Author: MaintenX

A frozen pipe causes much more trouble than not being able to use a faucet in the morning. Frozen pipes are a leading cause of winter property damage according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, leading to an average of $5,000 or more in property damage when they burst. If you don’t want to shell out that kind of cash for an office repair, there are steps you can take to prevent pipe freezing at the office. 

Add insulation

The pipes most likely to freeze are those under the facility, and those near un-heated parts of the building such as storage sheds and near parking garages. If you neglect to insulate these pipes, they will most likely freeze and suffer from corrosion before they burst. The best way to prevent this is by installing pipe insulation or adding it to problem areas of your facility. 

Seal cracks near piping installations. 

Any crack in the interior or exterior of your building will cause cold air to leak in and heated air to leak out. This can lead to pipe freezing inside while your office space is closed, as well as higher electricity costs during the winter. Call your MaintenX technician to help seal any cracks in walls, windows, and doors before winter. 

Keep temperatures above 60 even when the facility is closed.

It’s tempting to turn off the heat overnight, but this can cause problems with your plumbing that are much more expensive than the electric bill. While we do recommend setting your thermostat to a lower temperature when your business is closed, don’t let the temperature dip below 60 or your internal pipes could easily freeze. 

As a last resort, allow water to run through your system

While it may increase your water bill in the winter, allowing a small trickle of water to run through your system at night can help prevent pipe freezing in problem areas. We don’t recommend using this strategy unless your plumber recommends it, however, There are more efficient ways to prevent pipe freezing that don’t waste your money or resources. 

These simple remedies can help you avoid the expensive costs of replacing a burst pipe. For more information about winterizing your facility, contact MaintenX today. 

If you’ve worked at one facility for long enough, eventually you will experience a plumbing backup at your facility. While MaintenX tries to prevent these with hydro jetting services and regular maintenance services for your pipes, older buildings often experience plumbing issues as the pipes corrode over time. 

One of the most common causes of plumbing backups is the intrusion of tree roots in the main sewage lines. Contrary to popular belief, the tree roots don’t break the pipe itself. Rather, they are drawn to existing leaks due to moisture seeping out of the pipes, and will begin to move into the pipe break in order to absorb the water and nutrients. That means if you have a tree root problem in your pipes, you likely have corrosion problems in general that need to be addressed. 

How To Know If You Have Roots In Your System

The most common symptom of tree root invasion into pipes is plumbing backups or drains that are slowing down. While this is similar to any other kind of backup, you’ll be able to tell it’s a tree root if you can’t remove the blockage with a snake. 

The Solution

• Cut roots from inside the sewer line – MaintenX can remove the roots using a snake-like machine that cuts the roots from the inside and makes them easy to flush out during your next hydro-jetting service. While this will temporarily solve the issue, it may recur if your piping is severely damaged because of the growth.

• Use rock salt or other root-killing agents – Some tree roots can be eradicated with chemical means, similar to how drain cleaning chemicals dissolve hair and food in your drains at home. However, like drain cleaning solvents, these can cause corrosion and damage your piping further. 

• Schedule a hydro jet cleaning – Smaller roots and organic material can be removed with a hydro-jetting service. This powerful spray of water will break the roots apart and flush them similar to the root cutting service. However, if your pipes are damaged, this can be risky. The hydro-jet cleaning can further open leaks in the pipes and cause long-term damage. 

• Remove and replace the damaged pipe – The best and most permanent solution is to replace the damaged pipe entirely. This eliminates the possibility of a recurring backup, and offers you the opportunity to upgrade. You can also use this opportunity to insulate your piping to prevent tree root breaks in the future.  

Tree roots are a hassle, but they don’t have to be long-term ones. With MaintenX by your side, you can easily remove tree roots at an affordable price. Call us for more information! 

Water leaks are a major hassle for commercial facility managers. They can cause damage quickly and often end in expensive repairs. However, nothing is worse than a leak that is occurring within the walls of your facility. These are incredibly hard to catch and will result in drywall rot, roofing damage, and mold if you’re not careful. 

Sometimes internal water leaks are easy to catch — but it’s often when they’ve caused other damage to your facility. If you want to catch them early, here’s what to do:

Look for wall or floor discoloration.

This is the most obvious, and unfortunately the worst sign of an internal water leak. If the leak has gotten to the point where it is visibly causing discoloration or even puddles, that means a major pipe has been damaged and replacement of both the piping and the wall or flooring will likely be necessary. While this is an inconvenience, it can be repaired with the MaintenX plumbing and renovations team. 

Feel for changes in texture. 

If water is leaking within your walls, the texture of drywall and other materials is likely to change. You may notice that the wall is bubbling or puckering in certain places, or that it feels softer than areas adjacent to it. If so, the leak is likely nearby. 

Be wary of musty smells.

If you smell something musty or generally off but can’t find the source, a water leak may be the culprit. As the water absorbs into the wall, it doesn’t have a chance to dry out. Instead it will develop a mildewy odor which can signal you to a leak within the wall. While the musty odor may not be caused by water damage, it’s best to contact your plumber to confirm, so that a small leak doesn’t turn into a major disaster. 

Watch your water bill. 

Do you suspect there is a leak in your facility due to an unusually high water bill? This is often the case for smaller leaks, where physical signs aren’t apparent but you’re paying significantly more for water than you typically do. Even small leaks can waste gallons of water a day. If you’re suspicious, go ahead and call your MaintenX plumber. If it’s not a water leak, there is likely something else we can do to help get your water bill back to normal. 

Don’t take these signs of water leaks lightly — the sooner you call us, the easier your repair process will be. For more questions about commercial plumbing, contact us. 

Rats! There is nothing worse than having a toilet overflow at the office and no idea how to stop it. At home, this is just a hassle, but at a place of business, it can permanently damage your reputation with employees and customers. If you’re in the midst of a toilet overflow, the most important thing to do is to stop it fast. 

If you have an overflowing toilet and are looking for help to stop it, here’s what you need to do immediately: 

• Remove the toilet lid and set it somewhere safe.

• Press the flapper (the rubber piece at the bottom) into the center of the tank to prevent more water from entering the toilet bowl. The water inside the tank is sanitary, so you don’t have to worry about washing your hands immediately after. This will hopefully stop the water from overflowing (or at least stop it from overflowing further).

• Lift the float that operates the tank fill valve. This will allow the excess water to drain and hopefully, this will alleviate the problem until the plumber arrives. Once the water is drained you should be able to get go of the float and flush as normal. 

• If the water doesn’t start to go down, you may have to shut off the water supply to that toilet so it doesn’t overflow. It should be located near the floor. To turn off the water supply, turn the valve clockwise. If you can’t reach it, get someone to hold the tank valve float while you turn it. 

• If you believe a blockage caused the overflow, try plunging the toilet to get the water level back to normal. However, if multiple drains are experiencing issues or if the toilet is draining from one drain to another, it’s time to call your MaintenX plumber. 

While you wait for your MaintenX technician to arrive, it’s important to not use any other sink or toilet as you may cause further overflows. Our team should arrive in a matter of minutes or hours to resolve the issue depending on the time of day. However, even a temporary facility closure is worth it to ensure your employees and customers are safe. 

If you experience plumbing issues now or in the future, contact your local MaintenX plumbers!

It’s normal for your facility’s massive plumbing system to make noise from time to time. Your pipes are under a great deal of stress, especially in larger facilities, and you can expect the occasional gurgling or rushing noise from your bathrooms and commercial kitchen. However, sometimes the noises in your pipes are indicative of something serious going on below the surface. 

If you notice any of these four sounds coming from your pipes, it may be time to call a plumber. Be on the lookout, and let your MaintenX plumber know during your next check-up if any sounds start to arise out of the blue or more than once. 

Gurgling – blocked or sluggish sewage lines

Toilets will often gurgle right after flushing, but if you notice this noise before you flush, or if you hear it near a sink, it could mean your pipes are getting clogged. Luckily, this can easily be fixed with a snaking or hydro jet cleaning service. 

Dripping water – Internal pipe leak

Most people notice a dripping faucet and know it’s time to call a plumber. However, you may not always see the leak before it becomes problematic for your facility. If you hear a dripping noise but can’t locate the source, contact MaintenX for an onsite consultation. You may have a leaking pipe internally that’s causing water damage from within the walls. 

Banging or clanking near the hot water heater – Mineral deposit buildup

Hot water heaters occasionally make noise as they get older due to mineral deposit buildup moving around inside the tank. It may not be serious, but you should always contact your MaintenX plumber if you hear any loud noises coming from the hot water heater. You don’t want to neglect hot water heater care and have a major leak on your hands eventually. 

Hissing – leak outside the building 

If you hear a hissing noise coming from your pipes, it means that a leak is likely causing water to rush out of the system. Typically you would notice this leak, but if you can’t locate the source, check outside. You may be experiencing a leak outside the building that is wasting water by the minute. Even if you’re unsure of the cause, give MaintenX a call to ensure your pipes are in tip-top shape. 

MaintenX can help you solve any plumbing issue at your commercial facility. For more information or to schedule your next consultation, contact us.