When it comes to plumbing systems in a commercial space, it’s easy for small issues to get tossed to the side. With so much commotion in a large setting like an office building, a clogged toilet or leaky faucet may quickly get moved to the bottom of a manager’s to-do list. However, if preventative actions are taken, you may be able to avoid some of these issues before they cause an expensive plumbing failure and a huge disruption to your office. Managers should follow these routine steps on a regular basis to keep your facility running smoothly.
Prime Floor Drain Traps
If you’re smelling a sewer gas smell, it could be because the water has evaporated from your floor drain. In order to properly do their job of blocking sewer gases, drain traps need to stay full of water. To combat this issue, add two cups of water with a half cup of vegetable oil. The oil will stay on top of the water and help prevent evaporation. This will solve the issue until the oil has been diluted too much by new water flowing into the drain, making your traps dry again. Repeat this step as necessary to maintain healthy water levels.
Toilet Valves
If your toilet valves get too worn to be able to fully seal, this can cause water leaks that will add up quickly. It may not seem like much, but a medium-sized leak can waste up to 250 gallons of water every day. You can probably spot leaks with just a visual inspection, but to catch small ones, wipe the toilet bowl dry and watch to see if a small stream starts flowing. This can typically be fixed with an inexpensive new valve.
Preventing Clogs
Be sure to educate all members in the building and on your cleaning staff about what can be flushed, and what should be tossed. Many cleaning wipes, although they say flushable, have been creating major clogs. Always through these in the trash instead of flushing. When it comes to feminine hygiene products, and urinal deodorizers, make it a building standard that these should be disposed of in the trash.
Now that you have a good base-level knowledge of how to prevent some minor plumbing issues from becoming major, decide on a schedule that will work best for you. Whether it be quarterly, monthly, or semi-annually, set a time to address these common issues.
Contact NSMC
Taking preventative measures to care for your commercial plumbing systems can help head off some larger issues in the future. However, if you notice something unusual with your plumbing system, it is always best to call a professional. Our team at NSMC is happy to assist. Fill out our contact form or call us directly at (978)-774-9800!