Commercial Plumbing Inspection Checklist

On a busy morning, a teammate mentions a stain near the break room hallway.

In the access panel, you find a pinhole leak soaking insulation and dripping toward an electrical run. Further investigation reveals the leak has been building for days.

Why did it go unnoticed? Because that area wasn’t part of the routine checks.

This is exactly how most plumbing issues start. When loose fittings and pressure fluctuations go unnoticed, you end up with a costly repair.

To avoid this, you need a plumbing inspection checklist that helps you catch problems early, maintain consistent documentation, and minimize unplanned downtime.

In this guide, we share a customizable checklist that you can use on its own or with a CMMS.  

Key takeaways

• Regular inspections are the best way to catch leaks, blockages, pressure issues, and equipment failures before they lead to water damage or downtime.
• A commercial plumbing inspection should include checks for pipes, fittings, drains, valves, fixtures, heaters, boilers, backflow devices, and sewer systems.
• A CMMS makes it easier to implement the checklist, document findings, attach photos, and stay compliant.
• Collecting data with a CMMS during maintenance and inspections helps you predict failures and improve your preventive maintenance program over time.

How to use this checklist

Before you call in your technicians to start checking off tasks, here’s what you need to know.

Customizing your checklist

Every facility’s plumbing layout is a little different, so treat this checklist as a starting point. Add or remove line items as necessary.

You may need to make extra changes based on industry requirements. For example, food facilities need more rigorous backflow testing. So if your building has three commercial kitchens, you may want to add extra checks related to heat-exposed cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) lines or dishwasher supply valves.

Using a CMMS

Running this checklist within a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) has several benefits. With a CMMS, you can:

• Digitally assign checklist tasks to technicians with due dates
• Add photos of leaks or pressure-gauge readings
• Track recurring issues
• Automatically generate work orders when a technician flags a problem
• Standardize inspections across multiple buildings or teams

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What should be included in a commercial plumbing inspection?

Your commercial plumbing inspection checklist needs to cover the areas listed below. We’ve also included example tasks within each area that you can use as a starting point.

Pipes and fittings

‍Drains and traps

Valves and shut-offs

Water heaters and boilers

Backflow prevention devices

Fixtures and appliances

Water pressure and flow

Sewer and vent systems

Preventive maintenance best practices for plumbing systems

Preventive maintenance requires a repeatable routine that helps you identify issues before they lead to safety hazards or expensive repairs. In addition to our checklist, here are some strategies you should consider for preventive plumbing maintenance:

• Build a recurring inspection schedule: Choose the right frequency for each task. High-traffic restrooms and kitchens may require daily or weekly checks, but it’s okay to check the water fountain at the end of each quarter. You’ll also need to perform seasonal maintenance: Check insulation on exposed pipes and heater performance before winter, and check expansion tanks and cooling tower supply lines before summer. Once you define the desired frequency in your CMMS, it will automatically create a work order as per the schedule.
• Track inspection data: You’ll see patterns emerge in your maintenance data over time. For example, you might notice frequent pressure drops on certain floors, or recurring PRV failures. Use this data and see if a permanent fix makes sense.
• Pair plumbing inspections with other building checkups: Instead of conducting separate walkthroughs, combine plumbing inspections with HVAC, electrical, safety, or other building inspections. This saves labor hours and reduces planned downtime.
• Prioritize known problem zones: Some areas typically fail first. For example, floor drains near loading docks, old copper branches on upper floors, pipes near heat-producing equipment, or lines exposed to freezing temperatures are more prone to wear and damage, so it makes sense to build extra checkpoints for these.

Purchase Order vs Work Order: How Do They Differ?

While a work order authorizes the specific type and scope of a job to be performed, a purchase order authorizes the buying of items and services needed for the work.

Documentation and record-keeping best practices

Detailed documentation is the most reliable way to understand how your building’s systems behave over time. It’s also required to prove compliance with local plumbing codes, health and safety requirements, and other applicable regulations. Follow these best practices to make sure you’re documenting plumbing maintenance and inspections effectively:

• Maintain inspection logs for every plumbing asset: Record what was inspected, by whom, when, and what was found. Include the fixture ID, location, readings (pressure, flow, etc.), and photos of any leaks or corrosion.
• Maintain a running maintenance history: A maintenance history that includes details about past repairs and replacements can help you identify recurring problems and inform decisions about retrofits or system upgrades.
• Attach photos or videos with records: Visual records help your team compare between inspections and explain issues to vendors or safety teams.
• Document manufacturer specifications and SOPs: Store manuals, warranty details, installation documents, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) so they’re easily accessible when needed.
• Use a CMMS: Make documentation easier with a CMMS. A CMMS tracks inspections and maintenance tasks, automatically creating an audit trail that provides all the details you need to make data-backed decisions.

Digitize your plumbing inspection checklists

Digitizing inspections and checklists gives your team a single source of truth: Every inspection, photo, reading, and work order is accessible in one place, and nothing gets lost in the shuffle.

MaintainX can turn your plumbing inspection checklist into a repeatable, mobile-friendly process. Technicians can record findings, attach photos, log pressure readings, and create work orders instantly from a mobile device.

The result? Faster inspections, reduced downtime, and an automated audit trail.

If you’re ready to start running regular plumbing inspections, book a demo to learn how MaintainX can simplify the process.