ADA Upgrades to Bathrooms

April 25th, 2014 Posted in Commercial Plumbing
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Every commercial property owner in the United States should be aware of the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  While the law is complex and has many facets, in general the law prohibits commercial properties from excluding people with disabilities from fully utilizing the property.  One of the requirements of the ADA is requiring the building to have one of more ADA compliant bathrooms.

While most people are familiar with the requirement of grab bars in bathrooms, they are not aware of requirements concerning turning radiuses for wheelchairs or the requirements for special plumbing fixtures including toilets and faucets.  Compliant toilets are required to be a certain height, while faucets are required to have lever handles.  In addition, there are a number of requirements for clearances around toilets, as well as requirements for counter top heights, protecting drainpipes, bath accessory types and mounting heights.  In many cases the installation of a ADA compliant bathroom in an existing commercial building is a major project and often requires that the entire are be completely redone, including the relocation of existing plumbing.  A commercial plumber can handle bringing your bathroom into ADA compliance.

Although the expense to provide ADA bathroom are significant, failure to meet this requirement will result in the property owner facing significant exposure legally from both the government, as well as individual citizens that may claim discrimination based upon a disability.  In addition, to local building departments enforcing the provisions of the ADA related to building, the United States Justice Department will at some point get involved as well.  Compliance with the provisions of the ADA is not only the law, but it is also the right thing to do!

Posted on Behalf of Kiddco Plumbing

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Backflow Preventers

April 25th, 2014 Posted in Backflow Testing
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Domestic water lines that service commercial and residential buildings allow water to enter into the buildings by relying on water pressure to move the water.  In times of low water pressure it would be possible for water to run away from the building and into the locality’s water pipes.  Backflow preventers, which act as a one-way valve, stop this from happening and are required by the applicable building and plumbing codes to be used in a variety of residential can commercial applications.

The reason that they are required is to prevent the public water supply from being contaminated by the reversal of water into the public water system.  Contaminated water is taken very seriously by all jurisdictions and in addition to heavy fines, many jurisdictions will also shut off the water supply to the building ,if it is discovered that the water supply is being contaminated as a result of a backflow issue.

Backflow preventers are pretty complex mechanical devices and require periodic inspections and testing, which are required by law in most jurisdictions, as well as periodic maintenance. Inspections and backflow testing are done by experienced and trained technicians using sophisticated measuring devices to verify that the backflow preventer is working properly.

In the event that an issue is discovered the technician will make the necessary repairs.  There are a number of backflow preventers on the market today, all of which have many moving parts and components.  As a result periodic maintenance is required to keep them functioning properly, while protecting the public water system that we all rely on!

Posted on Behalf of Citywide Plumbing

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Commercial Drain Cleaning

April 25th, 2014 Posted in Commercial Plumbing
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There is nothing worse for any commercial property owner or manager getting a call from a tenant about a clogged up drain line.  Often these clogs are the result of grease, sewage, detergent, chemicals, roots, paper or a variety of other materials.  In many cases, a clogged up sewer line will force a business to close until the issue is resolved, because a clogged up sewer line means no bathrooms!

Most commercial plumbers who provide drain cleaning services will utilize a camera to identify the location of the blockage, as well as the type of blockage.  The camera is snaked into the drain and a video image is transmitted back to a small video screen, which also has the ability to take still photographs.  Once the technician sees what is causing the blockage, they will determine the most effective tool to remove the blockage.

In most cases either a traditional plumber’s snake or high pressure hydro jetting will be used to remove the blockage.  While the traditional plumber’s snake is generally the least costly alternative, it is not effective in removing all blockages.  One of the advantages of high pressure water jetting is the ability of the system to not only remove the blockage, but to also remove the build up of any sludge on the pipe walls, especially cast iron pipe.  This leads to the interior of the pipe being just like new, which allows the waste water to flow freely!

The biggest advantage of today’s cutting edge technology in drain cleaning is the ability of the technician to quickly identify and remove the blockage, which results in commercial businesses staying open and making money!

Posted on behalf of Seagraves Plumbing Septic and Sewer

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Boiler Repairs

April 25th, 2014 Posted in Commercial Plumbing
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Most commercial and industrial buildings utilize boilers for a variety of uses including heating water, space heating and operating industrial machinery.  Although today’s boilers are complex, safe and technically advanced, the underlying technology has been in use since the beginning of the industrial revolution.  In general, boilers heat water to a very high temperature until the water turns to steam.  It is the steam that heats the water, provides space heating and drives the machinery.  In general, boilers are most often found in commercial and industrial buildings, however it is common the see them in high-end residential homes, especially if a radiant heating system is installed.

Although the upfront investment in boiler technology is higher than a standard or tankless water heater, over time commercial and industrial users find that the boiler system is cost effective in the long run, as often these users require a significant amount of hot water.   While in the past boilers have been coal fired, most boilers today are fired using either natural gas or propane.

One of the key factors with any boiler system is to have periodic inspections by a qualified boiler technician to verify that the equipment is working properly and safely.  Since boilers are much more complex than water heaters, specialized training, experience and equipment is required to safely make inspections and repairs as needed.  In dealing with boilers, safety cannot be taken for granted so it is highly recommended that only qualified boiler technicians perform the inspections and make any necessary repairs!

Posted on behalf of Citywide Plumbing

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Garbage Disposal Repairs

April 25th, 2014 Posted in Garbage Disposals
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Garbage disposals are found in almost home in the United States, as well as most restaurants and other food service establishments.  These appliances, which are usually located just below the main drain of the sink, grind up food into small pieces, which are then allowed to mix with water and flow into the home’s sewer system and eventually into the public sewer system.  In general, the only things that should be placed into a garage disposal are food products, which are intended for human consumption.

While garbage disposals are quite durable, occasionally homeowners and business owners alike will experience periodic problems with the appliance, with the most common problems being the garage disposal seizing up frequently, which trips an internal “kill switch” or not items not intended to be ground up in the disposal, such as a ring, finding their way into the disposal.

When encountering any disposal that is constantly becoming jammed up or needs to frequently have the reset button pushed, the root cause of the problem must be identified and corrected before the garbage disposal returns to service.  In many case the cost to replace the disposal is cheaper than making extensive repairs to the appliance.  When something accidently finds its way into a garbage disposal, it is important that safety measures be taken prior to retrieving the items.  These measures include removing the disposal from the drain and disconnecting the power source.  In both cases it is important to remember not to place your hand into the disposal, as severe personal injury can occur if the disposal were to spontaneously start running!

Posted on behalf of Kiddco Plumbing, Inc.

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