Common Commercial Plumbing Issues

Common commercial plumbing issues include a leaky faucet. You may think a leaky faucet is a common enough problem that it can be ignored, but leaky faucets hemorrhage money in residential plumbing systems, let alone commercial plumbing systems with much more water flowing through them.  For example, a leaky faucet in a restaurant can cost you several thousand dollars per year.

Leaking Fixtures and Seals

Common commercial plumbing issues include leaking fixtures and seals. Faucets aren’t the only place you’ll find leaks.  Leaks can occur wherever two plumbing components meet.  Some may go unnoticed, for example, if they are underground or behind walls, and lead to further damage.

Drain Clogs

Common commercial plumbing issues include drain clogs. Drain clogs are a bigger issue in commercial buildings than in residential homes.  People tend to take better care of their own plumbing systems than others’, so they don’t treat commercial restrooms with care.  Customers and employees frequently drop bits of paper towels, sanitary wipes, and other debris in commercial drains, and that debris becomes stuck in pipes, clogging your system and slowing the release of water.  Clogged drains create problems that affect the appearance and presentation of your company, and create the need for costly repairs.  Chronic drain clogs can indicate more serious issues, such as pump failure, septic system issues, invasive roots, and pipe collapse.

Toilet Clogs

Common commercial plumbing issues include toilet clogs. Commercial toilets are built to withstand more use and endure more clogging materials than residential toilets, but they can still become clogged and plunging into a commercial toilet may not be enough to unclog it.  If you can’t fix a clogged toilet on your own, contact an experienced, licensed plumber to snake your drain.

Running Toilets

Common commercial plumbing issues include running toilets. Running toilets seem to always be “on,” draining water and flushing at random intervals.  This indicates a serious problem with your toilet.  You can attempt a DIY solution by jiggling some of the tank components, but your toilet likely needs the attention of an experienced, licensed plumber to avoid a costly loss.

Broken Toilet Handles

Common commercial plumbing issues include broken toilet handles. Toilet handles are fragile and will break after many uses- a problem common in high trafficked commercial establishments.  Professional plumbers recommend motion activated flushing systems because they are more hygienic and require less maintenance than traditional handle-flush toilets.

Silent Leaks

Common commercial plumbing issues include silent leaks. Like other aspects of your business, you should carefully examine your water bill for unusual spikes.  Unusual, unexplained spikes may signal silent leaks behind the walls or underneath the floor of your building.  If you suspect a silent leak is costing you money and damaging your property, hire an experienced, licensed plumber immediately to find any leaks, stop them, and repair any damage already done.  Silent leaks are dangerous and can cause health problems for you, your employees, and your customers in the form of toxic mold or rotted wood that can lead to structural issues, that can cause injury.

Water Temperature Issues

Common commercial plumbing issues include water temperature issues. Commercial water heaters must be inspected every few months to ensure they are functioning properly.  This is especially important for foodservice establishments that require a certain water temperature for proper ware-washing and sanitizing.  If your issue is with your hot water supply, you may need to clean your water heater.  Other, more complicated, issues can affect your water heater, so it is best to have it inspected regularly by an experienced, licensed plumber to prevent issues before they arise.

Sewer Smells

Common commercial plumbing issues include sewer smells. If you smell sewage, call an experienced, licensed plumber immediately.  The smell of sewage usually indicates a blockage.  Plumbers use a variety of methods and tools to detect blockages in main sewer lines and quickly clear them.  Remedy this issue immediately to avoid a disaster situation that could close your establishment for a period, harm employees and customers, and cause irreparable harm to your business reputation.

Low Water Pressure

Common commercial plumbing issues include low water pressure. Low water pressure can have a variety of causes, the foremost being leaks, clogs, and burst pipes.  These can have a serious impact on your business if you regularly use water to clean, produce your product, or for any other reason.  Don’t ignore low water pressure.  It could indicate a worse problem that can slowly damage your building over time.

If you are experiencing any of these common commercial plumbing issues call Carter’s My Plumber at (317) 859-9999.