29 March The Basics of Commercial Plumbing Matinenance March 29, 2023 By sma Commercial Inspection, Property Maintenance commercial plumbing 0 THE BASICS OF COMMERCIAL PLUMBING MAINTENANCE March 29, 2023 | Property Maintenance, Commercial Inspection | commercial plumbing For every commercial property to operate with success, owners need to be serious about consistently checking in on their building’s key systems. Phenomenal property maintenance is paramount if the goal is to keep tenants safe and satisfied. When it comes to monitoring and maintaining plumbing of a commercial property, here are a few things to consider. Small Issues Can Grow One important thing to remember when it comes to maintaining a larger commercial property that needs its systems to run constantly (or draw the ire of tenants and their customers) is that small maintenance problems left untreated can lead to much larger issues down the road. When looking at a property’s plumbing, that means keeping a hawkish eye out for leaks. Leaks can occur due to many different reasons. Normal wear and tear can result in ineffective rubber gaskets and tree roots can grow directly into underground systems. Major leaks, sometimes referred to as “Silent Leaks,” can even grow without any exterior indication within walls or surrounding a building’s foundation. Many of these leaks can be unpredictable without regular supervision and professional inspection. To get ahead of leaks that can grow into major damages and unplanned system failures, coordinate with property inspectors or professional plumbers who are trained to identify early signs of water leaks. Know Your Pipes Inside and Out The core of any commercial property’s plumbing systems are its pipes. Knowing the types of pipes and the age of these systems are important not only in developing a reliable maintenance plan, but also for optimizing the efficiency of these systems. Piping that is suboptimally oriented can result in lower than expected water pressure, and convoluted designs often result in a more limited water supply. When purchasing or moving into a new facility, buyers should conduct a full analysis of these systems to become aware of whether replacements or further remodeling is required. Galvanized steel piping will rust over time and is another common cause of water leaks. In addition, these aged pipes that are tasked with carrying hot water consistently will wear much quicker than other pipes. Owners should be sensitive to the strain that their pipes are going through or risk a major surprise down the road. Address Known Issues Quickly Lastly, every commercial building is likely to run into smaller plumbing issues during its day-to-day operations. While running businesses and managing properties demand a lot of time and attention, any known plumbing repairs should be addressed as soon as possible in order to reduce the chances of mounting issues. Common problems that should be addressed sooner rather than later include leaky faucets, blocked toilets, unexpected water temperatures, lower than expected water pressure, and prevalent odors. Many property managers would benefit from hiring a dedicated, on-site team so that these issues are addressed promptly. A commercial property that isn’t working as intended is a distraction that business owners simply do not need. Start with these steps to set your tenants up for success! National Property Inspections trains its inspectors how to identify problems within each property’s key systems. Get in contact with your locally-owned NPI property expert today! Comments are closed.