Common Restaurant Plumbing Problems
Commercial kitchens are all about the food, but what about the facilities that support them? Plumbing is an essential part of running a restaurant, but sometimes it can run into malfunctions. Below we will go over some of the common restaurant plumbing problems you might encounter while running a foodservice.
Common Problems
Clogged Drains
Clogged drains are a usual problem with commercial kitchens, bars and more. Sometimes the simple fix is to clear the sink/drain trap of any debris that has accumulated. More serious issues might arise from the mishandling of kitchen grease and trash. Make sure that kitchen staff are not just throwing any fryer oil or cooking grease down the drains, especially if your commercial kitchen has older piping.
Don’t forget the dishwashing station as well. Before running dishware and cookware through the machines, make sure servers and kitchen staff are removing excessive food, napkins, trash and more from the wares. That way there is less trash that will end up clogging drains or screens both in the machine and in piping.
Outdated Appliances
What can really cause a problem with restaurant plumbing are outdated commercial appliances. Older pipes will break down and leak more frequently. Outdated dishwashers or washware appliances can over-use water and bring down the water pressure in kitchens. Updating water heaters, dishwashers, piping and faucets ensures that leaks do not cause any damage to the space and can prevent larger breakdowns from happening. Plus updated equipment are better at staying energy-efficient in their water usage.
Backed up Plumbing
Backed up toilets and pipes are probably the largest problem with any restaurant plumbing. Backed up plumbing can be a sanitation hazard and part of a more serious problem. Auger pros lists some common restroom plumbing problems that require preventative measures. Keep some clogs from your bathroom with these:
- Put signage in bathrooms about not flushing sanitary products
- Use more hand dryers to prevent paper towels in drains
- Frequently monitor restrooms for any clogs
- Keep a reliable plumbing company on speed-dial to stop problems fast
- Have easily accessible receptacles for any garbage
Leaking Faucets
Leaking faucets are not good for either the kitchen, bar or bathroom in a restaurant. It can become a larger issue later down the line if not addressed and also runs up utilities bills. Always have staff check faucets at the beginning and end of shift to keep track of any drips or leaks. Another way to handle this common restaurant plumbing problem is to install hands-free automatic faucets. These are great so no guest forgets to turn off the taps in the bathrooms and provides ergonomic use at the bar or in the kitchen during busy shifts. Having updated and reliable faucets will keep your restaurant plumbing in great condition.
Floor Drains & Sinks
Floor drains and floor sinks are an essential part of commercial kitchen plumbing requirements. But while these make it easy to clean the kitchen and keep it hygienic, they also need to be maintained. Keep screens over the drain to prevent large debris from falling into the piping and make sure to frequently clean these so the drains can run properly. Just like any countertop sinks, you want to make sure that large debris doesn’t get pushed down the drain, so make sure staff do a good broom sweeping before mopping. This will help pick up the trash before it can end up washed down the drain.