Commercial Plumbing Winterization Checklist for New York Businesses

Exterior Hose Bibs and Loading Docks

Exterior spigots and the pipes feeding them are among the first to freeze. Disconnect hoses, close the interior shutoff for each hose bib and drain the line. At loading docks and receiving areas, doors open constantly and cold air pours in. Insulate any pipes near dock doors, check for drafts around utility penetrations, and make sure staff keep doors closed between deliveries.

• Disconnect and drain every exterior hose bib
• Insulate pipes near dock and service doors
• Seal drafts where pipes pass through walls
• Check restroom and utility areas on exterior walls

Restaurants and Grease Trap Timing

Schedule grease trap or interceptor pumping in the fall, before cold weather and the holiday rush. Grease thickens and hardens faster in cold lines, so a trap that is already near full in November can cause a backup in December, right when you are busiest. Have kitchen drain lines cleared or jetted at the same time. Check that floor drains in walk in cooler areas and prep rooms flow freely and that their traps hold water.

Stores, Offices and Vacant Units

Keep the heat on in every space that has plumbing, including vacant units, back rooms and storage areas. Set a minimum temperature and do not let tenants or staff shut it off over weekends. Open cabinet doors under sinks on exterior walls during deep cold. For a unit that will sit empty and unheated, shut off the water to that space and drain the lines. Walk vacant spaces regularly; a slow leak can run for weeks without anyone noticing.

Sprinkler and Riser Rooms

Fire sprinkler systems are serviced by fire protection specialists, but owners play a role in winter. Keep sprinkler, riser and pump rooms heated, make sure nobody blocks heat to those spaces, and report any frost, ice or leaking pipe to your fire protection company right away. A frozen sprinkler line can cause serious water damage when it thaws.

Holiday Closures

Long holiday weekends are when many commercial pipes freeze, because nobody is there to notice the heat failed. Before you close, confirm the heat is set and working, open cabinet doors on exterior walls, and assign someone to check the building during the closure. A remote temperature or leak alert gives early warning. Make sure the person checking knows where the main water shutoff is.

Who to Call

Post your plumber's number by the main shutoff and in the manager's office. Fullerton answers 24/7 at (518) 776-7838 and serves restaurants, stores, offices and apartment buildings across New York. We can handle fall drain and grease trap service, insulate exposed pipes, and respond any hour if a pipe freezes or bursts. One store owner who called us for frozen pipes described our team as speedy and professional.