How to Handle a Plumbing Emergency at an Office Building

Most business owners are focused on dealing with day-to-day operations and any associated issues that may arise during the business day. But you may not be prepared for more mundane issues like problems with your plumbing. While it may not be something you may take a course for, knowing how to handle plumbing emergencies is crucial to operating a physical business. Should you face a plumbing problem shortly, here’s how to handle a plumbing emergency at an office building.

 

Identify the Scope of the Emergency

 

What constitutes a plumbing emergency will vary from business owner to business owner. If your office has a plumbing issue in the bathroom leading to some minor leaking, this may be something you can manage to take care of without needing to rush. Still, some might see this as highly problematic. Meanwhile, others who are seeing leaking happening throughout the lower floors of the building are naturally going to be concerned. Determine the scope of the emergency so you know how urgent it is and what you need to do next.

 

Note the Affected Areas

 

Does there seem to be a plumbing area that is only affecting one part of your office space? Are you noticing widespread plumbing issues that you’re unable to explain? Are there visible leaks or clogs? While you may not know the root cause of your plumbing woes, there are likely details to take note of that will help you communicate your problems more effectively. Figure out the affected areas as you evaluate the plumbing emergency and the severity of the situation.

 

Locate and Turn Off the Water Main

 

In plumbing emergencies where the issue is a massive water leak rather than a clog (unless said clog is the cause), you’ll likely need to turn off the water main. If you’re the building owner, you probably know where this is. If you’re a manager or another higher-up who doesn’t have as intimate of a relationship with the office building, see if you can contact your boss or find an employee who knows what they’re doing. Then, check to make sure that you properly turned off the water main and that leaking isn’t still occurring.

 

Reach Out for Professional Support ASAP

 

Now that you’ve done all this, contact an expert plumber as soon as possible. The faster you get help and the more details you have to communicate to a plumbing expert, the easier it will be to take care of the situation. If you need to send employees home in the meantime, make sure to do that so that their safety and health are not at risk in the workplace. Alert everyone to the problems to help them avoid the current damage.

 

A plumbing emergency can wreak havoc on your office building if you don’t take action in time. Follow the steps above to deal with it quickly and effectively. If you manage the issue properly, you’ll be back up and running quickly.