What counts as a commercial emergency
A blocked main line that closes the restrooms qualifies. So does a kitchen drain that has stopped on a service night, a burst line over stock or equipment, a water heater that has failed in a food service operation and a leak that threatens a tenant below.
Shut off the affected fixture or the main valve, move stock and electronics out of the water and tell the dispatcher what kind of building it is. Tell us if tenants share the line. If you lease, your landlord or property manager may need to be called as well.
Services we dispatch for businesses
- Main line and floor drain clearing, with hydro jetting for lines coated with grease.
- Leak location and repair in supply lines, with leak detection when the source is hidden.
- Water heater repair and replacement, including larger tanks and tankless banks.
- Restroom fixtures, flush valves and faucets.
- Backflow device issues, which the owner is responsible for.
Commercial buildings differ from homes in pipe size, fixture count and who controls what. The plumber starts by asking who owns the building, who holds the shutoff keys and whether tenants share the line.
Business plumbing down? Call the 24/7 line.
Call (650) 860-1670| Problem | First move | Related page |
|---|---|---|
| Restroom or floor drain backing up | Stop water use, close affected fixtures | Sewer line cleaning |
| Kitchen drain stopped | Stop dishwashing, avoid chemicals | Hydro jetting |
| Leak over stock | Shut off zone or main, move goods | Burst pipe repair |
| No hot water in a kitchen | Check breaker or pilot, then call | Water heater repair |
Keeping a business open
- Contain. The plumber isolates the failed section so the rest of the building can keep running where possible.
- Restore service. Water, drains or hot water are brought back first.
- Plan the permanent fix. You get options and prices that fit around opening hours.
- Document. An itemized invoice supports insurance and landlord discussions.
What decides commercial plumbing cost
- Pipe and drain size. Larger lines need larger equipment.
- Access during hours. Working around customers or tenants changes the schedule.
- Scope. A single fixture is minor. A riser or main line is major.
- Equipment. Commercial water heaters and fixtures cost more.
- Time of call. After-hours dispatch costs more.
Ask for the price before work begins and for an itemized invoice. Business insurance may cover interruption and damage, so photograph everything.
Planned maintenance for businesses
A business gains most from the work done before an emergency. Regular drain cleaning or jetting for kitchen lines, checking water heater condition, exercising shutoff valves and testing backflow devices where required all reduce surprises.
Ask the plumber to walk the building once and write down where the main shutoffs, cleanouts and heater are. In an emergency, staff who know those locations save minutes. Keep the list near the front desk or in the manager's binder.
Working with landlords, tenants and managers
Plumbing responsibility in leased space depends on the lease. Often the landlord owns the building's main lines and risers, and the tenant owns the fixtures and drains inside the suite. When a line fails, the cause decides who pays, and a clear invoice with the findings helps settle it.
Tell the plumber who holds the keys and who must approve work. If a shutoff is in a locked room, call the manager before the plumber arrives.
Grease trap and interceptor cleaning for kitchens
Restaurants, cafeterias and food prep businesses depend on a grease trap or interceptor to keep fats out of the sewer. When the trap fills, grease passes through and builds up in the building's drain line, which shows up as slow floor drains, odors and backups during service hours. Regular pumping and a jetted drain line prevent most of it.
We can inspect the trap, look at the line behind it with a camera and tell you whether the problem is the trap or the pipe. Pumping and disposal are often handled by a licensed hauler, so ask what your local rules and lease require. Call (650) 860-1670 to schedule a visit around your hours.
Where Mountain View businesses sit
Mountain View's businesses are spread between the Castro Street downtown, the El Camino Real corridor, and the Shoreline area to the north. Older downtown buildings may have older drains. Newer office and mixed-use buildings tend to have more fixtures on a shared stack. For grease handling and any wastewater rules that apply to food service, ask the City of Mountain View's Public Works about the requirements for your type of business. We do not assume what applies.
Commercial plumbing in California is governed by the same California Plumbing Code as homes, with requirements that depend on how the building is used, which the plumber and the City sort out for your address.
Commercial Plumbing questions
Is emergency commercial plumbing available at night in Mountain View?
Yes. Call (650) 860-1670 at any hour. A licensed plumber is dispatched to restaurants, shops, offices and multifamily buildings.
Do you work with landlords and property managers?
Yes. We coordinate on shutoffs, access and who is responsible for which line.
Can you clear a restaurant grease line?
Yes. Cabling clears the blockage and hydro jetting cleans the pipe wall. Recurring grease problems are often a jetting schedule question.
Do you provide invoices for insurance?
Yes. Ask for an itemized invoice and photos of the work.
Do you handle backflow devices?
We can address backflow device issues in the plumbing. Testing requirements are set by the water provider, so confirm what applies to your property.