How winter weather affects commercial plumbing: Preparing your business for seasonal challenges

Blog > How winter weather affects commercial plumbing: Preparing your business for seasonal challenges

The holiday season is a time for joy and celebration. But it’s not all sleigh bells and candy canes for commercial buildings.

That’s because as the temperature drops, the winter weather can cause serious problems for your plumbing system!

To ensure your system stays in great condition throughout the coldest time of year, let’s look at how winter weather affects commercial plumbing – and what you can do to prepare.

What problems do commercial plumbing systems face in winter?

Frozen pipes

The single greatest risk to your commercial plumbing system during winter is that the cold weather can cause the water in your pipes to freeze.

Most things contract when they freeze, however due to the lattice structure of water molecules, frozen water actually expands.

This can create excessive pressure within your pipes, causing them to burst.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to safely repair frozen pipes without expert support. So it’s important to take steps to prevent them from freezing in the first place.

If you discover that your pipes are frozen, turn off your mains water supply immediately to keep the pressure from building up. Then contact the emergency commercial plumbers at DMC Service in the Kansas City metro area for trusted expert support.

We’ll move fast to thaw your pipes safely and return your commercial plumbing system to full working order. And if your pipes have already burst, we’ll quickly replace them to ensure you can get back to business as soon as possible.

Clogged drains

Substances like fat, grease, hair, coffee grounds, and even thick luxury toilet paper can clog your drains at any time.

Having your drains cleared and cleaned on a regular basis is incredibly important, especially during winter.

DMC Service provides regular drain clearing services to businesses throughout the Kansas City metro area. So give us a call to find out how we can support your business!

How to prepare your commercial plumbing system for winter

Find your shut off

If your commercial plumbing system bursts, you’ll need to turn it off immediately to prevent water damage.

But a surprising number of commercial property managers don’t know where their shut off value. So they can’t react quickly to protect their premises in an emergency.

Start by finding your main water shut off to ensure you can shut off your system as soon as you notice a problem.

Adjust your thermostat

Always keep your thermostat above 50 o F during the winter.

You might want to lower the temperature or even turn your heating system off completely, especially if your facility will be unoccupied for a while. But pipes can freeze incredibly quickly once the temperature drops below 32 o F.

Temperatures in Kansas City frequently fall below 32 o F throughout December, January, and February. So make sure to continue using your heating system regularly throughout the winter season to protect your pipes.

Run your faucets

Water doesn’t typically freeze while it’s flowing. So running your faucets regularly helps keep your pipes from freezing.

Also, if the water from your faucets doesn’t flow or flows weakly, it’s an early warning sign that your pipes could be freezing. That gives you valuable time to contact your local emergency commercial plumbers to troubleshoot before your pipes burst.

Wrap exposed pipes

Cover your exposed pipes with insulation wrap and make sure your existing wrap is in good condition to help keep your pipes from freezing.

Adding or replacing pipe insulation is cheap. But repairing burst pipes and water damage certainly isn’t!

Disconnect outdoor plumbing

Leaving hoses and water features connected during winter can cause them to freeze. This leads to pressure buildup, followed by breakages and leaks.

Turn off your outdoor water supply, then drain all the waters to leave your pipes dry during the winter.

It’s also a good idea to put foam covers over the exposed spigots to insulate them against the cold.

Check for leaks

Leaks at any time of year are a warning sign. But during winter, even the smallest leaks can grow rapidly.

This is a good time to contact your commercial plumber to perform a full inspection of your plumbing system to replace worn components.

Also, pay close attention to your water pressure throughout the winter. If it suddenly drops, it’s likely you have a leak or blockage.

Prepare your commercial plumbing system for winter with DMC Service

As trusted commercial plumbers with 20 years’ experience, DMC Service can help ensure your plumbing works at its best throughout the winter.

Contact us today to schedule preventative maintenance for your commercial plumbing system.

(And remember, if you ever have a plumbing emergency, you can call us 24/7 any day of the year!)