Everyone knows the gut-wrenching annoyance of watching the water of their toilet slowly rise and overflow, or finding a puddle of water in an under-sink cupboard of the kitchen. While plumbing troubles are never fun, they are especially disconcerting when they surprise you at your business. The work must go on, even amid leaky pipes or a clogged toilet. Here is a simple guide for what to do when this happens to you.
Call a Plumber
When plumbing goes awry, the first thing you need to do is call a plumber. Ideally, you have already done your homework and chosen a commercial plumber. If not, now is the time to find one. Because you don’t want to endanger or inconvenience your clients, your plumbing repairs may need to be done when your building is closed. Look for a plumber who is willing to work evenings or on weekends, without overcharging for after-hour calls. They should also offer emergency services 24 hours a day, including holidays. Make sure your plumber is licensed, bonded, and insured. Ask around to find a plumbing company that other businesses are highly satisfied with.
Make a Temporary Fix
Because you may have to hold the plumber’s visit off until after work hours, you should make a temporary fix if possible. A plunger can go a long way toward holding off a clogged sink or toilet. Place buckets under leaky faucets. It might be necessary to turn off the water flow, so know where your water turn-off valve is ahead of time. Safety is always the first priority, so take action to keep your workers and customers safe. Be sure to sanitize any area that has been contaminated by unclean water. You should also use signs to indicate hazards like wet floors at your business.
Know When You Need to Temporarily Close
For minor plumbing issues, you should be able to make a temporary fix, call in a plumber, and keep business rolling. However, there are some plumbing emergencies that you will need to shut down for. These include flooded floors, leaking sewage, natural gas leaks, burst pipes, and non-functional toilets and sinks. Forced closures are always bad for business, so be sure to get a plumber in right away.
When a plumbing issue comes up at your business, be sure that you are prepared. Have emergency supplies and wet floor signs ready. But remember, prevention is always better than intervention, so have your plumbing inspected regularly and take care of minor problems right away.
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