Plumbing problems can disrupt your business’s day-to-day operations. Taking the proper measures to prevent plumbing errors helps you maintain productivity and prevent expensive damages. Keep reading to learn more about common plumbing errors and how to avoid them.
Frequent Plumbing Problems
Predicting an air conditioning emergency can be a near-impossible task; luckily, we have a few precautions you can take to significantly reduce the odds of your system failing.
Duct Tape
Duct tape is known for its diverse use when fixing objects. Unfortunately, it can’t fix a leaky pipe. Using duct tape for plumbing repairs causes more harm because your leaky pipe won’t be properly sealed, resulting in damage to the plumbing system as a whole. If you’re conducting pipe repairs, be sure to use the proper materials to avoid expensive plumbing errors.
Crooked Installation
If your plumbing installer rushed through the process, it’s possible they forgot a simple detail: leveling. This is a surprisingly common oversight in many commercial spaces, and crooked pipes lead to poor water flow and leakage. When repairing your plumbing, use a level to ensure the pipes are correctly aligned, as this helps you avoid unnecessary repair costs down the road.
Silent Leaks
Silent leaks are a standard yet hard-to-spot plumbing error. Because they frequently slip under the radar, they pose a serious structural threat to your facility. To determine if your building has a silent plumbing leak, look for:
- Water stains on the ceiling or walls
- The sound of running water when no faucets are turned on
- Higher utility bills due to more water usage
If you see any of these signs around your facility, it’s best to let a professional handle it. Identifying the specific cause is challenging on your own, and you’ll want to fix it before it becomes a significant problem.
Mismatched Pipes
When it comes to plumbing repairs, many people use the first pipe that looks like the right size and shape. This is poor practice, as the piping material plays a large role in adaptability. Avoid the common plumbing error of connecting galvanized metal pipes to copper pipes. These materials react to each other, corroding the connection point. Make sure your replacement parts are made of the same material as the piping system they’re installed in. When fitting two parts varying in size, confirm you have the right connecting piece for a proper seal.
Commercial Building Plumbing Issues
Commercial buildings have different plumbing needs than your residential property. Keep an eye out for these additional plumbing errors that frequently occur in corporate spaces.
Damaged Pipes
Most commercial properties have many miles of piping running through their facility. Because these pipes deal with large volumes of water and are placed under considerable stress from building weight and ground growth, they’re prone to breaking and cracking.
Replacing pipework of this magnitude is a highly expensive project, which is why it’s crucial to fix minor issues before they seriously disrupt your business.
Water Temperature Issues
Water heaters are prone to various issues because of the sheer size of commercial properties. Tracing these issues to a single cause is time consuming due to the complexity of commercial water pumps. Low water pressure or inconsistent water temperatures are two common indicators something may be wrong in your facility. Schedule a consultation with your local plumbing company, as they’ll be able to inspect your property and determine where your system is falling short.
Clogged Drains
Commercial businesses are prone to experiencing clogged drains due to the large volume of waste passing through the pipes each day. Additionally, employees use their company’s drainage system with less care and consideration than their own homes, which results in debris slowing drainage and clogging pipes.
Due to the technical nature of this issue, it’s best to have a professional handle it to prevent any plumbing errors.
Sewage Odors
Like clogged pipes, sewage odors can affect your operations by driving away potential customers and distracting your employees. The most common cause of sewage odor is dry pipes that easily clog, leading to sewage buildup within the piping. If you’ve noticed the slightest hint of sewage smell on your commercial property, don’t hesitate to call a professional plumber to address the plumbing error before it gets out of hand.
Broken Toilet Handles
In a business setting, toilet handles are often one of the first things to break. Because toilets are used frequently in an office space, they’re more susceptible to typical wear and tear issues that can lead to replacing the entire toilet assembly. The good news is that, compared to other plumbing errors, replacing your toilet is relatively cheap. Still, it’s a job best left to professionals due to the high water pressure connected to your system.
Toilet Leaks
Any leaks within your office space are bad, but toilets in particular should never be leaking. Running toilets stem from faulty flappers, which are broken seals that cause your toilet’s float to fall out of level. This keeps water within the system running and raises your monthly water bills. It’s more cost effective for businesses to invest in simple plumbing services rather than pay months of higher utility bills.
Understanding Plumbing Requirements
Unlicensed plumbing is essentially amateur work. Reading a few blogs and watching a video tutorial simply can’t compete with decades of plumbing experience. If you attempt plumbing repairs yourself, you could be in for a costly surprise.
If your quick fix fails, you face more trouble than simply calling a plumber. Depending on the size of the job, many cities require you to have a permit. Not only can water in your office cause severe structural damage, but your insurance can deny claims if the work was completed without a permit. This can also bring fines upon your business, ultimately costing more than you’d save by fixing the issue yourself.
Prevent Plumbing Errors With a Professional Service
Since 1984, A&G Piping has provided high-quality commercial plumbing in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Our decades of experience and industry-leading technology enable us to deliver commercial plumbing solutions you can trust.
