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The plumbing systems of commercial properties typically face much more wear and tear on their infrastructure than residential buildings. The number of employees and customers using finite taps and toilets can sharply increase the risk of damage and blockage. Coupled with many more transient people occupying the space compared to a residential home, issues may go unnoticed or ignored for long periods as the needs of running a business distract from inspecting the plumbing infrastructure.
When plumbing issues arise, and without maintenance they will, the downtime required to fix the issue can severely hamper business operations, resulting in lost revenue, disgruntled staff, disappointed customers, and expensive repairs. Fortunately, the cost-saving benefits of a plumbing inspection can avert plumbing emergencies, keeping the drainage and water supply of your commercial premises running at high performance for the benefit of everyone.
Plumbing in commercial spaces is often critical to business operation success and comes with stringent code requirements for public safety and health. Hospitality businesses, such as cafés and restaurants, would be unable to operate at all during a plumbing emergency, while offices would face incredible inconvenience for their workers and would be forced to either reallocate plumbing resources or close for the interim.
The high degree of frequent usage that taps, kitchen facilities, and toilets are placed under, means that they require much more maintenance than those at home. In the case of commercial spaces in hospitality, the risk of blockages from grease and other food debris and the wear on faucets can cause sudden issues to pop up during service when water usage is at its highest. For offices or shops with bathrooms, a leaking toilet can close the premises for health reasons.
Other potential consequences of overlooking maintenance include costly repairs to replace infrastructure and high utilities bills due to water wastage from a leak or burst pipe. While businesses will naturally want to avoid disruptions due to plumbing damage, there is also a high-cost benefit attached to plumbing inspections.
Plumbing maintenance is an investment in your business infrastructure, emphasising component repair over replacements, optimising water quality, pressure, and overall reliability, and providing peace of mind for property owners that their occupants are not facing health risks.
Anticipating problems before they happen through regular inspection represents a minor cost of upkeep to prevent an expensive emergency repair later. In the case of burst pipes or a broken leaking tap, the wasted water can increase the business's water bills, as well as cause water damage to the building. This obviously takes both time and money to clean up, as well as lost revenue from the business closing.
Early detection of issues is vital, as the pressure placed on commercial plumbing can hasten damage much quicker than expected.
It is a simple fact of use that plumbing systems collect build-up, both in water arriving and leaving after use. First, water brings with it mineral sediment that can cause calcium build-up and corrosion, while trace amounts of debris will always find their way down the drain. Both sides of the water flow can experience blockages, but a regular plumbing inspection will notice and be able to clear their impediments and inefficiencies before a complete clog can happen.
Routine inspections can also help detect leaks, improving water usage efficiency and ensuring as little as possible goes to waste.
Regular inspections can test for pathogens and other contaminants, such as mineral build-up and corrosion. A drain and pipe inspection with specialised CCTV equipment can reveal blockages that are forming before they clog the entire pipe and cause a back-up of smelly, bacteria-laden water. This is particularly important for hospitality businesses as there can be legal ramifications for failing to meet health and safety regulatory compliance.
As a property owner, maintaining plumbing can improve the tenant experience and result in lower turnover. First, it shows that the tenant's circumstances and well-being are cared about. Second, it gives them peace of mind that their business will not experience a plumbing emergency. Third, it gives them a feeling of security that they can bring other infrastructure problems to your attention. It is no secret that happy tenants stay longer, which means more consistent income for property owners and less inconvenience in facing the process of approving new commercial tenants.
A well-maintained plumbing system can also positively impact property valuations. The prevention of water damage from emergencies maintains the integrity of the premises, ensuring that water and moisture are kept localised and that corrosion, mould, or dampness, don't impact other parts of the building. The increased longevity of pipes and fixtures is also looked upon favourably by potential buyers, with the increase in property value often far more than the cost of plumbing inspection and maintenance.
When you book a commercial plumbing inspection, your plumbing fixtures and infrastructure will be given a thorough analysis to ensure that everything is in working order. Any potential issues will be flagged for repair and reported back to you. The common areas that plumbing inspections assess include the pipes, fixtures, drains, water heaters, and sewer lines. If required, plumbers can use camera inspections to look deep within the pipes to assess any health hazards, integrity deterioration, or expectation of network failure.
If you have any concerns or have noticed something you believe is out of the ordinary, inform your plumber upon arrival, and they will pay extra attention to that specific area. The importance of a thorough assessment by a professional plumber cannot be overstated, as it provides a clear record of the plumbing health of your premises. This report means you can show inspectors that all plumbing components are functioning and are up to the relevant building codes.
Unfortunately, there is no one correct answer, as the recommended frequency will depend on the property type and use. Older buildings will require more inspections than brand-new establishments. Hospitality will require a higher frequency than offices, which will need higher maintenance than retail stores. Shopping centres will also require relatively frequent inspections due to the high volume of customer traffic using the facilities.
As a general rule, an annual inspection is sufficient for most businesses, though this will change based on the demand placed on the plumbing. On the one hand, a large commercial kitchen may need an inspection every 6 months, while a small retail outlet may opt for an inspection every 2 years. The best way to know is to get in touch with a commercial plumbing expert like Plumberoo, share with us the circumstances of your commercial operation, and we can advise you on the most suitable maintenance schedule for your business circumstances.
Choosing the right plumbing services for your next commercial inspection can be a challenge, but remember, the plumbing needs of a business are vastly different to those of a residential home, so choose your plumber accordingly. It is always best to select qualified plumbing contractors with experience in commercial properties, who can also understand the plumbing systems common to the local area.
Plumberoo plumbers are experts in commercial plumbing, from the high demands placed on large-scale commercial kitchens and shopping centres to the intricacies of retail and office plumbing infrastructure. We're locals in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, so we understand the specific plumbing needs of the area and can respond and arrive at your eastern suburbs premises in under 2 hours.
For your next commercial plumbing inspection, call the expert team at Plumberoo so we can take proactive steps with you to safeguard your business operations and increase the longevity of your commercial plumbing system.
