Kitchen Plumbing Guide

Troubleshooting and Maintenance Tips

Overview

This guide outlines common plumbing issues, best practices for prevention, and step-by-step instructions for resolving problems in your kitchen. By following these guidelines, you can help ensure proper plumbing functionality. If you encounter plumbing issues that cannot be resolved using this guide, please contact the facility’s AOM via the chat for further assistance.

Best Practices

• Regularly inspect all plumbing fixtures and connections in your kitchen for signs of wear or leaks.
• Maintain clear access to all valves and drainage systems to facilitate efficient troubleshooting.
• Keep a log of any plumbing issues and resolutions to track recurring problems, so you can report to the AOM via the chat if an issue has required multiple fixes.

No Running Water

Check Kitchen Water Valves

1. Verify that all water valves for the kitchen are turned on.
2. Check all water valves, typically located above the corridor adjacent to the kitchen’s plumbing wall or above the ceiling tiles in the kitchen. Note that these valves may control two back-to-back kitchens.
3. If all water valves are turned on and the kitchen remains without water, escalate the issue to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
4. If any water valves are turned off, turn them back on.
5. If the kitchen remains without water, escalate to the facility’s AOM via the chat.

Drainage Issue in Kitchen

• Ensure the drain is free from any debris or obstructions.
• If the drain is clear and the issue persists, please reach out to the facility's AOM via the chat for further assistance.

Kitchen Plumbing Issue

Insufficient Water Temperature

Verify Issue

• Hold a digital meat thermometer under the running faucet to check the actual hot water temperature.
• If the temperature is lower than your Health Department requirement (likely 120°F), ask other kitchens if they are experiencing the same issue.
• If other kitchens are having the same issue, reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
• If the temperature is at or above the requirement, the temperature is correct.

If Limited to Hand Sink

• Check that the thermostatic mixing valve under the sink is properly adjusted.
• It may have a handle for adjustment or require a screwdriver.
• If you are unable to adjust this valve, reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.

Faucet/Sprayer Leak

Check Connection Tightness

• Check the tightness of the connection where the leak is occurring.
• If the connection cannot be tightened, reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
• If it can be tightened, hand tighten as much as possible, then use a crescent or pipe wrench for one final quarter turn. If the leak goes away, excellent work!

Cloudy or Discolored Water

• If you have cloudy water, run water into a cup and wait a few minutes.
  • If the water remains cloudy, escalate to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
  • If the water is no longer cloudy, the temporary cloudiness is due to air in the water line causing bubbles.
• If you believe you have discolored water, run water into a cup to verify the condition. If discolored, please reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.

 Pre-Rinse Sprayer Coming Off Wall

If a sprayer is coming off the wall, it needs to be rescrewed back to the wall. If you are unable to reconnect it to the wall, please contact the facility’s AOM via the chat.

Water Leak

Sink Leaks

Confirm Leak Location

• Locate the leak. Most common leak locations:
  • At the waste valve drain gasket.
  • At the under sink drainage piping.
  • At the water supply valves or supply hoses.
  • At the faucet.
• If the leak is found at the drain or drain piping, reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
• If the leak is at a supply valve or supply hose, move on to the next step.

Close Valve

Close the water supply valve for the affected sink. (A closed valve is perpendicular to the piping; an open valve is parallel).

Closed

Open

Check Condition

• Confirm the faucet and piping are in good condition.
  • If piping or faucet connections are loose:
    • Hand tighten, then use a crescent or pipe wrench for one final quarter turn.
    • If unable to tighten, please reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat.
  • If the piping and faucent are tight and well connected, turn the water valve back on to record a short video of the leak, then turn it back off. Please reach out to the AOM via the chat, sharing the video.

Other Types of Leaks

Check for Condensate Drain Leaks

• Makeup Air Units (MAU’s) , Fan Coil Units (FCU’s), and Walk-In Refrigeration Unit (WIC or WIF) Evaporators have condensate drains to relieve moisture that is gathered from the air.
• These drains can become clogged and overflow, causing water to leak from the unit or its piping.
  • MAU and FCU leaks can come from the ceiling, or can be visible at the unit itself if wall mounted.
  • WIC / WIF leaks typically spill out through the doorway.

Check for Roof Leaks

• If no leaking pipes, fixtures, or equipment can be found, you may have a roof leak.
  • Follow the water to find its source.
  • Lift ceiling tiles and check the ceiling space if necessary.Take a video to show where the leakage is occurring.
  • Reach out to the facility’s AOM via the chat with the issues and video.