How to Prevent Problems with Commercial Kitchen Plumbing

What are common plumbing problems in commercial kitchens?

There are several common plumbing problems that you can expect to see in commercial kitchens, these include:

• Clogged drains – Commercial kitchens are faced with a large number of people using the drainage systems, and they can easily become clogged and blocked by pieces of food waste.

• Leakages – With such expansive plumbing systems, leakages can be very common in commercial kitchens. These leaks can develop into much more serious problems such as rot and mould, both of which are extremely dangerous in kitchens.

• Water temperature issues – The size and complexity of hot water heaters means they are prone to various issues which can be extremely disruptive to day to day operations of the business.

• Damaged pipes – There are usually hundreds of miles of pipes throughout a commercial kitchen. Since these pipes deal with large volumes of water on a daily basis, they can become easily damaged with the potential of splitting, cracking and bursting. 

What are the signs of plumbing problems in a commercial kitchen?

One of the most common signs of plumbing problems in a commercial kitchen are foul smells. Bad odours may be a sign of plumbing issues, especially if they are persistent. 

Alongside these bad smells, you may also see signs of build-up and residue close to the openings of taps. If this is excessive, it can be a common sign that there is something wrong with the pipes, such as blockages. 

Drips and leaks are another tell tale sign of a plumbing problem. If your taps and pipes won’t stop dripping water, then you likely have a problem on your hands. Leaving leaks untreated can cause bigger problems the longer you leave them, and water damage is much more expensive to fix than small leaks.

How do you maintain commercial kitchen drain pipes?

There are a few steps you can take to maintain your commercial kitchen drain pipes, including:

• Using a commercial grade food strainer to keep waste food out of the pipes.
• Periodically using a commercial drain cleaner to keep the pipes clear.
• Using fat traps to keep waste oils and other fats from going down the drain.
• Hiring a plumber to perform periodic inspections of the pipes and drains, especially if they’re slow. 

How do you clean commercial kitchen drains?

You should first attempt to clean your commercial kitchen drains by using a plunger to try and clear the system. If this doesn’t work, you should try a drain snake. This is a flexible tool used to break up clogged drains. 

Try not to use homemade remedies or supermarket bought products, as these are much more suited to domestic plumbing. 

Instead, if you have a plumbing problem that cannot be fixed by a plunger or plumbing snake, you should always enlist the help of a professional, commercial  plumber who knows how extensive commercial plumbing systems work

Tips to prevent commercial kitchen plumbing problems

Preventing common commercial kitchen plumbing problems can be relatively easy, so long as you implement a few simple practices and keep on top of them.

Place food waste in the bin, not down the sink

In the middle of a busy period, it may seem easier to just scrape food waste directly into the sink, but this is one of the main ways you’ll end up with clogged drains. Most foods contain some sort of oil or starch, both of which stick to the inside of the drains and cause blockages. 

To avoid clogged drains, you should educate your team members on the importance of disposing of waste food properly into the bin instead of down the drain. 

Use grease traps 

Many business owners are well aware that oils and fats should never end up in the drains, but in the rush and pressure of busy periods of service, oils can easily find their way into the sink. 

Having grease traps installed helps to prevent these oils and fats building up in the drains by collecting them before they enter the main sewer. The installation of these traps prevents the build up of oils in your kitchen’s pipework or drains, and therefore prevents drain blockages, foul smells and potential pest infestations. 

Run hot water down the drain daily

No matter how diligent you are at correctly disposing of waste foods, you cannot get rid of all the grease and oils. Although you can assume each dish is being cleaned correctly, you cannot guarantee no oils make their way down the drain. 

As you’re cleaning up for the night, you should run very hot water down the drain for a couple of minutes. The hot water will help to liquify and wash away any residue that has stuck to the inside of the drain throughout service. 

Install a commercial sink strainer 

No matter how hard you try to prevent food from sliding down the drain, small pieces of food will still end up in the pipework. If you have a commercial strainer fitted into your sink setup, the food will be stopped before it can even make it into the pipes. 

They work by sitting in your sink drain and feature a long handle to let the water out, as well as small holes in its surface to prevent food from flowing into the pipes. 

Schedule routine drain cleaning appointments 

If you want to dramatically reduce the risk of your kitchen drains becoming clogged, you will need to have them cleaned regularly. 

Commercial plumbing maintenance is vital for ensuring your commercial kitchen runs as smoothly as possible. At Lacey Plumbing & Heating, we understand commercial kitchens are high pressure environments, and your plumbing systems need to be able to handle the vast amounts of pressure too. 

Our preventative maintenance plans can be put in place to ensure your kitchen is working as it should be. For more information about commercial kitchen maintenance for your business, contact our specialist team of commercial plumbers today.