Proactive Plumbing Maintenance Tips To Prevent Common Commercial Plumbing Issues

Preventative plumbing maintenance is the first step to avoiding the worst problems.

Plumbing problems are a fact of life—they’re going to happen, no matter what. You have one of two options: wait for problems to manifest and try to deal with the unexpected expenses (and headache), or you can be proactive about your plumbing.

Life with Pipes

Let’s all take a moment and pause in reflection: How GREAT is modern plumbing? It’s just one of those things that pretty much everyone takes for granted. It’s also one of those things we immediately realize we cannot live without once it’s not working properly.

Being proactive about your plumbing maintenance is essential to the success of your business. Plumbing problems must be addressed immediately. Ignoring plumbing problems? Not an option in your commercial building. Water damage is far more costly than proactively hiring a plumber to fix the problem immediately.

Commercial Plumber Selection

Don’t wait to try and find a qualified commercial plumber when you’re already in desperate need. It can take a bit of time, along with some trial-and-error, to find the right plumbing service. This is the first part of being proactive—develop a working relationship with a great plumber before you have problems.

There are all sorts of plumbing services offered, but the two main categories are Residential and Commercial. Residential is pretty self-explanatory, but there are various sub-categories of commercial plumbers. From light to heavy industrial, and from building to general commercial, the demands and regulations on the commercial plumbing industry are expansive. A company specializing in industrial plumbing, for example, offers different expertise than one focused on new building construction or general commercial plumbing service. Therefore, finding the right service for your needs will take some time.

If your business is a bar or restaurant, hotel, or an apartment building, then you’re definitely a commercial property. Finding a commercial plumber that specializes in your specific building demands is a worthy task. Once you’ve found a service you’re happy with, you’ll need to develop a working relationship.

The best way to do this is to develop a regular maintenance schedule.

Regularly Scheduled Plumbing Maintenance

The proactive way to stay on top of your plumbing needs is to develop and implement a regular maintenance schedule with your plumbing service. They will routinely perform assessments on your entire plumbing system, giving you an accurate and current understanding of your building’s specific needs. Being pro-active has budget advantages too: you’ll be able to plan maintenance schedules in advance and in line with your budget.

Your plumber will not only help maintain your systems, but they’ll also be able to provide you with options for upgrading to more energy- and water-efficient units. Upgrading will extend the life of your various plumbing systems, and will save you in overall costs as well. More money is always a good thing!

Most Common Plumbing Problems

Nearly all your plumbing problems are due to wear-and-tear, which is why functioning plumbing requires regular maintenance. Other plumbing problems arise from building-related issues, such as building age, foundation settling/shifting, and outdated, poorly performing construction materials used during a certain time period. Below are the most common plumbing problems that your commercial building will encounter.

Faucet and Fixture Leaks

A leaky faucet costs you money with every drip. Wasting up to 3,000 gallons of water each year, these leaks are almost always caused by worn out gaskets and O-rings (round rubber washers), and other sealing mechanism failure. Water damage is another issue you must consider—a leaky fixture can not only destroy the area surrounding it, but left unattended, can cause structural damage as well.

Water Temperature Problems

Too hot to wash your hands? Too cold? Don’t have enough hot water when you need it? These are generally signs your water heater might need an adjustment. If your water heater is leaking, it’s probably failing. (But not all leaks are created equal—NEVER mess with a leaky water heater or block off leaks or valves. Your water heater could explode.)

Commercial water heaters need maintenance and replacing just like everything else. It’s important to hire a trained water heater technician—don’t trust just any plumber to fix your commercial water heating equipment!

Clogged Toilets & Drains

We’ve all had these types of problems. Yuck! Slow draining is usually the first indication of a drain problem. Watch for toilets that require constant plunging. Backups are not something you ever want to deal with. Clogged drains can mean overflowing, which ultimately means water damage.

Silent Leaks

Toilets can leak silently 24/7 and you’d never know. So can pipes and fixtures. Wasting thousands of gallons of water a year, a quietly leaking toilet or pipe can be an astronomical burn on your cash flow – and cause major sticker shock when you open your water bill. Get your toilet tested and always leave the repairs to your professional plumber. And keep an eye on your water bill for unexplained and/or significant increases – this could be a sign of a silent leak lurking in your building.

Other Plumbing Concerns

Other common plumbing issues and concerns are typically within the realm of expertise of your professional plumbing service. From handicapped plumbing needs, crawl space plumbing, unit updating, upgrading to energy-efficient equipment, garbage disposals and more, an experienced local plumber can help with your plumbing problems.

Remember: To keep a healthy plumbing system, your first line of defense is getting routine check-ups via a regular maintenance schedule with a plumber you trust.


Featured image courtesy of Flickr user bradleypjohnson. Post image courtesy of Flickr user Eli Duke. Images licensed under CC by 2.0.

Smart Rental Plans

Reliable Water Services provides affordable rental & service options on a variety of commercial equipment – water heaters, boilers, water softeners & more – throughout Wisconsin, Indiana & surrounding portions of the Upper Midwest. As a B2B company, our specialty is helping businesses where no hot water is not an option – and we’re available for service 24/7 because that’s when our customers need us.

Equipment

No upfront equipment costs – it’s all part of the package!

Installation

Our plumber or yours? Either way, the installation cost is covered!

Service Calls

Call 1-800-356-1444 for emergency water heater service, day or night.

Replacements

Whenever your water heater fails, we replace it—fast.

Learn More

See all plans and services, or get a free quote.

Notes from the Boiler Room

Breweries & Craft Brewing, Water Softeners

Why Water Softeners for Breweries Make the Perfect Pint

We think of beer as a combination of malt and hops, brewed together to create a delicious beverage. But above all, beer is mostly water (about 90-95% water to be exact). This means that the quality, mineral content, and consistency… Read More >

Restaurants

Why Commercial Kitchen Equipment Maintenance Matters

As a restaurant owner, you likely already know that commercial kitchen equipment maintenance is the best way to avoid costly surprises. Maintenance doesn’t just mean cleaning, although that’s part of it. It also means looking and listening to your equipment… Read More >

Energy Savings & Money Savings, Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Energy-Efficient Solutions for Food Manufacturers

Food manufacturers that monitor and reduce energy usage aren’t just saving money; they’re strategically competitive, focused on environmental sustainability, and remain compliant with various regulations. As energy costs rise and more consumers are concerned about the environment, energy efficiency isn’t… Read More >

Water Heater Damage, Water Softeners

The Many Benefits of a Water Softener System for Your Business

Usually water piped into our homes and businesses, either form a well or from a treatment facility It’s safe to assume that the water piped into our homes and businesses, either from a well or a treatment facility contains natural… Read More >
Restaurants

What To Do If Your Restaurant Water Heater Fails During Service

If a commercial water heater fails in the middle of a shift, it’s not just an “inconvenience”—it can be a full-blown crisis. Restaurants require hot water for all operations, from food preparation to dishwashing to employee hygiene. It doesn’t matter… Read More >

Hotels & Hospitality

Avoid Heartbreak Hotels: Why Guests Love a Water Softening System 

Imagine guests checking in at the front desk. One is a weary traveler, here for a two-night stay to deliver his presentation to a local branch of his company. The other guest is the mother of a family of three, tired… Read More >

Restaurants

Energy Efficient Water Heaters: The Upgrade Every Eco-Friendly Restaurant Needs

Running a restaurant is hard work, with many moving parts to manage and balance for smooth operations. Even though it’s rewarding, it’s also an expensive undertaking. With rising costs, making changes to save when and where possible can help boost… Read More >

Food & Beverage Manufacturing

Food Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance Must-Haves

If you’re running a food manufacturing or food production business, you know equipment failure isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s a catastrophe. Downtime in the food industry quickly means spoiled products, missed deadlines, compliance violations, and serious safety risks to staff and… Read More >

GET QUOTE