commercial plumbing problems

4 Common Commercial Plumbing Issues and How We Solve Them

We recently had a customer ask about several plumbing issues in their commercial building. These problems are typical in many businesses, so we thought we’d share our solutions to help other property managers and business owners.

  1. Second Floor Toilet Not Flushing Properly

Customer asked about: A men’s toilet on the second floor that wasn’t flushing correctly.

Our solution: We’ll conduct a thorough inspection to identify the root cause, which could be clogged pipes, a faulty flush mechanism, or inadequate water pressure. Once diagnosed, we’ll implement the necessary repairs to restore proper flushing function.

  1. Misaligned Rooftop Toilet

Customer asked about: A rooftop toilet that had been kicked and misaligned, causing flushing issues.

Our solution: We’ll realign the toilet and install bracing similar to ground-floor models. This ensures stability, proper function, and longevity, even in its exposed rooftop location.

  1. Constantly Dripping Kitchen Mop Sink

Customer asked about: A kitchen mop sink that was continuously dripping hot water due to corroded valves.

Our solution: We’ll replace the corroded valves that are preventing proper water flow control. This will not only stop the constant dripping but also help conserve water and reduce utility bills.

  1. Open Sewer Line in Outdoor Area

Customer asked about: An open sewer line in their back patio area that needed capping.

Our solution: We’ll install a proper cap to close the open sewer line. This eliminates potential health hazards, prevents odors, and improves the overall safety and aesthetics of the outdoor area.

If you’re experiencing similar issues in your commercial property, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our team of experienced plumbers is ready to tackle these and any other plumbing challenges you might face.

Apartment Assessments

A recent plumbing estimate came in for apartments. Here was the request:

A Plumbing resource was required for an apartment property, A plumber visits the site and does a basic conditions inspection of selected apartments.

Plumbing Assessment – 56 apartments

The scope will be limited to inspection of only (6) apartments and will include the following:

Enter apartment unit.
Check flow at the kitchen sink. Look for leaks, insufficient flow, backups.
Check bathroom appliances for proper flow, leaks, backups.
Identify any distribution piping that is not copper or PVC and indicate the condition.
(Should take about 15 mins per apartment).

Then – plumber will go outside and camera-scope two sanitary lines through clean-outs.
Write up a 1- to 2-page report on company letterhead, describing the units inspected, the conditions observed, and description of any deficiencies found.

 (1981 – 24 apts)
 (1983 – 32 apts)
Constructed in Two Phases – 1981 and 1983
56 Apartment Units total

We will be posting the final estimate here to help guide you for similar remodeling projects.

Winter Weather Tips 2021

Anytime the temperature dips below 25 degrees, it is always best to prepare for the worse.

Here are the few ways in which you can take care of your house in this winter:

  1. Vacant buildings need to have the heat inside set over 60 degrees.
  2. Outside faucets need to be wrapped and covered.
  3. All plumbing facing north walls needs extra attention. Cold waves can finds it ways easily into those walls.

Natural gas winter weather tips:

https://www.atmosenergy.com/safety/weather-safety

Pool winter weather tips:

https://www.tbtspools.com/winter-tips

For more information check out the cities faq as well:

Protect your pipes now before the freeze hits

How To Prepare Your Home’s Plumbing For Cold Weather

Winter is coming, and with it comes the inevitable plumbing troubles. If you’re worried about your pipes freezing, the good news is there’s a lot you can do to prevent it. I’m going to show you how to prepare for winter and keep your pipes from freezing. Let’s get started!

What can you do to prepare for winter?

You might be thinking, “Just drain out your pipes more often. I should have them drip when it gets colder, but they never seem to be fully cleared, so it never seems to work.” I’ll tell you why this doesn’t work. Let’s first talk about what you can do to prepare for winter and your plumbing problems. You can do several things to make sure you’re prepared, some of which require time, and some of which you can do yourself.

What if my pipes freeze anyway

Well, first of all, nobody likes to be woken up in the morning by the dreaded sound of a water drip. But that’s what happens when you don’t take steps to prevent pipes from freezing. With careful maintenance, we can avoid the big chill. Here are a few tips to keep your plumbing in tip-top shape during the colder months. Here’s my dirty secret: I’ve got a frost-free faucet. And I’ll bet a lot of you don’t even know that your faucets are supposed to be frost-free. If you can afford it, invest in a faucet with a screw-on de-icer valve. That’s the best way to keep pipes from freezing, and it’s also the most efficient. Frost-free valves cost around $10 and come with different flow rates depending on the size of your faucet. The higher the flow, the faster the valve will turn.

Figure A: Frost-Proof, Anti-Siphon Sill Cock

The best way to prevent pipes from freezing

With high temps and heavy rain last week, there’s a good chance your pipes will freeze if you’re still not prepared. Before winter, you’ll want to make sure your water system is ready. First, you need to make sure your water service line is disconnected from any service pipes or fixtures near your home. Then, if your pipes do freeze, you’ll be ready. You can get the hang of this with these two simple steps. 1. Turning off the main water valve The easiest way to get this done is to disconnect the main water valve. You’ll need to disconnect it because you’ll need it to turn your water back on. 2. Turning off the water valve Once you’ve disconnected the main water valve, you can turn your water back on manually to make sure your pipes don’t freeze. If your pipes do freeze, you’ll have

What to do if your pipes are frozen

If you haven’t already done so, take a minute and go outside and look at your plumbing. If you see any exposed pipes sticking out of the ground, shut off the water to the affected areas and take the appropriate measures to thaw it. As a general rule of thumb, you should use a blowtorch or heat gun and hold it directly against the frozen area. If it’s still frozen by the time you’re done, call a professional to thaw it for you. Pots and pans, anyone? If you don’t have a dehumidifier or a heat gun at home, there are other steps you can take. You can keep your house warm with candles, a space heater, or even a space-heated mat you can sit outside on the ground. But if you do have either of those appliances, don’t use them inside your house! Open up your home to the chilly outdoors, and you

Conclusion

Every homeowner knows how cold it can get in the winter. Some of us are lucky enough to get by without so much as a flicker of frostbite. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case for everyone. Many parts of the country experience frigid temperatures in the winter, making keeping pipes from freezing more important than ever. However, having never suffered through a terrible winter, I can’t be sure how difficult the freeze will be for you. But knowing what to do to prevent the freeze is always helpful in case the temperatures drop too low. Taking preventative measures is a much better approach than trying to simply deal with a burst pipe in the middle of the night, and this advice is completely free.

Small Facility Plumbing- Feb 10th,2021

A recent plumbing estimate came in for a facility at Bennington street. Here was the request:

A Plumbing resource was required to support multiple systems which were quite versatile in nature. Below was the requirement:

  1. Setup of 2 water heaters, 3 break rooms with kitchenettes.
  2. Men’s and ladies locker room.
  3. Restrooms on two separate floors and 1 unisex restroom.

Along with above requirements, W-9 and COI (certificate of insurance) was needed.

We will be posting the final estimate here to help guide you for similar remodeling projects.

Commercial Boiler Installation