Plumbing Guidance For Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown

As schools, offices, restaurants, health clubs, hotels, and other facilities begin to reopen after large-scale lockdowns, business owners and the general public are wary of a new health hazard: contaminated, dormant, and unused water in plumbing systems.
Most buildings have been unoccupied for months; they were shut down on an immediate basis, without giving owners much room to hire maintenance staff to close all the systems and take precautionary measures.
When employees and other workers return to their routines, they might find everything as they left it. But they might also find that the bathrooms, kitchen sinks, and overall plumbing system of the space are in deplorable conditions.

What Is the CDC Saying About Reopening Commercial Facilities?

While the prolonged lockdown was inevitable, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided a comprehensive sanitation guide to help businesses resume operations without putting people at risk.
The following are some plumbing guidelines that all commercial facilities and building need to follow:

Indoor Humidity

Humidity allows viruses and bacteria to thrive. When there isn’t sufficient airflow in a room or a drainage system, they can freely circulate.
Hence, to keep humidity in check, building managers need to install digital hygrometers. This device will monitor humidity levels and indicate any hazardous bacteria in the air.


Mold & Excess Moisture

Before employees and other occupants return to commercial buildings, the space needs to be checked for dampness, mold, and excess moisture. If dampness is detected, the entire building must be inspected for a plumbing leak or water damage. This is the first step toward remediation before resuming business operations.

Check For Dormant Water

Dormant water often carries Legionella and other pathogenic bacteria. Since many commercial facilities have been unoccupied for months, the risks of Legionella might increase.
Legionella is dangerous because it causes different types of pneumonia once inhaled or consumed as small droplets of water. 0.5 ppm free chlorine is needed to get rid of Legionella in the plumbing system.


If you’re looking for proficient plumbers in Fort Worth, Texas, get in touch with the experts at Pro Serve Plumbing. They provide a range of plumbing services, including drain cleaning, leak detection, water heater repairs, and more. You can visit their website to learn more about their services!

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