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Many businesses call Callahan, FL, home, from auto repair shops to salons to the nearest animal hospital, and what do they all have in common? They all benefit from effective commercial plumbing! Typically, you’d expect the plumbing on commercial premises to be used more often than residential plumbing systems, and you’d be right. There are employee restrooms, public restrooms, and water supplies used for the daily tasks that create revenue to worry about. After all, your local car wash or favorite restaurant can’t very well do without a vast supply of water. It can be far more troublesome for a business owner to suddenly discover their commercial building is experiencing issues that require the attention of a plumber. Some of the signs your commercial building will need a professional’s intervention sooner rather than later are:
1. Your commercial plumbing is getting old.
Both the age and the level of use play a part in when you’re likely to need a plumber to look at repairing issues or replacing the plumbing system altogether. Even though commercial plumbing is often considered to be more robust than residential counterparts, pipes, fixtures, and fittings in your commercial property do still have an average lifespan. If brass supply pipes feed your building, you may need to replace them between 40-70 years after initial installation. Copper pipes last a little less, around 50 years, and galvanized steel pipes usually last between 20-50 years, depending on how well they’ve been looked after. If you think it’s coming towards the time when you’d like to replace commercial plumbing, or you know your plumbing system uses outdated materials, you may want to consider asking a professional to install PVC or cast iron drain lines. Both can last much longer than the plumbing materials we’ve already mentioned.
2. There are complaints of low water pressure.
Low water pressure can be a signifier for various plumbing issues, so if your customers or staff have noticed a drop in water pressure, you might need a plumber to assess what is causing it. If the water flow through your sinks is slower than expected, and drainage is poorer than expected, there may be a clog, leak, or drainage issue to repair. It can also signify a water heater malfunction. Most commonly, a lack of water pressure is caused by a clog or a leak; and with large commercial premises, it may be difficult to isolate where the issue is. A professional with state-of-the-art leak detection equipment can help to identify the location and repair or replace, as necessary, to reinstate the expected water pressure in your building.
3. Noticeably slow drainage in toilets and kitchens.
Many commercial buildings’ plumbing systems struggle with slow drainage at one time or another, whether it’s in the on-site kitchen, employee toilets, or guest toilets. As a business owner, you can’t always control what ends up traveling through your kitchen or toilet plumbing, and it’s inevitable that a clog will occur at some stage. Clogs are the most common cause of slow drainage, and much like pipe leaks that cause low water pressure, they can be hard to locate and resolve. Some clogs might be obvious, e.g., a blocked toilet, but in other cases, clogs can occur further down the drain line or affect multiple fixtures at a time so they can be hard to isolate. Whether it’s an obvious clog or a hidden one, a plumber should be called to remove the clog and examine your drain lines to remove other potential blockages.
4. A lack of hot water.
While not always crucial for day-to-day operations, a lack of hot water can be disgruntling for employees and customers at the very least. In other cases, hot water is vital to operations; you wouldn’t appreciate a cold hair wash at a salon, for example, washing with cold water in a restaurant kitchen won’t have the same effect. A distinct lack of hot water is indicative that you’ll need to call a plumber to look at your premises’ water heater to see if it’s simply calibrated incorrectly, and needs repair or replacement.
5. Water is discolored.
Corroded pipes are the leading cause of discolored water. If water has been contaminated by rust, it will look brown, reddish, or yellowish. Water that has been contaminated in this way is no longer drinkable, and in most cases, recommended as unusable. If this is brought to your attention, a plumber must replace the corroded pipes before business as usual can return. In some cases, excess dirt in your water supply can cause discoloration; even in these cases, you can trust a professional to replace your pipes to resolve the issue once and for all.
6. There are unexpected puddles in and around your building.
Callahan, FL, receives on average 50 inches of rainfall per year, so in a lot of cases, puddles may be an expected part of living in this area. However, if, after heavy rain, it takes an age for the pools to disappear, or you’re starting to see water pooling near indoor appliances, don’t wait for larger puddles to occur. Call a plumber to identify if the water pooling is natural or caused by a leak.
Major commercial plumbing disasters can spell big trouble for your business financially. In the event of a leak, there is the danger that vast amounts of water can flood your building, damage your inventory, and cause irreparable damage to its foundations, in the worst case. Also, unpleasant odors and unsightly stains can turn away potential customers if they’re not dealt with by a professional plumber. If you own or manage a commercial building know that we’re here to help you with every plumbing issue, large or small, to help you create the most comfortable environment for your staff and customers. Our emergency service is available 24/7, and we’ve always got a plumber on-hand to assist with any queries that you might have about how to improve plumbing issues that have been brought to your attention. Call us at Bert Norman’s Plumbing to discuss at any time.