The sign that your commercial plumbing needs an upgrade can be subtle at first. But if left unaddressed, the problems will quickly compound and damage can run into the thousands of dollars before you even realize what’s happening.
If you notice any of these eight signs your commercial plumbing needs upgraded, call in Bulldog Rooter immediately to have it checked out, as failing to do so could result in thousands of dollars in costly damages.
1) Leaky Faucets
Leaky faucets in commercial plumbing waste water, money and contribute to high water bills. Take your home for example: if you have a leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drop per second, it will result in 1,400 gallons of waste water over an entire year. One way to cut down on these leaks is to ensure that all of your faucets are tightly screwed in place.
2) Slow Draining
If you find that a sink, toilet or any other commercial plumbing fixture takes longer than usual to drain, it may be time for an upgrade. Slow drainage can point to clogs and other issues. If your drains are prone to flooding or backing up, then you have an issue that will only get worse over time if left unchecked.Commercial drain cleaning solutions (often including snaking) can help ease problems with slow drains but tend to take time, cost money and require digging into commercial building walls—all of which mean more expense down the road. It might be a good idea in these cases to make sure all commercial plumbing fixtures feature appropriate capacity in relation to waste flow.
3) Poorly Working Shower Heads
Shower heads are one of those things that most people don’t think much about; they turn it on, use it, and then let it collect gunk until they clean it again. But if your shower head is older than 10 years old, chances are that it isn’t working as well as it used to. To make sure you’re getting a proper shower without worrying about flooding your bathroom, invest in a new shower head.
4) Sinks that are Hard to Flush Out
Old pipes in commercial buildings often collect debris and hair, preventing water from flowing easily. Over time, sinks that are hard to flush can lead to serious clogs.
Upgrade your plumbing as soon as you notice that a sink is hard to flush—especially if it’s located in a public area like a restaurant or hotel lobby. Also, look out for sinks that sometimes clog and others that never do; multiple problems with one drain could mean trouble.
5) Excessive Water Pressure
Too much water pressure can lead to serious problems within your commercial plumbing. If you find that you have unusually high water pressure in your building, it could be a sign that it’s time for a serious upgrade to your commercial plumbing. Check with our licensed plumbers to find out more about how we can help with issues related to high water pressure.
6) Bad Smells in the Building
Another sign that your commercial plumbing needs an upgrade is if you start to notice a bad smell in your building. This could be caused by sewage or backed-up drains, and it’s important to take action immediately to get things flowing again. If these problems aren’t fixed, they can quickly become much more serious issues.
7) Weird Puddles of Water on the Floor
It’s easy to misplace or forget about leaks in your commercial plumbing. That’s why you should look for strange puddles of water on your floor. If there are spots of water that are routinely showing up without explanation, check your building’s pipes and other equipment. A quick fix may be all it takes to put an end to those puddles once and for all.
8) Clogged Toilets
Clogged toilets are one of the most common problems in commercial buildings. The trouble is, they’re also one of the easiest to prevent, because a clog is rarely caused by anything you don’t see (and clean) every day. Toilets clog when bits of waste get stuck under or around their outlet holes, which can happen for a variety of reasons. Pipes may be too small to carry liquids efficiently;
Human error (such as flushing things that don’t belong in toilets) can cause problems, too. Whatever caused your toilet to become clogged, it’s best to tackle the problem head-on with commercial-grade cleaners and tools specifically designed to help you clean up after yourself—and your customers!
