Where we work is like our home away from home. We build relationships with our co-workers. The office is where we share personal and professional triumphs and failures. We also share office plumbing.
Office Plumbing Problems and What to Do
You’ve smelled sewer gas. It has a distinct, unpleasant odor. If you’ve ever walked into a place of business and caught a whiff of sewer gas, your first impression is a bit tainted. And first impressions matter in every business.
Bad odor is just one of the office plumbing issues you might face at your place of business. Here are 7 common office plumbing-related problems and what you can do about them:
1. Clogs
Some people think “toilet” is another word for “trash.” Offer plenty of rubbish disposal options in your bathroom facilities, including trash cans and bags for sanitary waste.
Commercial clogs are a health hazard. A small clog allows bacterial buildup and hazardous water can spread serious diseases by contact and vapors. Before you know it, you’ll have several sick employees. Contact your Phoenix-area plumbing pros ASAP.
2. Dirty, Rusty Water
You need a water softener or water purification system (or both). Mineral-laden water smells bad, doesn’t lather well, and its buildup can wreck your office plumbing and appliances.
3. Hot Water Too Hot
This is a thermostat problem and may not be a DIY (do-it-yourself) fix. Contact the pros for assistance.
4. Leaks
Customers won’t know you have an office plumbing leak, but your water bill will. There’s not much you can do until the plumber arrives, so call your plumbing professionals. ASAP.
5. Odors
“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” says Delish.com. Your co-worker’s microwaved fish may smell wonderful to her but it’s among the stinkiest smells brought into an office.
Whether it’s sewer gas or reheated burritos, bad smells are a customer (and employee) turnoff.
Sewer gas is composed of several chemicals you don’t want to breathe anyway, so if that’s the source of bad odors, you need to contact your local plumber. Your plumbing pros will look for broken seals/rings on your toilet, sewer ventilation pipes, and blocked drains. If your building is old, it may be a construction problem.
6. Smelly Hot Water
If your hot water smells funky, you may have bacteria in the water heater. You can increase the water temperature to 140° (Post warnings to employees.) and run it through until you “disinfect” your water heater and office plumbing pipes. The best fix is to call your plumbing pros.
7. Water Pressure/Temperature
When there is a leak in your office plumbing, the water pressure drops. If there’s sediment buildup in your water heater, that could also cause your hot water to slow to a trickle. High water pressure seems like a good idea, but it’s a problem, too.
Several things can cause “no hot water,” so it’s best to call your plumbing contractor. Your plumbing pro will check for airlocks, then the circuit breaker and water heater.
Office Plumbing Maintenance is Key
We encourage you to have your office plumbing checked out and then schedule ongoing maintenance. Forrest Anderson Plumbing & Air Conditioning can catch office plumbing problems (commercial backflow, for example) before they cause expensive damages or worse; employee health issues.
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!