Few businesses adequately prepare for plumbing emergencies. When they occur, your business might face costly repairs and forced closure while you mitigate the damage they cause. You need to set aside funds in your business’s annual budget to prepare for plumbing and other emergencies. You can also minimize your risk of experiencing a plumbing emergency by scheduling regular inspections and maintenance. Here’s an overview of plumbing emergencies that businesses experience and what to do about them.
Common Plumbing Emergencies in Businesses
While a plumbing emergency can strike at any time, knowing what to watch for can help your business prepare. These are the most common plumbing emergencies that businesses experience:
- Burst pipes: Bursting pipes are especially common in areas that experience freezing temperatures in the winter, but they can also happen because of aging pipes, corrosion, or excessively high water pressure. If a pipe bursts, it can flood your business and cause extensive damage.
- Severe leaks: If your business has a severe leak, it can waste water, cause your utility bills to skyrocket, flood your building, and cause significant damage. Severe leaks can also endanger the health of your employees and customers with mold or mildew growth.
- Clogged or overflowing toilets: Clogged or overflowing toilets can cause waste to spill out into your bathrooms, exposing people to dangerous bacteria. Constantly clogged or overflowing toilets can also inconvenience employees and lower their morale.
- Sewer backups: Sewage backups occur when a sewer line is severely clogged, causing your business’s sewage to return to your building. Exposure to sewage backups can cause bacterial infections.
- Water heater failures: Commercial water heaters are expensive. While they are more durable than home systems, they can fail and leave your business without the hot water it needs for the bathrooms and kitchen.
Thankfully, you can prepare your business for a potential plumbing emergency by taking the following steps.
Create an Emergency Plumbing Plan
To prevent major problems caused by plumbing emergencies, you must create a comprehensive plan for what to do in case something goes wrong. This will prepare you to act quickly to resolve any issue that arises. Include these sections in your company’s emergency plumbing plan:
- Contact information for reliable emergency plumbers
- Location of shutoff valves and instructions for operating them
- Emergency procedures and roles for staff members
- Regular maintenance schedules to prevent emergencies
With your plan, you and your employees will know how to shut off the water to prevent further damage and who to call for emergency plumbing services. Providing detailed emergency procedures and designating responsibility to key team members can prevent confusion. Finally, regular maintenance can help prevent some emergencies from happening at all.
Know the Immediate Actions in a Plumbing Emergency
If your business experiences a plumbing emergency, take the following steps to prevent further damage and added repair costs:
- Turn off the water supply. Immediately shut off the water supply at the valves to keep water from continuing to run.
- Contain and prevent water damage. Use towels, buckets, or wet/dry vacs to clean up the water and prevent further damage.
- Turn off nearby electrical sources. If water is close to electrical outlets or appliances, shut off the electricity in the area to prevent shocks.
- Communicate with your team. Notify all employees about the situation and what to do.
Remain calm and organized during an emergency. You are much likelier to minimize damage and correct the situation if you act quickly and keep your wits about you.
Call for Professional Help
Once you’ve taken immediate steps to contain the issue, you or the designated person should contact an emergency plumber for help. A commercial plumber can quickly identify and fix the underlying problem so your business can resume normal operations.
When you choose an emergency plumber, consider these factors:
- Availability and response time: Look for 24/7 availability and fast response times.
- Licensing and insurance: Your commercial plumber should have a current license and insurance to protect your business from unintended damage.
- Reputation and reviews: Read a plumber’s reviews online to learn about other customers’ experiences.
When you contact an emergency plumber, describe the incident and the steps you’ve taken to manage the water. Explain its location and any noises, smells, or other problems you noticed before it happened.
It’s best to establish a relationship with a commercial plumbing contractor before an emergency arises. When you call a plumber who regularly inspects and maintains your plumbing system in an emergency, they will already understand the facets of your building’s plumbing infrastructure. They can identify and fix the problem much faster.
Prevent Future Emergencies
You can take several steps to prevent future plumbing emergencies. Schedule regular maintenance and inspections with your commercial plumber to identify and correct minor issues before they turn into major problems. Upgrade any outdated fixtures and pipes. Many plumbing emergencies occur because of a lack of maintenance, corrosion, worn-out seals, and other issues. Install drain screens to catch and trap debris that could accumulate in your pipes. Install water pressure regulators and replace any that are worn to maintain consistent water pressure. Train your staff on plumbing basics and emergency procedures.
Update Your Insurance and Documentation
Your business needs adequate insurance coverage to protect against plumbing emergencies. Review your policies, and talk to your insurance agent to add any coverage you might need.
If you experience a plumbing emergency, you can schedule a plumber online and then document the damage and repairs for your insurance claim by taking the following steps:
- Take photos and videos of the damage.
- Keep repair receipts and expense records.
- Call your insurance agent immediately.
Preparation Can Help Minimize Damage in a Plumbing Emergency
When your business is prepared for a plumbing emergency, you can minimize downtime and potentially costly repairs. Prepare your business for the unexpected by proactively partnering with reliable plumbing professionals.
Don’t let plumbing issues disrupt your business! Schedule a professional plumber online now to ensure your commercial property runs smoothly.
