Daycare Centre Plumbing Issues

Do you run a daycare centre? If so, hats off to you, we’ll buy you a coffee! 

With all the day to day happenings in your daycare centre it’s easy to forget about the little things like your regular plumbing maintenance or small plumbing repairs that have been on the to-do list for weeks. 

If you can’t remember the last time you had your centre’s commercial plumbing system inspected then read on. In between inspections, the condition of the plumbing system in the centre might have altered, become compromised with old or sagging pipes or even become an emergency waiting to happen with blocked drains and leaks. You can keep your centre’s commercial plumbing system operating effectively by calling a local plumbing maintenance specialist (that’s us) to carry out a thorough inspection and recommend where your pipes and plumbing may need some repair.

Act Fast!

If your daycare centre is experiencing an emergency plumbing problem then please call our team at Proximity Plumbing right now on 0420 102 394 or click here to book immediately online. We have a guarantee onsite in 30 minutes for all eastern suburbs clients, so if your daycare centre is in the east, we’ll be on our way in minutes. 

Daycare Centre Preventative Plumbing

When you own or run a business like a daycare centre, plumbing issues can become major problems, real fast. If the emergency is deemed unsafe for your team or the children in your care, they can even force a shut down until the issue is resolved. What an inconvenience and a real hassle!

So the name of the game is preventive plumbing. Being aware of what COULD happen so it doesn’t happen, then taking measures to inspect, clean and repair any little issues you see. 

Here are some of the common problem areas at your daycare centre that you regularly inspect to keep plumbing issues at bay: 

Gutters and Downpipes

Overflowing gutters or downpipes can be a plumbing menace. Especially coming into Spring and Summer storm season you want to ensure that your gutters and downpipes are clean and clear of debris, leaves, dirt and organic matter.

If you’ve not booked in a professional gutter clean in the last six months, now is the time to do it. When a storm strikes or your area sees a major rain event you want the water to move away from your daycare centre as fast as possible.

To take your preventative measures even further you can install a mesh covering over the gutters to prevent leaves, debris and pests from entering the gutters and clogging them up. 

Drains and Sinks

One of the main reasons why you might consider calling a plumbing professional to your daycare centre is to clear a blocked drain. Your centre’s kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms and outside drains are getting a decent amount of use every day with plenty of small mouths to feed, clean and cater for.

Being aware of what can and cannot go down the drain is the first step. Having the entire staff aware of what can and cannot go down the drain is the next step. Click here for a list of the common blocked sink culprits. 

Toilets

Clogged toilets due to excess material being flushed, foreign items being forced down the toilet and the use of baby wipes in the toilet can lead to major blockages. Whilst a toilet blockage can easily become an overflow situation (potentially dangerous for your health) they can also be a sign of a more serious sewer line blockage or crack.
Having your staff and children in your care aware of what can and cannot be flushed is the first step. The only things that should be flushed are the 3 P’s: Pee, Poop and Paper (toilet paper). Everything else, including baby wipes, “flushable wipes” and nappies need to be binned not flushed.
If sewage or pipes back up in multiple locations of the commercial unit, it is a plumbing emergency. If your toilets are slow to flush or fill and not flushing away completely it may be time for an inspection.

Outside Drains and Play Areas

Just like indoors, your daycare centre’s outdoor plumbing (especially around play areas) can lead to major problems if not regularly inspected. They can potentially damage the yard, the entire foundation, or even the main water supply. Some common causes of outdoor plumbing problems are leaky outdoor faucets, pipe leaks, and sewer lateral failures. 

Water-play Areas

If there is one thing kids love, it is water! How fun! Even better when you add mud, twigs and leaves. However, these areas are notorious for blocked drains as the water play can suddenly include things other than water, and when all of that gets pushed down the drain it can lead to a blockage. Check your water play areas for leaky taps, blocked drains and any visible debris.