Whether it’s a restaurant or cafeteria kitchen, a sink in an assisted living facility, or another type of commercial building, drain clogs are a common problem. Not only does the clog result in water backing up, but it can also result in unpleasant odors. Clogged drains can disrupt daily operations and may even become a health hazard.
When your drains clog up, we are here to help. However, did you know most drain clogs are preventable? Following a few simple maintenance tips can keep your drains flowing freely.
Commercial Bathroom Clog Repair Service
Soap scum, hair, and other debris can easily clog commercial bathroom drains. Over time the buildup can result in clogs that slow or stop water from flowing down the drain. When this happens, a call to a licensed plumbing professional is usually necessary to remove the clog and thoroughly clean the drain.
Did you know most commercial drains are comprised of several components? Each part plays a vital role in the drain’s function. These parts include catch basins, trench drains, and gratings. When you are only collecting small amounts of water, a catch basin is commonly used. Trench drains are often found in more extensive commercial facilities since they are capable of handling more significant amounts of water at a time. The same also applies to gratings.
When one of these components becomes clogged, it interferes with the water’s ability to enter the drainage system. Your commercial facility may also use a roof drain. It’s relatively common in areas like Houston, which can receive high amounts of rainfall at a time. When a roof drain is clogged, it can result in flooding issues in and around the facility.
Drain Snake vs. Hydro Jetting
At CS Mechanical, we often use jetting to clear blockages from clogged drains. It’s not uncommon for us to hear the client tried removing the clog with a snake device. They wonder why snaking the drain isn’t practical, and the reason is simple. Most snake devices have a cutting head around one and a half inches. If your pipe is four inches, you are only removing the upper portion of the clog. It may allow water to start flowing, but it quickly begins to back up.
Jetting removes the entire clog in commercial pipes. The process thoroughly cleans the pipes around the wall and in the center. This allows us to completely remove any type of clog caused by tree roots, grease, and other debris.
Preventing Clogs in a Commercial Kitchen
Taking preventative measures can prevent clogs in commercial kitchens and help you avoid costly repair bills.
It starts by training staff to scrape plates off over a trash can. When you avoid putting large amounts of food debris drown the drain, it lessens the amount of grease and oil entering the plumbing system. You also want to avoid dumping cooking oil and grease down the drain. It’s a primary reason clogs occur in commercial kitchens.
CS Mechanical recommends using a lidded bucket to store the used oil and grease. From there, the grease and oil can be safely disposed of at the appropriate facility. We often recommend contracting with a company that specializes in oil and grease removal. The removal service does charge a fee, but it’s noticeably less expensive than hiring a plumber when a clog occurs.
Don’t forget to routinely clean the sink’s grease trap. When it overflows, grease and oil can enter the plumbing system.
Preventing Clogs in a Commercial Bathroom
Preventative maintenance in commercial bathrooms is similar to maintaining kitchen drains. Avoid pouring grease and oil down the down. Installing strainers in the drains is an effective way of preventing hair and other debris from building up. You also want to flush the drains regularly with hot water. It can loosen up clogs caused by grease and oil.
A liquid drain cleaner is another way to keep your bathroom sinks clear of clogs. However, be sure to read the instructions on the bottle before liberally pouring the cleaner down a drain. Too much drainer cleaner can result in a weakening of the pipe’s walls.
Toilet Drain Clogs
When it comes to the plumbing running to the toilets, only flush human waste and approved paper materials like toilet paper. A plunger is often effective at removing immediate clogs. For example, someone flushes a wad of paper towels down the toilet.
You may also want to invest in an inexpensive air pressure device. It functions similarly to a plunger; only the device uses more pressure. Using an air pressure device to remove clogs takes some experience. The pressure emitted from the device can damage the pipes. Our licensed plumbers are here to give you and your staff some advice.
CS Mechanical Is Here To Address Your Plumbing Needs
A clogged drain can disrupt daily operations at your commercial facility. Even with proper maintenance, clogs can still occur. When this happens, CS Mechanical is here to get your drains functioning like new.