The Benefits of Commercial Preventative Plumbing Maintenance

Plumbing problems are pretty much guaranteed to occur no matter how hard you try to prevent them. This is especially true for commercial buildings, as their plumbing systems are much larger, so there is more of a chance for things to go wrong.

Building owners generally have two options when it comes to commercial plumbing issues.

They can wait for these problems to come up and then address them, which is called emergency maintenance, and is both expensive and nerve-wracking.

Or, they can enlist a professional plumber to come up with a preventative maintenance plan to try and prevent these plumbing problems from happening in the first place. This option is far more cost-effective and a lot less stressful.

What is a preventative plumbing maintenance plan?

Preventative plumbing maintenance plans are schedules that outline the steps that need to be taken to keep a plumbing system in good condition. These plans will also help plumbers to create a regular schedule.

These preventative maintenance schedules will explain how often a plumber needs to come out and perform inspections and maintenance on commercial buildings.

Many plumbers make use of plumbing maintenance checklists when they act out these plans. These checklists will list the aspects of your commercial plumbing system that need to be inspected and maintained.

What happens during a commercial plumbing maintenance visit?

When a plumber comes out to perform a commercial plumbing maintenance visit, they will usually do the following:

Inspection

Inspection is by far the most important part of preventative maintenance. This is when a plumber will check to make sure that all the components in a commercial building’s plumbing system are working properly.

They will usually check for:

• Low water pressure
• Clogged drains
• Active leaks
• Issues with backflow prevention devices
• Issues with boilers
• Issues with sewer lines
• Corrosion, signs of wear, and pipe blockages
• Safety issues
• High water usage

Testing

After a plumber has performed a visual inspection on a commercial building, they will then conduct some tests, including:

• Water pressure: The plumber will check the water pressure at various places in the building to see if it is consistent using a pressure gauge.

• Backflow prevention devices: The plumber will test backflow prevention devices to ensure that they are working properly.

• Drain lines: The plumber will switch taps on in various places in the building to see if water pools anywhere. This will show if there are any blocked drains.

• Boiler: The plumber will check the water pressure and temperature settings of a building’s boiler to see if they have been set properly.

Cleaning and maintenance

After testing and inspecting a commercial plumbing system, the plumber will then perform some regular maintenance and cleaning. The type of maintenance and cleaning the plumber will do will usually depend on the issues they pick up during inspection and testing.

It could involve unclogging pipe and drain blockages, removing debris from boilers, lubricating moving parts and tightening loose connections. The plumber may also service a building’s boiler to ensure that it is functioning properly by checking for leaks, faulty parts and that the safety features are working properly.

This is an important part of preventative maintenance, as it can stop commercial plumbing problems before they start.

Repairs and replacements

If the plumber has noticed that any components are broken or not working properly, they will either repair or replace them. This usually means replacing or repairing leaky pipes, broken fixtures and damaged valves.

If a plumber regularly maintains your building’s system, then serious repairs and replacements likely won’t take place all that often.

Recommendations

After the plumber has gone through their checklist, they may make some suggestions to the building owner. If they notice that your system is outdated or inefficient, they may suggest some upgrades and modifications that can improve it.

The key benefits of commercial preventative plumbing maintenance

If you’ve ever wondered why commercial plumbing maintenance is important, then you’ll likely be interested to learn about the benefits that it offers. So, here are the biggest benefits:

Potential issues can be identified before they become bigger problems

Commercial preventative plumbing maintenance allows a plumber to identify any potential problems before they become a lot more serious. When these problems are found early, they are usually quick, cheap and easy to fix.

For example, a leaky water pipe is much easier to fix than a burst water pipe. This can save a commercial property owner a lot of time and money in the long run.

Better plumbing system lifespan

If you get a plumber to regularly clean and maintain your plumbing system, it will last much longer. When pipes, valves, fixtures and boilers are maintained, they are far less likely to break, as this will allow them to function effectively.

This means you will only need to replace these components much further down the line.

Improved water and energy efficiency

Commercial plumbing maintenance can also help commercial property owners conserve both water and energy. It solves or prevents the issue of leaks, which can lead to water waste.

A commercial plumber will also check to see if your boiler is working efficiently. Old, inefficient and unmaintained boilers use a lot more energy to heat buildings and water. So, repairing or replacing them can help a property owner save a lot of money on energy.

Helps commercial building owners keep up with legislation

Commercial plumbing systems need to meet certain legal requirements in both the UK and many other countries. Regular plumbing maintenance visits can ensure that your property’s system meets the legal requirements.

This can save commercial building owners from having to deal with legal issues.

Safety

Preventative commercial plumbing maintenance can ensure that your plumbing system is safe. This is incredibly important, as safety issues can cause harm to the people on a property’s premises.

For example, a plumber can ensure that a boiler is safe, as in some cases, a poorly maintained boiler can even explode. This could cause serious property damage, or, even worse, cause harm to people.

How do I choose the right commercial plumber for my property?

If you need a commercial plumber for your property, you should make sure that they are qualified and have industry-specific experience. At Lacey Plumbing & Heating, all of our commercial plumbers are qualified to meet your property’s preventative commercial plumbing maintenance needs.

Just get in touch with our team to plan your plumbing maintenance in.