There are many reasons why a commercial property might need repiping. Subsequently, there are a few key signs that you should look for that may indicate that yours is in need of new piping.
If you own a commercial building, make sure to keep an eye out for the following signs that your structure could benefit from repiping.
As the old saying goes, if you’re going to get wet, you might as well go swimming. Any time that you are working on a remodel, upgrade, or installation that requires you to tear down a wall or in some other way grant access to your piping structure, you should never pass up the opportunity to replace pipe at the same time. This will save you time and money down the road by combining repiping in with your existing project.
Older commercial buildings will always have improvements that can be made and older parts that can be swapped out before they become a problem. If your commercial property happens to be less than ten years old, you should still always plan to have a professional inspect the pipe for any current or potential problems. Chances are, they will find at least minor improvements that can be made that will make it worth your time.
Although your maintenance team probably has a good handle on resolving problems as they arise, in the long run, it is more cost effective to treat the source of the problem rather than perpetually deal with the symptoms.
If the piping in your building has a constant string of leaks, failures, or issues, then you should look into repiping. Even if those problems tend to be minor and easily resolved, solving the matter once and for all with an overhaul will be worth the time and effort to avoid this never ending slew of problems.
If your building was constructed in the 1960s or earlier, there is a good chance that the builders utilized galvanized pipe and a possibility that it is still in there. If this is the case, taking the step to remove and replace this potentially harmful material is always a good idea.
Getting rid of galvanized piping will improve your water quality and help for potential resale of the commercial property in the future, as you may be unable to find a buyer willing to resolve that piping issue themselves.
Finally, repiping can mean direct improvements to the efficiency of your commercial building. If your water or energy bill are disproportionately high, then a repiping plan to upgrade and update your systems can help.
In the long run, investing the money for a repiping project today will save you more money that it will cost you by cutting down your monthly electricity and water bill.
If any of these signs sound familiar to you, then the next step is to contact an expert for an inspection and evaluation of the current piping situation in your commercial property.