Leaks and malfunctioning plumbing can be a real headache for any business. Not only do they disrupt your operations, but they also waste water and can significantly increase your utility bills. If left unchecked, these issues can lead to more serious problems, such as mold growth and damage to your walls and flooring. Therefore, it’s crucial to address these problems swiftly to prevent further damage.
Before rushing to call in a professional, you should know that there are several methods you can try to resolve these problems on your own. With the right plumber’s tools, you can attempt to replace some of the faulty parts yourself. These temporary fixes can help you manage the situation and minimize costs in the short term.
In this blog, we’ll explore the most common issues your commercial plumbing can experience and the ways you can repair them.
Commercial Plumbing Issues and Their Fixes
Due to the frequent use, the plumbing system in a commercial building is prone to wear and tear. To reduce the cost of replacing it, you’ll need to identify the issues early and fix them.
Let’s explore the different issues you might get into with commercial plumbing.
1. Clogged Drain
Though commercial drains are robust, they also receive worse treatments compared to their residential counterparts. Whether it’s oil from commercial kitchens, paper towels in bathrooms, or food scraps in food courts, commercial drains receive a large volume of debris and waste. You might realize your drains have a blockage if water slowly flows into them or if the drain overflows.
You can fix a clogged drain by dissolving or dislodging the blockage with the following methods:
- Hot Water: You’ll pour hot water down the drain. This can help the blockage dissolve and move it down the pipe.
- Baking Soda and Vinegar: With a mixture of baking soda and vinegar, you’ll chemically break apart the blockage.
- Chemical Cleaner: If baking soda and vinegar don’t work, you should use a more aggressive cleaner. These acidic substances will eat away the blockage and clear your drain.
- Plunger: If you have a solid blockage, you should use a plunger large enough to cover the drain. Then, you’ll slowly press and pull the plunger to create a vacuum. The change in pressure will help break apart the blockage.
- Plumber’s Snake: This plumbing tool pierces the blockage and allows you to pull it out or at least allow water to pass through. A plumber’s snake is especially useful if you need to remove an object.
After you’ve cleared the blockage, you can maintain your drains by monitoring them and flushing them regularly. You can flush them with hot water or with a hydro-jet, which uses pressure to clean out grime.
2. Running Toilet
Another common commercial plumbing problem is running toilets. When a cistern constantly releases water, one of these parts is malfunctioning:
- Inlet Valve
- Outlet
- Flapper Valve
- Cistern
If your toilet has an automatic flusher, you’ll need a plumber’s help. Otherwise, you’ll have to inspect the parts for leaks and damage. Then, you’ll replace the inner parts of the toilet. However, if your toilet still runs, you’ll need to rely on a plumber since they’re licensed to do this work.
3. Damaged Pipes
With so many pipes in a commercial building, there’s a high likelihood that one of them will have an issue. Since these pipes carry large volumes of water across long distances, they’re at risk of wear and tear. These issues can start as small punctures, misaligned pipes, or cracks. If left alone, they can grow into major issues that will require replacement by a professional.
Before you need a replacement, you can repair your damaged pipes with the following tools:
- Plumber’s Putty: Epoxy or plumber’s putty is a mixture you can put in small punctures and cracks to stop their leaking.
- Rubber Gasket: If you use a rubber gasket to clamp down on a pipe’s crack, it will contain the leak until you are ready to replace it.
- Pipe Lining: A long-term fix for a recent crack in your pipe is a lining. This works by creating a new pipe inside the old one using a lining and epoxy resin.
4. Leaking Faucet
Leaky faucets are a major plumbing problem in commercial buildings because they are often used. These leaks waste water, damage your floor and walls and grow mold. Therefore, you need to stop these leaks as quickly as possible.
In Australia, you can fix your faucet up to where it meets the rest of the plumbing system. This allows you to replace some of the parts which are most likely to fail:
- Washer
- O-Ring
- Jumper Valve
Therefore, you’ll fix your leaky faucet by cutting the water supply, removing the handles’ caps, taking out the inner parts, and replacing them. Then, you’ll need to reassemble the faucet and test it. If it’s still leaking, you’ll need to ask a plumber to repair it.
5. No Hot Water
Finally, temperature issues are one of the major commercial plumbing problems. Commercial heaters are complex and large so that they can heat large volumes of water to the correct temperature. Consequently, they require more frequent maintenance than residential heaters. Otherwise, they’ll deteriorate and malfunction.
Despite being complex machines, you can fix your commercial heater by looking for the source of damage and resolving the issue. In particular, you should inspect these parts:
- Fuse: If you have an electric heater, you’ll need to inspect its fuse. If the fuse has blown, you’ll have to replace it.
- Switch: Electric heaters have a high-temperature cut-off point. It’s possible that it’s set to a low temperature, and you’ll need to reset it.
- Pilot Light: If you have a gas-powered heater, it has a pilot light. If it’s off, your heater can’t work. Therefore, you’ll need to relight it using your heater’s instructions.
If you notice another issue, such as damaged wires or a leak, you should ask a plumber to fix your commercial heater.
Conclusion
Now you know that the main commercial plumbing problems come from the wear and tear of your plumbing system. In particular, clogged drains, damaged pipes, leaking faucets, running toilers, and malfunctioning heaters are the most likely problems.
You can resolve these blockages, cracks, and worn parts by using plumber tools to repair or replace them. However, you need to ensure that you respect Australian law. Therefore, some issues you won’t be able to fix permanently. So, contact a plumber to help you resolve your persistent plumbing issue.
