4 Common Commercial Plumbing Issues

Any commercial property owner can likely tell you that plumbing issues are one of the biggest nightmares they face. With the potential to be extremely expensive to repair, create significant health hazards, and affect the operation of their business, serious plumbing issues can be major setbacks to businesses of any size
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As much of a hassle as it is to deal with small plumbing problems, it is extremely important not to let them sit for too long as they can quickly worsen and become even more serious – and expensive – issues.

1. Clogged drains and toilets:
   One of the more embarrassing problems a business can face is a clogged toilet. Sure to create a big mess – and a bad experience for any customers affected – it is important to know how to handle this situation in order to avoid making the problem worse.First, find and shut off the water as soon as possible. This will prevent too much sewage and water from ending up all over the floor. Once the water is shut off, contact a professional plumber to unclog the toilet. While plungers are good at fixing small clogs, you may have a buildup of paper or feminine products within your pipes that could be in need of being snaked.Another common clogging issue occurs around commercial kitchen sinks where large amounts of grease and food debris ends up being washed down the drain. Your plumber will use a sewer snake and sophisticated camera equipment to find the source of the problem and remove the debris clogging your pipes.
2. Leaky faucets:
   A significant source of waste even on a residential level, leaky faucets in large commercial enterprises can be a surprisingly large expense. Large operations have the potential to be wasting hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water each year! This is not only a matter of wasting water, but also a potential health risk as constantly damp areas surrounding leaky faucets can lead to the growth of mold and mildew.
3. Water temperature issues:
   Any water temperature issues your commercial building experiences should be checked out as soon as possible as it may be a sign of problems with your water heater. If the water heater malfunctions, it may need to be repaired or replaced. If not, it simply may not be large enough to keep up with the demands of your business.
4. Unpleasant sewer odors:
   Often preventable, this is another common cause of embarrassment for commercial buildings. This odor occurs due to the drains located in the floor of the bathroom. This drain leads to a U-shaped pipe that, while filled with water, prevents smells from reaching the bathroom. However, when these pipes dry up, they release those unpleasant odors into the air above. To prevent this, simply pour specially formulated liquid odor blockers into the affected drains once a month.

When in doubt, it is always a good idea to contact a local plumber to ensure that your system is working as it should. Even the smallest plumbing problem can quickly escalate if unattended and these types of problems have a way of growing in cost exponentially the longer they take to repair.