Commercial Plumbing.Done Right.

Commercial needs

Cafes, shops and offices need quick fixes and minimal downtime. Blocked drains, failed hot water and burst pipes can stop trading.

What we do

We clear drains, repair leaks, fix and replace hot water systems and look after toilets and amenities.

Preventing repeat problems

Regular drain cleaning and checks help avoid emergency call-outs, especially in food businesses.

Common commercial jobs

Blocked and slow drains, grease trap issues, leaking taps and cisterns, hot water systems that cannot meet demand, burst pipes, tap and toilet replacements, gas appliance connections for kitchens and fit-out plumbing for new tenancies.

Maintenance and compliance

A simple service schedule prevents expensive failures. Taps, valves, hot water, drains and visible pipework can all be checked. Some sites also need backflow device testing and trade waste care. We tell you what applies.

Fit-outs and tenancy changes

When you move into a new space, involve a plumber before the builder closes the walls. Drains, hot water, fixture locations and connections all need to be decided before the work is quoted.

After hours and emergencies

A flooded shop on a Saturday cannot wait for Monday. We take emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Trade waste and grease traps

Businesses that put fats, oils, grease, chemicals or other trade waste down the drain usually have rules to follow. These come from the water retailer and the council. Check with your water retailer about what applies to your business, and keep records of any cleaning or servicing.

Hot water for commercial sites

A business may need much more hot water than a house, in short bursts. Cafes, salons and gyms can empty a small tank quickly. Sizing, recovery rate and tempering valves at handwash basins all matter. Ask your plumber to size the system to how you actually use hot water.

Backflow protection

Commercial sites often need backflow prevention devices to protect the mains from contamination, and some devices need regular testing. Ask your plumber and your water retailer what applies to your premises, and keep test records.

Working around a business that is open

A cafe, an office or a shop cannot always close for a plumbing job. Tell us your trading hours and which areas must stay usable. Work can often be staged, with toilets or taps kept in service while another part is isolated. Out-of-hours work may suit some jobs, and we can talk about timing when you call.

Noisy or messy jobs near customers are planned more carefully than a fix behind a closed door. If a floor needs cutting or a drain needs excavating, ask how access will be managed and who tells your staff and customers.

Landlords, tenants and body corporates

In commercial buildings, the responsibility for a pipe or a fixture depends on the lease and, in some buildings, on the owners corporation. A leaking pipe in a shared wall may belong to the building, while the tap in your tenancy is yours. Check your lease or ask your agent before booking, and say who is paying when you call. It speeds up approvals and avoids invoices being sent to the wrong party.

If you manage a building, keep a plan of the main isolation valves, the hot water plant and any backflow devices, and share it with anyone who works on site.

Common problems in shops, kitchens and offices

Food businesses see grease in drains, slow floor wastes and hot water that cannot keep up in peak periods. Offices see leaking taps, failing cisterns, and blocked kitchenette sinks. Retail sites with staff toilets see repeated blockages from products that should not be flushed. A pattern of repeat calls to the same drain is a reason to look at the whole line, not clear it again.

A short written log of when each fault happened can help your plumber see whether the cause is use, ageing pipe or a design problem.

Toilets, accessibility and public use

Premises open to the public carry more wear on toilets, taps and basins, and they usually have accessibility requirements for fixtures and heights. If you are fitting out or changing a toilet area, check the building rules that apply to your type of premises before choosing fixtures, and ask the plumber to look at the plans early.

Planning maintenance around business hours

Businesses cannot always close for plumbing. Ask about work outside trading hours, staged work that keeps toilets and kitchens running, and how water shut-offs will be communicated to staff and customers. A short planned shut-off at a quiet time is easier to manage than an emergency during service.

Keep a list of isolation valves, the hot water unit and key drains, and make sure someone on each shift knows where they are.

Tenants, landlords and who arranges repairs

In a leased premises, the lease usually sets who is responsible for repairs. Check the lease before you call, and tell the landlord or property manager about any fault that may be their responsibility. Keep records of faults, photos and invoices.

Ask the plumber to note what was found and what was done, in language that you can pass on to the landlord, an insurer or a building manager.

Keeping a shop, café or office compliant and running

Commercial premises often have more fixtures, higher use and specific requirements such as grease traps, backflow devices or accessible toilets. Keep a list of what is installed and when it was last serviced. Ask your plumber to note anything that has a regular inspection or testing schedule, and put the dates in a calendar.

Talk to your water retailer about trade waste if you produce fats, oils or other waste in volume. Check your lease for who is responsible for each part of the plumbing. A short maintenance visit before a busy season is cheaper than losing a day's trade to a blocked drain or a failed hot water unit.

Guides worth reading

• Commercial Plumbing: What Businesses Should Know
• What Is Backflow Prevention and Do You Need It?

Related plumbing services

• Maintenance Plumbing: Regular plumbing checks and small repairs that stop big failures.
• Rental Property Plumbing: Plumbing repairs and checks for landlords and property managers.
• Emergency plumbing is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Talk to GSA Plumbing Services

Call 0401 041 103 or send an enquiry on the contact page. We work across Geelong, Melbourne and surrounding suburbs.