Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic response restrictions are beginning to relax. More people are starting to make their way outside their homes to work, gather, and return to stores and restaurants. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), have provided guidelines for reopening that, as your plumber, we would like to reiterate.
Since these guidelines are primarily concerned with enhancing hygiene practices, it is our duty to ensure that your plumbing system provides maximum safety and sanitation for you and your customers. The best way to ensure this safety is by reducing the number of touch points in your facility via the installment of touchless fixtures. Here is some crucial information on why you need to renovate your plumbing fixtures and hygiene techniques with the help of Narwhal Plumbing.
Guidelines from the CDC and WHO
According to the CDC and WHO, one of the best ways to contain the spread of the coronavirus is to reduce the number of shared touch points in your facility. Since these, more often than not, take the form of sink faucets and toilet flush valves, let the experts at Narwhal Plumbing step in to optimize your place of business. These guidelines are especially critical for restaurants, what WHO regards as “retail food premises.” For these institutions, both agencies suggest:
These efforts all work together not only to prevent the spread of coronavirus but to reduce the risk of exposure to other water-related illnesses such as Legionnaire’s disease (a bacteria-related disease that results in respiratory distress). These efforts are not restricted to touchless fixtures alone, however.
Even after you install touchless faucets and no-touch soap dispensers, all systems and fixtures associated with water are appropriately regulated and safe to use after the long shutdown. This includes the expert installation and careful monitoring of your restaurant’s hot water regulation. A water heater that is functioning to standard will keep the water at temperatures that are best for safety and sanitization, keeping your business protected from the virus on all fronts.
The safest temperature for a water heater (both for residential and commercial water temperatures) is around 120֯F. However, there are specific temperature ranges that are optimal for different applications. For instance, the best commercial water temperature for hand-washing is between 110-115֯F. (Temperatures over 120֯F will risk burning your customers, another risk you don’t want to introduce into the equation.) This is also the perfect temperature to save you money since it’s highly energy-efficient.
You’ll also want to keep your dishes clean to eliminate this route of viral spread, whether in your home or business. Keep your dishwasher temperature between 150-160֯F during the wash cycle and 180֯ for rinsing – that is, if it’s possible (or if you wish) to change temperatures between various sanitation phases. Otherwise, low-temperature washers can be used with a sanitizing agent between temperatures of 120-140֯F degrees (this is optimal for both rinsing and washing). Narwhal plumbers will ensure that your water heater is set to provide exactly the temperatures you need for maximum safety.
Why Your Customers Prefer Touchless Fixtures
In a survey conducted in early April, 91% of Americans expressed their belief that it is extremely or somewhat important that public restrooms are equipped with touchless fixtures. Since your customers' safety and convenience is your priority, it would be best to install features such as automatic motion sensor faucets and even no-touch flush valves.
Your efforts will not be futile, since 60% of Americans confirmed that touchless hand-washing features have become significantly more important since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than ¾ of the population is washing their hands six or more times a day in efforts to reduce their chances of contracting the virus. Were it not for no-touch fixtures, the likelihood of your customers sharing germs and potentially spreading the coronavirus would be exponentially higher.
Restaurant owners have a unique level of responsibility in mitigating this, especially since eateries are one of the many public areas that 70% of Americans are specifically wary of visiting at this time. Your business is a hotspot for shared surfaces and large gatherings, so you must do all you can to protect yourself, your staff, and your customers.
Benefits of Installing Touch Fixtures
Of course, the primary benefit of your decision to install a commercial touchless bathroom sink faucet, along with other no-touch features, is the reduction of routes by which the coronavirus can spread. Installing these elements into your restaurant’s facilities will also offer you the following benefits, though:
To improve the health and safety of your business, hire Narwhal Plumbing to expertly install touchless faucets and automatic motion sensor flush valves. These elements will reduce the number of touch points in your establishment and keep you and your customers as safe as possible. We’ll make sure that these components are installed for the best performance and longevity, supported by optimal temperatures provided by your water heater.
Call us today at 773-563-0822 to get started.
OUR CHICAGO PLUMBING SERVICE AREA:
Chicago 60601 – Loop
Chicago 60603 – Loop
Chicago 60606 – Loop
Chicago 60612 - West Side
Chicago 60613 – Lakeview
Chicago 60613 – Buena Park
Chicago 60613 – North Center
Chicago 60613 – St. Ben’s
Chicago 60614 – Lincoln Park
Chicago 60614 – Park West
Chicago 60614 – Mid-North District
Chicago 60618 – Avondale
Chicago 60618 – Roscoe Village
Chicago 60618 – Horner Park
Chicago 60618 – Irving Park
Chicago 60618 – Belmont Gardens
Chicago 60618 – Lathrop Homes
Chicago 60618 – North Center
Chicago 60618 – St. Ben’s
Chicago 60622 – West Town
Chicago 60622 – Ukrainian Village
Chicago 60622 – Wicker Park
Chicago 60622 – Noble Square
Chicago 60622 – Humboldt Park
Chicago 60622 – Smith Park
Chicago 60625 – Lincoln Square
Chicago 60625 – Ravenswood
Chicago 60625 – Ravenswood Manor
Chicago 60625 – Kimball
Chicago 60625 – Albany Park
Chicago 60625 – Peterson Park
Chicago 60625 – North Park
Chicago 60626 – Rogers Park
Chicago 60639 – Hermosa
Chicago 60639 – Belmont Cragin
Chicago 60639 – Belmont Central
Chicago 60639 – North Austin
Chicago 60640 – Andersonville
Chicago 60640 – West Edgewater
Chicago 60640 – Uptown
Chicago 60640 – Sheridan Park
Chicago 60640 – Ravenswood
Chicago 60641 – Old Irving Park
Chicago 60641 – Portage Park
Chicago 60641 – Belmont Gardens
Chicago 60642 – Noble Square
Chicago 60642 – River West
Chicago 60645 – West Ridge
Chicago 60646 – Lincolnwood
Chicago 60646 – North Park
Chicago 60646 – Hollywood Park
Chicago 60646 – Sauganash
Chicago 60646 – Edgebrook
Chicago 60646 – South Edgebrook
Chicago 60646 – Forest Glen
Chicago 60647 – Bucktown
Chicago 60647 – Wicker Park
Chicago 60647 – Logan Square
Chicago 60647 – Palmer Square
Chicago 60647 – Hermosa
Chicago 60647 – Belmont Gardens
Chicago 60647 – Humboldt Park
Chicago 60647 – Lathrop Homes
Chicago 60654 – River North
Chicago 60657 – Lake View
Chicago 60657 – Roscoe Village
Chicago 60657 – Park West
Chicago 60659 – Peterson Park
Chicago 60659 – West Ridge
Chicago 60659 – Hollywood Park
Chicago 60659 – North Park
Chicago 60660 – Edgewater
Chicago 60660 – West Edgewater
Chicago 60661 – Downtown
Chicago 60712 – Lincolnwood
Chicago 60712 – Edgebrook
Comments will be approved before showing up.
