As an owner of a commercial property, you want to make sure you don’t fall behind on bills or have a plumbing issue that could result in a significant loss of money or productivity. To avoid unnecessary headaches and stress, it’s important to know how to identify potential problems before they become an emergency. But commercial plumbing isn’t easy to tackle — it involves dealing with different materials, systems and protocols than residential plumbing does. Because of this, it can be difficult to troubleshoot problems in your business’s plumbing system if you don’t know what to look for. However, with the right knowledge and tools, you can learn how to identify potential issues and fix them before they become more serious.
If you’re in the process of purchasing commercial property, you’ll want to make sure you familiarize yourself with the plumbing system in the building. The best way to do this is by having a plumber come to your building and show you the different pipes and how they function. If you can’t afford that, you can also look up pictures of different plumbing parts online and create a mental picture of what each one does. This will help you identify potential issues if you ever have to troubleshoot a plumbing issue — you’ll be more prepared to make the correct guesses and take the right actions to fix the problem.
One of the most common plumbing issues for businesses is leaks. Many commercial buildings have pipes that are more difficult to access than those in a home, so leaks are often harder to find in the first place. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a problem, though — leaks can cause serious damage to floors, ceilings, and other parts of the building and can result in costly repairs. If you notice a drop in water pressure, a loud noise when you turn on faucets, or a pungent smell that doesn’t go away, you should get the problem checked out immediately. Leaks can be caused by a variety of issues, including old pipes, inadequate sealing, broken pipes and faulty fixtures.
While not as common as leaks, another issue that plumbers are often called to fix is toilets that run continuously. Depending on the type of building, toilet fixtures may be connected to the building’s sewage system or to a septic tank. If you notice a toilet that’s running, don’t try to turn off the water manually — this could cause a flood and make the issue worse. Instead, contact your plumber immediately and let them know what’s happening. They may be able to fix the problem or turn off the flow of water to the fixture so that you can fix the issue yourself. Keep in mind that if you try to fix the problem yourself, you could make the problem worse and end up with a much larger bill.
Another potential issue that could crop up with your commercial plumbing system is low water pressure. Although this isn’t as common as leaks or running toilets, it’s still something that you should watch out for. If you notice that your water pressure has dropped, contact your plumber immediately and have them look at your pipes for damage or leaks. If those don’t seem like the problem, they can check out your water meter for damage or wear and tear that could be causing a drop in pressure. If your water pressure has dropped, you could end up with a higher cost for water, which can end up being a significant expense for your business.
Another potential issue with commercial plumbing is water leaks. These are less common in buildings with newer systems, but they are still a problem that can end up costing you money. If you notice a drop in water pressure or a constant drip, it could be a sign of a water leak. Water leaks are often harder to find than other issues, but they are still something that you should be on the lookout for. Once you’ve determined that you have a water leak, you’ll need to shut off the water supply at the main valve and then check for leaks in the pipe using a pipe-tape drip-bucket or bucket of water.
Commercial plumbing issues are no different than residential plumbing issues. The most important thing is to know what to look for when troubleshooting potential problems so that you don’t end up with a bigger problem than you started with. If you want to avoid all of this maintenance headache, make sure your pipes and fixtures are in good condition before you open up shop.