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plumber addressing commercial plumbing problem

Whether you run a restaurant or you manage an office space, you probably want your space to be successful, and that includes the plumbing. More often than not, the status of your commercial plumbing systems will be an afterthought since you probably assume that everything is in order. With so much daily usage, an issue is going to pop up before you know it. 

Even just a small leak could lead to larger damages, so it’s important to keep an eye out for any plumbing features that aren’t functioning as they should. This could impact day-to-day operations or prevent customers from entering your store, so make sure to take action as soon as you notice that something is wrong. 

7 Common Plumbing Problems in Commercial Buildings

With such a large plumbing system, a problem is going to come up in your building sooner or later. Depending on the size of the property, some buildings have miles of pipes transporting large volumes of water and waste to and from the property. Here are some problems that you might come across in your commercial plumbing system. 

Clogged Drains

You’ve likely come across a clogged drain at some point in your life, and it’s never a pretty sight. Commercial plumbing systems see a lot more traffic than residential systems, so a clogged drain is more likely to occur in a commercial building than in a house or an apartment. 

Effective drains are essential in commercial spaces, like a restaurant. Restaurant kitchens go through more waste every day than an average home, so it makes sense that these drains would clog up faster. Even if a commercial plumbing system is more durable than a residential system, the high frequency of waste and water that is put through the drains on a daily basis will make blockages a fairly common occurrence.

Leaky Pipes 

Similar to how drains see a lot of use on a day to day basis in large spaces, pipes can quickly take a toll. These buildings require complex plumbing systems with more pipes needing regular maintenance. With a high number of pipelines running through the building and lots of regular use, a leak can occur pretty much anywhere.

Unfortunately, with so many pipes, it’s also fairly easy for these leaks to go undetected without regular maintenance. You might not even know that your building has a leak until you find a bigger problem as a result of it, such as corrosion, mold, or water damage on walls and ceilings. 

Water Temperature Regulation

Depending on the size of the property, there might be hundreds of feet of water lines that are used to transport hot and cold water throughout the building. To do this requires a lot of pressure on the water heater. Additionally, depending on the requirements of the business, water temperature regulation is essential for the prevention of public health risks.

A commercial water heater tends to be more vulnerable to problems and might face damages more quickly than residential units since they must work considerably hard to heat the many gallons of water that are moved throughout the building. As a result, the water temperature that comes out of your faucet may fluctuate quite a bit. 

Odors

The last thing you want is for customers or employees to come to your business and be greeted with a foul smell coming from the pipes and drains. If the smell is too much to handle, you might risk losing some customers. 

If there is a clog somewhere along your main sewage line, the odors could make their way back through the pipes and into the building. This can also occur when valves fail to work properly, as they divert gasses through the pipes and away from the building. 

The presence of odors in your restaurant, retail store, or office building is typically an indicator of a larger plumbing problem at hand. Plus, odors often come with harmful bacteria that can impact the health of the people in the building. So, it’s best to act fast and contact a local plumber to have the issue resolved and keep your business up and running. 

Poor Water Pressure

Low water pressure may not seem like that big of a deal, but it could be an indication of a leak somewhere within the pipes. If water is escaping before it reaches the faucet, the pressure will be significantly reduced. Depending on your business, low water pressure can impact your ability to complete your work. 

fixing a leaky faucet for commercial plumbing

Leaking Faucets

Your building probably has a lot of faucets, and it can be hard to keep them in good condition. A faucet with a steady drip can waste thousands of gallons of water per year. To prevent a hefty water bill, make sure your faucets are drip-free. If you notice even one faucet dripping, call a Sacramento plumber to help fix the problem.

Running Toilets

Toilet flappers create a seal within the tank of the toilet. If this seal isn’t achieved due to improper alignment of the flapper, your toilet could run continuously, costing thousands of dollars in excess water usage. Your commercial building probably has more toilets than a standard home, so a problem like this is bound to happen at some point. Instead of trying a DIY solution to fix it yourself, just call a Sacramento plumber to take care of it for you. 

How to Resolve Commercial Plumbing Problems for Your Sacramento Business 

If you come across any of these problems, you need to know what to do to have them solved quickly and effectively. Most DIY solutions are only temporary, and they might just cause more frustrations. Instead, contact an expert commercial plumber at Express Sewer & Drain

Our licensed and insured team can resolve any last minute emergencies or persistent issues to keep your business up and running in the Sacramento area. We specialize in commercial repair services, including leak detection and trenchless solutions. The longer you wait to repair your commercial plumbing systems, the worse the issues may become. So don’t wait and reach out to Express Sewer & Drain today to learn more!

Dealing With Common Plumbing Problems

Topics: Plumbing in Sacramento, Commercial Plumbing, Pipe Leaks and Repair