Our plumbing isn’t always the first thing we think of upgrading when it comes to making our businesses more profitable: however, it’s actually quite a smart part of a business to upgrade. Depending on your industry, you may use considerable amounts of water: taking advantage of advances in water saving technology can drastically reduce your water bill and improve your net profit margin.
In addition, an upgraded, well maintained plumbing system can also be the difference between a smooth running company or an expensive plumbing emergency which stops productivity and costs you hundreds of dollars an hour in lost business.
With that in mind, here’s our top five plumbing upgrades large and small for businesses
- Install water restrictors
The easiest way to reduce your water usage is to limit the flow of water – and this is where water restrictors come in. We can add these devices at various locations throughout your business plumbing – from filtration systems to water heaters to irrigation systems – reducing your water usage regardless of water pressure. Depending on the amount of water your business goes through in an average day, this can make a huge dent in your water bill.
- Update your staff and customer bathrooms
While staff and customer bathrooms are usually kept sparkling clean (or they should be, anyway!), the plumbing infrastructure that services them is usually given much less attention. Replacing ageing shower heads, vanity and bath taps, and toilets with modern, more water-efficient versions will see water usage (and bills) reduce dramatically; in addition, updating the waterproofing and plumbing infrastructure will protect the rest of your business from any surprise leaks. You can also install thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) to limit your water temperature and prevent accidental scalds (and the accompanying workers comp claim).
- Update commercial and staff kitchens
While you’re fixing up the bathrooms, why not freshen up the kitchen plumbing too? Everything we’ve said above for bathrooms is true for kitchens as well – reduced water usage, better protection from leaks or burst pipes, and increased safety using TMVs to limit water temperature. Over and above this, replacing older appliances like gas cooktops, ovens and dishwashers will also reduce your gas and electricity bills.
- Install mini stop cocks throughout your business
One really easy upgrade you can make to your business plumbing is to install mini stop cocks at strategic points around the premises. This allows us to switch off the water supply to specific parts of your business when carrying out maintenance, rather than having to switch off your entire water supply for an unspecified period. Much more convenient for you, as it means less chance of you having to stop or delay work while we’re on site!
- Install instantaneous water heaters
Last but not least, this is one of our favourite upgrades. If you’re persevering with traditional hot water storage tanks, an instantaneous system is a revelation. Rather than heating the entire tank, it only heats the water you’re using – saving heaps on your gas bill. They also take up much less space than storage tanks, meaning you can use that space for better things. If an instantaneous system doesn’t float your boat, we can also install solar and heat pump hot water systems as well for even bigger savingsLooking for smart ways to use water and gas to decrease your business running costs and improve profitability? Flowtek Services, your local plumber servicing Yeppoon, Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast, is full of innovative and sneaky ideas to maximise your water flow and your cash flow. Get in touch with our business team today.
