Running a business comes with its fair share of challenges, and plumbing problems should never be one of them. Whether it’s a minor inconvenience or a full-scale issue that halts your operations entirely, plumbing troubles can disrupt workflows and impact productivity. The good news? Many of these headaches can be avoided with proactive measures and regular maintenance.
Today we want to help you do just that! So, give yourself a few minutes now to kick back and explore a few cost-effective solutions to maintain your commercial plumbing systems and prevent dreaded downtime.
Cost-Effective Maintenance Strategies for Commercial Plumbing
1. Invest in Quality Fixtures and Equipment
The best thing you can do to protect your business is to make an investment in quality plumbing fixtures. Spending a bit of extra coin early on can save on costly hassles later.
Cheaper products often end up breaking down more frequently or prematurely, resulting in costly callouts or replacements. So, you’ll end up spending the money anyway, better to spend it smarter, sooner.
High-quality taps, toilets, sinks and hot water systems are designed to withstand constant use from your staff and customers without blocking, leaking or breaking down. Similarly, smart pipes and plumbing design can minimise the risks of pesky blockages or at least you know when they’re forming so you can act fast.
2. Install Drain Strainers
While you’ve got your wallet out, invest in drain strainers for your sinks. These small metal contraptions will capture food scraps and any other objects from trying to sneak down your drains.
Though they can fill up over time from constant use, so you’ll need to keep an eye on them and clean them out regularly. Just remember not to flush their contents down the drain–this renders them useless–instead, dispose of the debris in your bin.
3. Train Staff on Proper Use and Care
Even with top-of-the-line fixtures and equipment, the effectiveness of your plumbing still depends heavily on how it’s used. Ensuring your team understands proper kitchen and bathroom etiquette can go a long way in preventing future problems.
Take some time to train your staff on best practices—it’ll save you countless headaches down the road. Simple reminders can make all the difference. Consider putting up signs in key areas to outline clear do’s and don’ts, such as avoiding grease, fats, and oils in the kitchen sink, and sticking to the “3 P’s” in the bathroom—pee, poo, and paper.
Providing conveniently placed bins can further encourage these habits, helping ensure your plumbing stays in great shape while protecting your commercial operations.
4. Develop a Maintenance Schedule
Now, it’s time for the elbow grease side of things. Develop a regular schedule to give all your drains and other plumbing appliances a good clean and flush out. Even the most flash fixtures need to be cleaned sometimes.
This is because even if everyone is being super careful about what they flush, pipes can still accumulate dirt and gunk from dirty dishwashing and handwashing water. You can break down this gunk and keep your pipes flowing effectively by pouring down some clean, hot soapy water each month. This is most crucial for kitchen sinks in busy dining establishments and takeout joints.
5. Monitor Water Pressure & Temperature
Water pressure or temperature fluctuations are rarely good news. At the least they’re annoying and at the worst, they can be a major safety hazard or plumbing emergency. So, it’s worth keeping a feel for your regular water pressure and temperature and noting any changes.
You can also protect your business from these hassles by installing automatic pressure regulators and staying up to date with maintenance checks for your Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMV).
If you notice any changes to your water temperature or pressure, your next step is to pick up the phone and give your local plumbing experts a bell.
6. Check for Leaks and Water Waste
Small leaks can swiftly turn into major water damage, wasting money and resources. To stay ahead, regularly check your taps for drips and inspect your property for hidden leaks. Monitoring your water usage is just as important—keep a close watch on your water bills for any unexpected spikes in cost or consumption, as these can indicate a problem lurking beneath the surface.
If you notice anything unusual, act fast. Bringing in a professional plumbing team at the first sign of trouble can prevent a minor issue from escalating into an expensive disaster. With quick action, you can protect your property and keep your water bills under control.
7. Schedule Regular Commercial Plumbing Checks
Finally, don’t forget to lean on your local commercial plumbing experts. Whether you’ve already noticed something that doesn’t seem quite right or if you just want to keep your plumbing in top condition, the best help you can get is from qualified experts.
Commercial plumbers have all the necessary skills and equipment to inspect your plumbing, complete required tests and provide effective repairs to maintain or restore your plumbing to top working order.
So, if you haven’t already, give us a call to book in your regular commercial plumbing inspections and tests.
Protect Your Business with Cost-Effective Maintenance and Tricks
We know you have to get back to running your business, so we’ll wrap it up here! With a few smart investments in quality plumbing fixtures and gadgets, regular cleaning and training, and staying aware of changes you can keep your commercial plumbing running efficiently and effectively, without issue.
However, if you ever have an issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to our local commercial plumbing teams in Adelaide or the Sunshine Coast.
