When Does Your Building Need Help From a Plumbing Professional?

Of all the essential systems in your commercial building, the plumbing system has the potential to be inconvenient, damaging, and unpleasantly messy when it has problems. Indoor flooding, sewage backups, lack of access to hot water, and inability to use the bathroom fixtures can all result from just one major plumbing emergency. You and your facilities staff can correct some small problems — minor drain clogs, for example — but there are times when it’s necessary to call in a plumbing professional.

• Major clogs: A simple clogged drain or toilet can be fixed using a plunger, but if the clogs are more severe or deeper within the pipe or drain system, a plumbing professional will be needed. Major clogs tend to develop over time. They can be more common in industries where material sent down the drain pipes, such as cooking grease, tends to accumulate inside the pipes. A plumbing professional will have the expertise and the equipment to remove these clogs. For example, a heavy-duty drain auger may be needed to clear away the clog. In other cases, it may be necessary to pinpoint the location of the clog so that the pipes can be dug up and replaced.
• Sewage backups: Sewage backups are inconvenient, unpleasant, and unsanitary. They are often caused by clogs in the sewer lines, such as accumulated paper or tree roots that have grown into the drain pipes. Foreign objects flushed down toilets are also a common source of sewer clogs. Relying on a plumbing professional in these situations is the fastest way to correct a messy problem.
• Hidden leaks: If you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your water bills with no associated increase in usage and no obvious leaks, you may have a hidden water leak somewhere in the system. These leaks can waste thousands of gallons of water while driving up your monthly costs. A plumbing professional has the expertise to find these leaks and fix them with the least amount of trouble and expense.
• Burst or broken pipes: Burst or broken pipes can be a significant plumbing emergency or the source of a relatively small leak. In both cases, you should call your plumbing professional to handle the problem. Your plumber will be able to tell you how to turn off the water to your building to stop a huge gushing leak. He will also have the equipment and expertise necessary to replace any length or type of broken pipeline.
• Frozen pipes: In climates where temperatures consistently drop below freezing in the winter, frozen pipes can also be a problem. Frozen pipes mean you can’t access water flow or drainage, and the freezing process could result in burst pipes that will leak when the ice in the pipes thaws out. Count on your plumbing professional to be able to thaw out the pipes and make any needed repairs to the pipelines before leaks or flooding occurs.
• Low water pressure: Low water pressure in a commercial facility could be caused by issues with the municipal water supply, but your plumbing professional can determine if the issue lies somewhere within your building. Buildup of rust, scale, lime, minerals, or other material is a common source of low water pressure in commercial settings. These accumulations can require the replacement of pipes if the material can’t be removed. Sometimes heavy water use in one part of the building can reduce the available water pressure elsewhere. Poor pipe system design can also limit the amount of water pressure. Your plumber will be able to assess the problem and determine what needs to be done to ensure more consistent water pressure throughout your facility.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about Plumbing, HVACR, Fire Protection, and Alarm Systems in Mechanical, Commercial, and Residential settings. For more information on how to tell when you need to call in a plumbing professional, or to view projects we’ve worked on, visit our website!

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