Plumbing Do's and Don'ts for Commercial Tenants

Printable one-pager

5 DO rules • 5 DON'T rules

Break room ready

Reduces service calls

FOR PROPERTY MANAGERS

The $0 Investment That Prevents $800 Service Calls

Every commercial drain stoppage has a cause. Across thousands of service calls, the pattern is clear: the majority of tenant-space blockages come from three things — grease poured down drains, items flushed that shouldn't be, and slow drains ignored until they became complete blockages.

The common thread: nobody told the tenant.

Most tenant-caused plumbing damage isn't malicious — it's simple lack of awareness. Nobody explained that "flushable" wipes aren't actually flushable in commercial systems. Nobody mentioned that coffee grounds expand with water. Nobody posted a sign by the mop sink.

Print this reference card. Laminate it. Post it in the break room and next to every mop sink. Include it in every tenant welcome packet.

The cost: less than $1 per copy. The cost of one prevented service call: $300–$800.

Prints on standard 8.5" × 11" paper — ready to laminate and post

Plumbing Do's and Don'ts

For Commercial Tenants

✓

Do

Scrape plates into the trash before washing dishes or cookware Food scraps are the #1 cause of kitchen drain clogs

Use drain screens in every sink — kitchen, bathroom, and mop sink A $2 screen prevents $400+ service calls

Report leaks and slow drains to your property manager immediately Small problems become expensive emergencies fast

Know where your water shut-off valve is — ask your property manager In an emergency, every second counts

Run cold water for 15 seconds before and after using a garbage disposal Keeps waste moving through the system

Don't

Pour grease, oil, or fat down any drain — ever It solidifies in pipes and creates blockages

Flush anything except toilet paper — no wipes, paper towels, or feminine products Even "flushable" wipes clog commercial systems

Ignore a slow drain — it will not fix itself Partial blockages become complete blockages

Use chemical drain cleaners like Drano or Liquid-Plumr They corrode commercial pipes and cause long-term damage

Put coffee grounds, rice, or pasta down any drain They expand with water and create stubborn clogs

Quick Responsibility Reference

Your Responsibility

Drain clogs caused by misuse

Under-sink grease trap pumping

Fixtures and appliances you installed

Keeping suite drains clear

Building's Responsibility

Sewer mainline and underground pipes

Building water supply mains

Backflow prevention devices

Base building fixtures and plumbing

Plumbing Emergency? (714) 632-0170 California Coast Plumbers — 24/7 Emergency Service

“The cheapest plumbing repair is the one that never happens. A two-dollar laminated card on the break room wall makes that possible.”

$300–$800

Avg. drain stoppage cost

#1 Cause

Grease & food waste

<$1

Cost to print this card

24/7

Emergency availability

ALREADY DEALING WITH A DRAIN PROBLEM?

If It's Too Late for Prevention, We're Here.

A camera inspection identifies the cause — grease buildup, root intrusion, or pipe failure — so you know exactly what you're dealing with and who's responsible.

Schedule a Camera Inspection (714) 632-0170

Same-Day

Service available

HD Video

Camera report

Since 1997

Commercial focus

C-36

Licensed & insured

RELATED RESOURCES

Who Pays for What: Landlord vs. Tenant How a Grease Trap Works Drain Cleaning Service Commercial Maintenance Program

On-Site in 2 Hours. That Is Our Standard.

Commercial emergencies do not wait for business hours. Our Priority 1 (P1) SLA targets a 2-hour response during business hours and a 2-hour dispatch for after-hours crises — across Orange County, LA, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. One call. We handle the rest.

2-Hour Response — (714) 632-0170

Plumbing Do's and Don'ts for Commercial Tenants.