04 Apr Best Commercial Plumbing Tips
4/4/16
By: Karli Willden
Southeast Idaho Plumbing
If you think a plumbing disaster is the worst at your home, imagine what it would be like to experience a plumbing disaster at your business. With customers to serve, expectations to meet and endless demands to cater, a plumbing disaster is a business owner’s worst nightmare. On top of everything else you have to handle in a day, a plumbing fiasco should not be one of them. Believe it or not, a majority of the time a plumbing disaster in your business can be avoided by regular maintenance. Learn what you can do to save yourself the headache of a costly plumbing disaster.
Commercial Plumbing Maintenance
- Pump the Septic Often: A consistent flow of customers using the restrooms at your business means more buildup in the septic at a faster rate. Removing the sludge from your septic tank often is important to avoid future damages to the whole system. When was the last time you have had your septic tank pumped? If it has been longer than 3-5 years it may be time for your septic to be pumped, depending on the age of your business. Give our plumber a call to see if it is time for your septic tank to be pumped.
- Do Something about Slow Drains: Businesses that ignore or temporally put off fixing a slow drain often wind up with bigger issues, such as flooding or worse. If your business has slow drains, it is recommended you get a plumber to come to inspect it and make repairs as soon as possible. A drain that is not functioning properly might mean a buildup, but also could be an indicator of bigger problems.
- Drain Covers: Solid objects that wind up in the pipes can cause a lot of issues. By making sure your business has drain covers in the kitchen and bathroom, you will be able to avoid blockages in the pipe that could result in a major disaster.
- Frozen Pipes: If you live in an area where the temperature drops below freezing, it is important to look out for frozen pipes. Make sure to keep your thermostat temperatures consistent and make sure your pipes are properly insulated. If your pipes have frozen, it is important to take action immediately to thaw the pipes. A blow dryer, a space heater or even heat tape is recommended. Consult with our plumber on other tips to prevent frozen pipes.
Special Tips for Restaurant Owners
- Pump Grease Trap Regularly: One main cause of clogged pipes is when grease, oils or fats are dumped down the drain and the grease trap is not regularly pumped. Most restaurants should already have a grease trap installed, however, some may need to install a replacement to spare your plumbing issues down the road. If you cannot remember the last time your grease trap was pumped, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a professional plumber.
- Put Food in Trash Not Drain: Indoor plumbing is not designed to be an indoor trash collector for dumping food and waste down the drain. Restaurant owners, in particularly, ought to make sure food is dumped in the trash cans and not down the sink. By properly disposing food in trash cans, buildup in your pipes can be avoided.
- Regularly Have Plumbing Inspected: One way to make sure you can avoid an unexpected plumbing blowup is to make sure to have the plumber out frequently to make sure everything’s running smoothly and to diagnose any suspected issues in its early stages. By constantly inspecting and maintaining your plumbing, you can prevent unexpected disasters down the road.
Give Mathews Plumbing a call today at 208-357-3439 to learn more about commercial plumbing tips, or to schedule an appointment with one of our Southeastern Idaho Plumbers.