Why Older Rental Property Pipes Need Increased Maintenance

12/14/2020 (Permalink)

Some of the common causes of clogs are tree roots

Older rental properties in Cincinnati, OH, have plenty of charm. However, they are also more likely to sustain water damage. That is because many of them utilize polybutylene pipes.
Over time, these pipes become brittle. The chemicals used to treat the water flowing through the pipes causes the pipes to wear down.
Ideally, you should replace older pipes in your building. This can be costly, but it will save you money on water restoration specialists in the long run.
If you are not ready to tear out of all your pipes, you should at least perform extra maintenance. After all, the last thing older pipes need is a clog blocking the flow of water.

What Causes Clogs?

A clog can occur in a sink or the main water line of your property. Some of the more common causes of clogs are:

• Tree roots
• Poorly designed plumbing system
• Sludge buildup

How Do You Prevent Clogs?
There are several ways you can limit the clogs in the polybutylene pipes of your commercial property. To prevent roots from spreading into the pipes, you should cut any trees near your main lines. Alternatively, you can pour a root killer down the toilets twice each year. This should kill the roots without harming the trees themselves.
Enzymes are also great for clog prevention. Once a month, run warm water in each drain before pouring the enzymes into them. The enzymes should remove any of the gunk that builds up in the pipes.
Finally, make sure your residents know not to put any food or hair down the drain. Provide hair catchers for showers and encourage the residents to throw any excess hair or food into the trash.
The above tips are great ways to prevent clogs in any pipes. However, proper maintenance is particularly important for older buildings that still have polybutylene pipes. Since these pipes are naturally prone to wearing down, you should take extra care to limit clogs in them.