Creating More Effective Plumbing

When you manage a commercial building, it seems as if every problem is dialed up to the max. This is especially true of problems with the plumbing. What might be a minor issue now could quickly turn into a nightmare. This is even more serious if parts of your building are open to the public. Keeping these problems under control means recognizing them early and dealing with them quickly before they cause more damage and begin to negatively impact your business

Here are a few signs of serious trouble to watch out for.

Water Damage

Perhaps the most important step you can take to protect your building from serious plumbing issues is to never ignore water damage. Even if the damage appears minor, it is important to have the area evaluated as soon as possible. Water does not always pool in the location that it is leaking from, which means that a small amount of water damage on a wall or ceiling may actually be the result of a much larger leak elsewhere. This is especially true in large structures, where water may leak from upper levels or travel down conduits used for plumbing or wiring.

Remember that water damage is always more serious than it looks. The extra moisture can lead to mold growth and affected wall panels or ceiling tiles usually require replacement. Finding the source of the problem quickly is the best way to avoid a huge repair bill and repair jobs that can potentially be highly disruptive.

Repeated Clogs

If one or more bathrooms are experiencing clogs, then it likely indicates a problem with the plumbing beyond a single toilet. In some cases, it may be prudent to consider installing high-flow or no-clog toilets in affected areas, but only after investigating the issue fully. Often, the problem is not the toilets themselves, but rather a clog elsewhere in the system. Ignoring this type of problem can easily lead to customer complaints and unsanitary back-ups that can potentially cause serious damage to your bathrooms.

Foul Smells

If there's a bad smell present at any drains in your building, then you almost certainly have a sewer issue. Remember that sewer laterals located on your building's property are generally the responsibility of the building owner, not the city. If employees or customers are noticing odors, it's likely to be an issue with the laterals rather than the city's main line. Waiting for the problem to go away on its own will likely only lead to more serious issues, and can ultimately result in a sewer back-up that will require major sewer issues.

In some cases, the odor may simply be the result of a minor clog. Even if this is the case, it's important to have companies like Iron Horse Mechanical And Plumbing Services LLC evaluate the situation as soon as possible. If the problem is minor, then it can likely be corrected quickly and easily. If not, then dealing with it immediately is the best way to avoid a much more costly and destructive problem in the future.