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Hidden plumbing leaks can cause major disruptions to a commercial environment if not addressed early enough. Luckily, there are ways to ensure that you don’t experience a work flow interruption outside of a completely unpredictable disaster. This is good news for anyone who owns or manages a commercial space.
Hidden leaks that are left to cause damage over time are a nuisance in so many ways. Not just because they are a health hazard and an expense, but also because they will likely affect what you can claim for under insurance.
Water that leaks out from pipes will naturally take its toll on the materials around the leak. Dampened areas will start to warp or peel, and water could collect and pool causing rot to susceptible materials. These are issues that will have to be repaired or replaced along with the plumbing issue. These additional expenses are a headache and could be easily avoided by taking the right steps. When damage happens to certain parts of a building, it may become a safety violation. In the event of such damage, a company with the facilities, skills, and that is licensed to handle all commercial repairs is a great benefit.
Any dampness can lead to mold and mildew, which can then lead to health problems for people occupying the building. There are cases where dampness in the walls of buildings have caused respiratory conditions. Certain kinds of mold can cause a building to become uninhabitable for the period until an inspection clears it, which is a major disruption in income and work flow for business or residential owners. Health codes exist to monitor the conditions of a building and you don’t want to find yourself in violation of these codes.
Many insurance companies will want to know what plumbing service was done to prevent or treat the problem area when property owners attempt to claim for damage. Some even go so far as to outline what checks should be done, how often, and with what equipment. This is in the best interests of property owners and it is wise to be informed and keep in line with these regulations.
There are things you can do to ensure that hidden leaks don’t become major disasters down the line. The safest way is to have a professional company like Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric provide a maintenance service regularly, which will prevent issues with your insurance in the event of a claim. If you do suspect a leak or want to be extra proactive then there are a few things you can do in between these maintenance checks.
Do regular walk-throughs of the building and check for any signs of warping, peeling, pooling, mold, stale odors, and buckling as these are a good indication that there is a hidden leak in your plumbing.
Another way to check is to test for signs of water usage when all appliances and faucets are off. Wait a while after turning these off to allow the water meter to settle and then recheck after a window period to see if the meter indicates water still being used.
As we stated earlier, maintenance is something any commercial property owner should invest in. At Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric we use fiber optic camera technology to scan all your pipes not just for signs of hidden leaks, but for corrosion and blockages that could cause leaks if not corrected.
In the case of commercial buildings, you want any plumbing problems treated in such a way so as to minimize the disturbance to the occupants of the building. The best way to achieve this is early detection. Prevention is, after all, better than cure.
Getting a company in to check what the pipes in your building are made from and whether they still fall in line with building codes and are in a healthy condition is an important early step. A professional who can check this, replace any old or leaking pipes where necessary, and can also offer a maintenance plan is an ideal way to go. They will be familiar with the work done from fresh start to finish.
Purchasing a maintenance package from a professional plumbing company provides the benefit of catching problem areas early and doing the work on old buildings to get them to a healthy state is highly beneficial. At Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric, a maintenance plan will include priority scheduling and a round-the-clock on call team.
In a household, it is much easier to assess what strain each occupant places on the plumbing system. A commercial building is a bit more difficult to monitor. Provide information for the tenants making use of a commercial building on what measures to take should a leak make itself known. This advice can include an emergency plumbing contact and a reminder of what sort of items should be moved to safety. This will prevent larger costs for damage of property. Encourage tenants to report any suspicions they may have. A lot of the time, tenants assume that a building manager has these things under control and are not aware that they could be helpful. They will probably be much happier doing this than having their entire working or living environment disrupted by a leak that was not found in time.
Commercial buildings are much more difficult to maintain and require a more thorough prevention plan because problems will interfere with income. For this reason, a professional plumbing contractor is a valuable relationship to build. Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric would love to partner with you for all your plumbing needs.
