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Top 10 Commercial Plumbing Problems & How to Fix Them

Owning or managing a commercial building is difficult enough without having to deal with plumbing issues. They’re messy and can be expensive to fix, and they can turn residents, customers, or tenants against you.

Here are the most common plumbing issues that may affect commercial buildings:

  1. Leaking faucets
  2. Clogged drains
  3. Clogged toilets
  4. Running toilets
  5. Broken toilet handles
  6. Damaged toilet parts
  7. Silent or hidden leaks
  8. Water temperature problems
  9. Sewer smells
  10. Poor water pressure

If you’re experiencing any of these problems, call JD Service Now at 919-383-7000. Our Durham, NC commercial plumbers know how to diagnose and fix any type of plumbing issue—and we’re reliable, fast, and affordable.

Do You Have a Plumbing Problem in Your Building?

Let’s look a bit closer at the top 10 commercial plumbing issues:

  • Leaking faucets: A leaky faucet, especially one with a very slow drip or leak, may not seem very serious. However, these leaks can cause thousands of wasted gallons of water in a year, and this is something you’ll notice on your water bill. Some leaks could even cause water to pool on or under the floor, underneath and inside cabinets, and other areas where you may not notice it until they’ve caused physical damage and even mold growth.
  • Clogged drains: Commercial drains may be built for higher than normal wear and tear, but the people that use them are often much harder on them than they are in the drains in their own homes. Paper towels and other debris may be dropped into drains, where they can cause clogs if not fixed right away. Slow draining is often an indication of a clog, so try to look into these issues right away.
  • Clogged toilets: Commercial toilets get a lot of use. Far too often, the people that use these toilets flush things that they shouldn’t—even when there are signs asking them to use the trash instead. Be sure to plunge or snake any clogged toilets as soon as you can, but call in a professional if a clog is not resolving or a toilet is clogging frequently.
  • Running toilets: A running toilet can waste thousands of gallons of water each year, which you’ll notice on your water bill. You can check toilet parts on your own, but call a commercial plumber if your toilets or urinals are equipped with automatic flushers. Troubleshooting these can be challenging, and they can be hard to fix or replace.
  • Broken toilet handles: Toilet handles are fragile and are generally not recommended for commercial use. If your building’s toilets still have handles, consider replacing these with motion-activated flushing systems. If you want to keep the handles you have, you may need to replace or repair them frequently to keep the toilets in working order.
  • Damaged toilet parts: Sometimes, the internal parts of a toilet malfunction, wear out, or are damaged. Commercial plumbing and auto-flush toilets should be inspected and repaired by a professional. If you have a toilet that’s acting up, try to shut off the water to that toilet and call a plumber.
  • Silent or hidden leaks: Some leaks go unnoticed for some time—until you notice a spike in your water bill, a musty smell, or water damage on a wall, ceiling, or floor. You need to call in a licensed commercial plumber as quickly as possible to find the source of the leak and stop it. Leaks can lead to toxic mold and severe damage to your property.
  • Water temperature problems: Because they run so frequently, commercial water heaters should be inspected and maintained more often than residential ones. This means an inspection every few months to make sure the unit or units are working correctly. If you’ve noticed problems with there not being enough hot water, or the water not getting hot enough, you could have an issue with your water heater.
  • Sewer smells: The smell of sewage is disgusting, and it can indicate a serious plumbing problem that should be fixed right away. At JD Service Now, we have the right tools to find and fix blockages or other issues in your main sewer line.
  • Poor water pressure: Low water pressure is usually a sign of a bigger issue, like a leak or a burst pipe. Call in a plumber to find out why your water pressure is too low and get it fixed before you continue to waste money on water you’re not actually using.

Quick Fixes & When to Call a Plumber

Plumbing problems can range from minor to severe, and understanding what type of problem you have on your hands can help you determine whether you can fix it on your own or if you need a professional plumber to take a look.

If you have some minor plumbing knowledge or consider yourself handy, you can probably fix some issues on your own. You may have the right equipment to plunge a toilet or snake a drain, replace toilet parts, or tighten the seal on a leaky faucet. If you have a serious leak on your hands or are not sure what is causing your plumbing problems, like weak water pressure or uneven water temperatures, it’s probably time to have a professional take a look.

At JD Service Now, we offer complete commercial plumbing inspections, installations, maintenance, and repairs in Durham and the surrounding areas. Whether it’s an emergency or you’re interested in a maintenance plan, our plumbers can help.

To find out more, contact us online or at 919-383-7000.

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