The foundation of any commercial building begins with the plumbing. The problem is that plumbing problems, whether you own your own small business or you are working in an office building, can lead to very costly and time-consuming repairs and replacements. Even worse, some plumbing problems can lead to the entire building being out of commission for days or even weeks on end.

Fortunately, there are seven ways you can take preventative measures to guard against commercial plumbing problems before they happen. If you follow these tips, you should be able to keep your commercial buildings up and running at all times!

1) Run Some Water before Leaving the Property

If you can, run some water before you head out for the night. Doing so will prevent you from running up your water bill when leaving taps running overnight. If that isn’t possible, be sure all of your faucets are turned off—even ones for sinks or tubs that aren’t in use. Likewise, be sure to check your shower heads regularly (gyms or other buildings with shower plumbing); limescale buildup (which looks like white rings) is one of the top causes of commercial plumbing problems and can cause thousands of dollars in damage if left unchecked. You should also replace old shower heads as soon as possible—something which requires only a few minutes and won’t cost much cash at all.

2) What To Do When the Water is Brown

If your building experiences brown water, you don’t necessarily need to panic. The first thing you should do is shut off all of your building’s water, including toilets and faucets. Brown water is often a sign that there’s an issue with chemicals or particles in your system, so it’s important to remove everything from your pipes as soon as possible.

3) Unclog a Drain

Many commercial plumbing problems are caused by clogged drains. Keep a bottle of drain cleaner under your sink at all times and use it if you can’t get a clog cleared. You can also invest in a drain snake for particularly tough clogs; just be sure you know how to use it before trying it out. For example, commercial drain cleaners are different from home drain cleaners, so consult your local plumber on what product is best for your situation.

4) Fix Sagging Toilets

One of the most common commercial plumbing problems happens when toilets are sagging due to age or abuse. These problems can range from a loose toilet seat or lid, broken bolts, or even toilets that aren’t attached at all and can be moved around with ease. If you suspect your commercial plumbing is defective, invest in a plumber for an inspection. The last thing you want is for your customers or employees to fall through a hole into sewage! And although you might think fixing sagging toilets is easy enough, it can quickly become dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

5) Get Rid of Bad Smells

When dealing with bad smells in your commercial plumbing, you want to start by trying to find their root cause. In other words, first figure out why there’s a smell in your bathroom. Then, once you know what it is that’s causing it, try your best to get rid of it. If you can do so successfully, not only will you eliminate bad smells—you’ll also ensure that they don’t return anytime soon. (One good way of doing so? Regularly cleaning your drains.)

6) Poor Water Pressure commercial plumbing problem

If your office or commercial space isn’t getting enough water pressure, you can fix it yourself. First, check for these issues: 

1. A clogged toilet in another bathroom might be using all of your building’s water supply. Unclog a toilet by pouring in a few cups of vinegar and letting it stand for a few minutes. 
2. A faucet might have been left on or there may be some sort of water leak somewhere in your building that needs attention.
3. An irrigation system or sprinkler malfunction could also lead to low water pressure. 
4. Frozen pipes are often a reason for low water pressure during colder months.
5. There might not be any problems at all; if everything looks good from an inspection standpoint but you still have low water pressure, call your plumber or just wait until someone else complains about it before doing anything about it.

7) Don’t Overuse Commercial Cleaners

Unfortunately, commercial cleaners (such as oven cleaner and drain openers) can be extremely dangerous for your plumbing. Even when used correctly, they can seriously damage pipes and drains. Although these products might seem like a great option, they aren’t always safe. If you want to keep your plumbing in good condition, it’s best to avoid commercial cleaners altogether. Instead of paying for costly repairs later on down the road, try some natural solutions for your cleaning needs!

If you are experiencing plumbing problems with your commercial property, or if you are looking to schedule routine maintenance on your commercial plumbing systems, get in contact with the Commercial Plumbing experts at Bulldog Rooter today to get started!