As a homeowner, you’re no stranger to plumbing problems that can happen now and then. This same situation happens in offices or commercial buildings. Frankly, it’s safe to say that no structure or building, no matter how well built, is ever exempt from the possibility of plumbing problems occurring.
Therefore, plumbing maintenance is a must-do for every business or building owner. Besides, it’s not enough to only do it; you must learn how to do it properly. Moreso, if you’re a property owner, you must protect your investment in any way possible. Plumbing issues can become costly in the long run if repairs and problems aren’t dealt with immediately, so ensure you check on them.
Here’s a quick rundown on some dos and don’ts worth knowing about regular commercial plumbing services and maintenance:
The Do’s
Do Know Where Your Office’s Main Water Shut-Off Valve Is Located
Topping this list of dos is knowing where your office’s main water shut-off valve is located. Ensure that most of your employees can also find it so it can be switched off immediately when a water emergency arises.
If you don’t know where to find it, you can always check the office’s blueprint or plumbing plan and ask a plumber to help you. As an added step, label each valve with a description of how it functions and instructions for turning it off.
Besides, check the main water shut-off valve at least once a year to ensure it’s working properly. This can form a part of your routine semi-annual or annual plumbing maintenance checklist.
Do Have A Plunger Ready
The plunger may be one of the most unglamorous and undervalued tools in a household and office, yet one of the most essential. It’s your first solution in case of a clogged toilet. In reality, many clogged toilets can be solved on your own by just using a plunger.
Henceforth, have a plunger ready in your office. You may not think you’ll need it now, but those sticky situations of a clogged toilet with feces aren’t the most pleasant to deal with on a regular office day. Imagine the horror of a client walking into your toilet to use it, only to find dirty waste floating around. It doesn’t take rocket science to learn how to use a plunger, so ensure your employees can easily reach out for one when they need it.
Do Have Regular Maintenance Checks
Even when you think your office’s plumbing is working fine, it’s still a good practice to have a regular maintenance check to ensure it’s working as it should. This isn’t too frequent, as it’s usually only around once in six months or once a year. Thus, there is no reason to skip it.
Trust experts and qualified professionals with your regular maintenance check. They’re equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to spot plumbing problems like:
- Dripping faucets, usually caused by worn-out washers or O-rings
- Leaky pipes caused by issues like excessive water pressure, stubborn clogs, and cracked seals or pipes
- Low water pressure brought about by cracked or blocked sewer lines, pipe corrosion, and sewer clogs
The Don’ts
Don’t Ignore Small Issues
Suppose you’ve discovered a small drip in one of your faucets. Or, one drain isn’t draining as smoothly and fast as it used to. Hence, you thought of it as only a minor problem, which you turned a blind eye to until later. Unfortunately, that ‘later’ may be when it’s too late: a previously low-level issue has now turned into an uncontrollable drip.
Small issues shouldn’t be ignored, as they’ll surely escalate into bigger ones in the future, causing more discomfort and costly maintenance for your office.
Don’t Put Grease Or Food Down The Drain
Office lunches and snacks are inevitable, especially if you have a pantry. When employees wash their dishes, make it a company policy never to put oil, grease, and food particles down the drain. Even the smallest leftovers can build up over time and cause a clog.
A better practice instead is to have a separate bin for food scraps. So, when someone washes their dishes or food containers in your office pantry, they’re already free from oil and food scraps. These include other food wastes like the common culprit for offices: coffee grinds.
This is a good habit for your office’s plumbing as it is for the environment. If you send the food scraps to the proper local organization or collecting body, they can recycle biodegradable wastes into fertilizer, among others.
Don’t Try To Fix Plumbing Problems By Yourself
Unless you’re a trained plumbing professional, don’t try to fix plumbing problems (except the clogged toilet, where a plunger can do just the trick). There’s a reason there are professional plumbers in that trade; they can fix such problems and are armed with years of experience to deal with them in the best way they know.
If you attempt to DIY and have no clue what you’re doing, small plumbing problems may only turn into bigger ones. Worse, what could have been repairable now would call for a total replacement if you don’t attend to the matter when you first see it.
Have the number of your trusted plumber ready so you’ll know whom to call when needed. Their fee is a small price to pay in exchange for the safe, efficient, and accurate plumbing repair they can do.
Conclusion
Plumbing maintenance should never be moved until later, no matter how busy the business operations may be. It’s something business owners have to be responsible enough to consistently think about doing to avoid other costly problems in the future. What could have easily been remedied can escalate, affecting business operations eventually. The dos and don’ts discussed in this article include a mix of what you can do on your own and those best done by an expert local plumber. When you work together, you can ensure that your office’s plumbing system stays functional and efficient the whole year.
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