Between old pipes, heavy usage, and the potential for vandalism, it’s not surprising that leaks, blockages, and floods can be a regular occurrence in schools. Unfortunately, a small water leak can quickly cause extensive damage, and a full-blown plumbing disaster can do much worse—derailing a school day and putting staff and students at risk. Follow our top four tips for avoiding common plumbing pitfalls.
1. Keep on Top of Inspections and Maintenance
Regular inspections and maintenance are the most effective ways to prevent plumbing issues. A professional plumber should inspect your school’s system at least once a year to identify problems.
Their checklist should include scanning for leaks, monitoring water pressure, and noting the condition of pipes and fixtures. Checking that gutters, downpipes, and drains are clear of debris will also help prevent undue pressure on your water systems, especially during heavy rainfall or storms.
Get our checklist for planned school maintenance here, and ensure your routine inspections and proactive maintenance plan don’t include any blind spots.
2. Address Small Issues Quickly
Small leaks can escalate surprisingly quickly. Between moisture build-up, mould growth and small cracks turning into large fissures, your best bet is to act fast. Create a system for staff and students to report leaks and blockages and have a team on call to solve issues quickly.
First Response has a highly experienced team of qualified plumbers on our roster, if you would like to chat about a school maintenance contract, request an obligation-free quote.
3. Install Preventative Measures
From a lack of knowledge or vandalism, blockages in school plumbing systems are often caused by user error. A typical example is items going down the drain that shouldn’t—paper towels, sanitary products, and food waste are common culprits.
There are a few ways to tackle this issue. If you suspect the problem is education, you can install signage to remind staff and students what can be flushed and what can’t. If vandalism is your main concern, you can install drain covers and hide pipes and flushing mechanisms to remove the temptation.
Looking for advice for preventing other common school maintenance problems? Read our 6 most effective tips here.
4. Develop an Emergency Plan
Even with regular maintenance, plumbing emergencies can still occur. An emergency plan that outlines how to respond to leaks, blockages, or burst pipes quickly and efficiently is essential.
Ensure staff are familiar with the location of shut-off valves and who to contact in a plumbing emergency. Having a trusted plumber on-call for urgent repairs can minimise disruption.
Ultimately, we believe proactive management is your best defence, and following these four tips will help your school avoid disruptions, costly repairs, and potential health hazards due to unexpected plumbing issues.
At First Response, we provide an all in one school maintenance service that includes both preventative and emergency plumbing. If you want to talk to our experienced team about putting together a plan for proactive school maintenance, we would love to help. Get in touch here.