Managing a healthcare facility comes with a range of responsibilities and tasks. From administration to building management, your role as a manager is to ensure that the facility is safe for employees, patients, and visitors. All healthcare facilities need to comply with stringent health and safety regulations, and this includes a well-maintained plumbing system.
Building a relationship with a reputable commercial plumbing company is important. Having a reliable team of commercial plumbers, you can call on at any time means you don’t have to stress when something goes wrong, plumbing-wise. It also means you can keep up with regular plumbing maintenance, essential for avoiding breakdowns and other hazards.
Why Regular Plumbing Maintenance is Important for Healthcare Facilities
Healthcare facilities need to be kept hygienic at all times to avoid spreading infections and other health-related problems. Keeping the institution’s plumbing system in proper working order is vital when providing clean water, reducing wastage and most importantly, mitigating health risks. Keep reading to find out more.
Accessibility to Clean Water
Exposing vulnerable people such as sick patients to dirty water is detrimental to their healing but it also creates an unhealthy environment for employees and visitors. Providing clean water for consumption, showering, washing hands, cleaning equipment and keeping the facility germ-free is vital. Complying with strict health and safety regulations is an obligatory requirement for all healthcare facilities and regular plumbing maintenance assists with this compliance.
A well-functioning plumbing system reduces the chance of water supply contamination, caused by blocked drains or backflow. Maintaining the institution’s plumbing works mitigates the risk of further exposure to ailments such as Legionnaires’ disease which is caused by the Legionella bacteria found in water bodies or plumbing infrastructures.
Regular plumbing maintenance ensures the infrastructure is functioning properly while ruling out any dangers of water supply contamination.
Preventing Costly Breakdowns and Repairs
Preventative plumbing maintenance keeps the existing system operating optimally while preventing costly breakdowns and expensive repairs to the facility. Preventative measures such as performing annual backflow testing mitigate the risk of the plumbing infrastructure breaking down at the most inopportune times!
Avoiding shutdowns because of a breakdown in the plumbing system and preventing unnecessary damage to the property is a goal for any healthcare facility. Leaking pipes, dripping faucets and broken toilets aren’t only costly but they create an unhealthy environment for vulnerable and sick patients. Mould buildup, slippery floors and contaminated water will expose the facility to germs and other health-related risks.
Avoiding hefty operational costs of any facility can be done with proper management which includes preventative measures. Regular plumbing maintenance not only prevents the centre from costly repairs but also potential litigation costs from patients, employees or visitors using the facility.
Reducing Exposure to Plumbing Disasters
Ongoing plumbing maintenance helps to reduce the risk of catastrophes caused by a faulty system. Plumbing disasters such as backflow, incorrect water temperature and gas leakages expose the facility’s occupants to unhealthy conditions and costly, lengthy disruptions to the business.
Frequent visits by a licensed plumber can avoid potential disasters and this can be done by:
- Performing regular water filter changes and backflow testing, providing a constant supply of clean drinking water.
- Testing and adjusting the facility’s thermostatic mixing valves to ensure they meet the water temperature safety standards.
- Checking for blocked drains and fixing any problems before they become a serious sewage problem.
- Give immediate attention to gas leakages that could result in serious health problems if not fixed promptly.
Professional plumbing maintenance can extend to guttering and roofing repairs as well as proper management of hazardous waste and chemicals. Reducing exposure to potential plumbing disasters means you can rest assured your facility will never face costly disruptions or worse, a lengthy shutdown.
What a Preventative Plumbing Maintenance Program Can do for Healthcare Facilities
Having a team of licensed and experienced plumbers as part of your building management strategy means you can rely on them to develop a preventative plumbing maintenance program. Their services include performing regular testing of the facility’s plumbing system as well as carrying out repairs when necessary.
Other benefits include:
- 24/7 emergency services when there’s a breakdown that needs immediate attention.
- Specialised, tailored maintenance programs specifically designed for your facility’s unique plumbing needs.
- Licensed and accredited technicians who understand what is required for meeting stringent health and safety standards.
Commercial plumbing companies take the hassle out of managing your healthcare facility’s plumbing infrastructure so you can focus on other important matters at hand!
Final Thoughts
Running a healthcare facility isn’t always plain sailing but it can be streamlined by having the right infrastructural support available. This includes working with a reputable commercial plumbing company such as Banjo Nominees. We’re equipped to handle all plumbing maintenance and repairs no matter how big or small your operation.
Give our highly skilled experts a call on 03 9397 1111 and let us design a preventative plumbing maintenance plan for your healthcare facility. You can trust us to take care of your institution’s plumbing infrastructure so you can run a healthy and safe business for all occupants using your facility.