Commercial Plumbing Maintenance Tips

In an average business, your commercial plumbing system goes through a lot of wear and tear as your employees, visitors and customers will use these facilities frequently. In the day to day running of your business it can also be easy to distract your attention away from building maintenance.

Here are some of our top tips to help maintain your plumbing system.

Don’t ignore a small problem

If a tap starts to leak it can be easy to dismiss as just a small leak but small problems with plumbing systems can quickly mount into bigger problems which can be more costly, for example a small leaking pipe could become much larger, potentially causing water damage to the premises and also equipment and furniture inside.

Blocked Drains

Again, a blocked drain can often be seen as a small problem or one that you will get round to but again it can mount up and cause even more damage, including overflows, burst pipes as well as harmful bacteria. There are also plenty of things which can block drains, from leaves, grease, oil, soap, paper and leftover food. You may also wish to invest in drain strainers for your premises kitchen and bathroom sinks which can help prevent things going down the drain which could block it.

Flush the right stuff

Linking to blocked drains, the only things that should be flushed down the toilet are only two items – human waste and toilet paper. In a business it can be hard to manage this and also work out who is flushing the wrong things down the drain. We recommend you educate your staff on the implications of flushing the wrong thing down the toilet. You could also make use of signs or make sure there is a bin in the bathroom so that these other items can be disposed of.

Inspect Appliances

Sometimes we only think of our plumbing system consisting of toilets, sinks and pipes but there are certain appliances which use water too in certain types of businesses such as hotels and restaurants, for example washing machines and dishwashers. It is important to check these appliances as they could also cause costly damage to your business premises.

Know where to shut off the water

In the event of a burst pipe or overflowing toilet, the best thing that can be done is to turn off the water which can save your commercial premises from a great deal of damage. Make sure you know where these valves are located, ask your commercial landlord if you are renting. Knowing where these are to turn them off can be a fast preventative action in the case of an emergency.

Upgrade pipes

If your business premises are within an old building with an original plumbing system then it may be time to consider an upgrade to ensure a safe plumbing system in the future.

Regular maintenance

Of course, one plumbing maintenance tip is to keeping a regular maintenance schedule for your plumbing system which will ensure smooth operation of the system for as long as possible.

Find a reliable plumbing maintenance company

When you find a trustworthy plumbing maintenance company don’t let them go as there are plenty of companies out there who don’t have the correct qualifications and licences.

Unique Fire is a building compliance company in the West Midlands who specialise in plumbing maintenance. We aim to build long-lasting relationships with our clients through strategic management of their buildings and preparedness to go the extra mile. If you would like to find out more, get in touch and one of our team will be happy to assist you.