Winter can be a stressful time for many property owners and community managers. The weather in California, specifically the Bay Area, can be a bit unpredictable. During Winter, we are most likely thinking of presents we should get our family. This is the time of year where emergencies can’t happen at a more inconvenient time. For most property managers, it can be stressful to know what to do to prevent plumbing emergencies from happening and knowing what to do when faced with one. New Pipes Inc. is a full-service emergency plumbing company localized in Santa Clara, CA.
Topic Overview:
Emergencies can be a nightmare. Plumbing companies all have their additional fines for coming to work on emergency service. However, in this article, we want to give you a roadmap/ guide to help you not only know what to do in the event of an emergency but also know how you could avoid them. At New Pipes Inc. we want to educate our clients as much as possible, so they don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on repairs. From a leak to advice to give your tenants, we have you covered.
Plumbing Emergency: Pipes are bursting.
Often bursting pipes need service immediately. If you feel comfortable, turn off the water from the main source. The longer your water is left running, the more serious the water damage can become. Leaving the water on can also cause stress to the surrounding pipes causing a more serious burst. Once you are able to turn your water off, call your plumber immediately. The sooner we know, the sooner we are able to assess the damage and fix your problem.
Avoiding bursting pipes
Pipes do give out warning signs, but we have been conditioned to not listen. We may see a leak and think, ‘It’s nothing’ or ‘I’ll just put a towel or a bucket over it’. These gut reactions can lead to emergencies. In commercial pipes, a leak can be a byproduct of a larger problem. By ignoring this warning sign, you are allowing the problem to build. Leaks aren’t the only way to know. Commercial plumbing companies can also assess your pipes from the inside. Scheduling video camera inspections can allow technicians to evaluate if there are any vulnerable points or corrosion in your pipes.
Plumbing Emergency: Water heater is broken.
Hot water is a must during the cold season. Waking up in the morning to a cold shower can be a nightmare. In multi-family dwellings, more than one unit can be affected due to water heater malfunctions. During this event, the best thing for you to do is to call your plumber. Let them know how old your water heater is, how long it has been giving issues and how many units it is affecting. This will give our technicians a good amount of information to start with so they can best assess your plumbing emergency once on the scene.
Avoiding water heater emergencies
Water heaters are great until they stop working, then they become the bane of our existence. The best thing you can do is schedule inspections. With commercial water heaters, sediment builds up at the bottom of the unit. This can restrict its efficiency and can cause the water heater to break down. Also, you could look at upgrading your water heater, repetitive maintenance can be expensive. An upgrade may be a worthwhile investment.
Talk to your tenants or inhabitants
This is the season of delicious food. However, that oftentimes means that the food is especially greasy. Grease and other fatty foods can clog pipes faster because of the cold weather. When food is put down the drain, once it hits the cold pipes, it can harden faster than it normally would. This can cause unnecessary wear on the pipes. Send them this helpful article we wrote specifically for those with garbage disposals.
Get a trustworthy commercial emergency plumber
During an emergency, it can be difficult to know who has your best interest. There are some untrustworthy companies that will try to charge you more than they need to just because you are in a pickle. There are a few things you can do to check the validity of your technician and their company. As they are inspecting the problem area, check their yelp account, check to see if they are a part of the Better Business Bureau.
At New Pipes Inc. we specialize in providing emergency plumbing services throughout the Bay Area. From removing and replacing to free inspections, we have you covered. Our technicians are both skilled and seasoned to work on your commercial plumbing emergency.
