Is there any difference between residential and commercial plumbing? Most home or business owners do not even think about it. They would rather have other people deal with their plumbing problems but it is important to distinguish between the two – residential plumbing problems are as significant as the plumbing issues in commercial buildings. They equally require the knowledge, expertise and experience of the qualified plumber. However, how do these two spheres of plumbing differ from each other? We’ll try to answer that question in the following article.

Plumbing services are divided into two kinds of plumbing – residential and commercial. The plumbing problems related to residential and commercial plumbing are very similar, like leaking toilets, broken or burst pipes. But picture a residential plumber who goes from home to home the whole day. He focuses on a single family residence proper operation. He is able to fix a clogged drain in the kitchen. He knows how to install a water saving toilet in the family bathroom or how to repair a broken pipe. He is an expert in residential plumbing because he deals with the same problems every day throughout the year.

A commercial plumber, on the other hand, sees different problems every day. He may deal with a flooded bathroom in a multistoried office building. He may install the plumbing system for a brand new apartment complex and understand multiple city codes and requirements. Commercial plumbing will be used more vigorously by dozens or even hundreds of users – it will have to handle higher water pressures, require various permits and installation processes that might not matter in the average residential household.

So there is a difference between residential and commercial plumbing, the five following areas will help you understand it more.

Commercial vs. Residential Daily Usage of the Pipes and Fixtures

The daily usage of all the plumbing systems is much greater when it comes to commercial plumbing. In commercial buildings, the plumbing systems will be used more frequently, which often requires a lot more pipes and outlets than residential plumbing does. Businesses need to provide toilets and sinks for both their clients and their employees and residential systems don’t have to support such a demand. Consequently the size, durability and grading of commercial pipes and fixtures will differ from residential ones.

Complexity of Commercial Buildings

In residential plumbing the piping system is rather simple to navigate through the building carcass.  Commercial plumbing, however, is a lot more complicated. There are multiple floors, a bunch of toilets, loads of sinks and everything seems much more hectic. Plumbers who serve commercial buildings understand this complexity and expect a lot more surprises in their job than in a single home.

Potential for Damages

The potential for damages increases when one deals with a complicated plumbing in commercial facilities. When there is a plumbing problem in one part of the house, there’s a limited amount of damage that can be done. For example, a burst pipe in a residential home is a big deal but if you take that and multiple it by 20 floors, the level of disaster grows radically.

Health Issues

Businesses are obliged to keep their plumbing extremely clean because of their employees and any customers who visit. This especially concerns restaurants and other businesses that deal with food. They need to follow strict health care laws and ensure the high hygiene of their plumbing. Thus that creates an entirely different set of plumbing needs for commercial facilities.

Efficiency

If you have two toilets at your home and one of them backs up, you use the other one while you wait for the plumber to arrive. But if a bathroom gets clogged in an office building, you suddenly have a problem that can affect a lot of people. That’s why plumbing problems need to be fixed much faster.

Even though there is a difference between residential and commercial spheres of plumbing, it is best to hire a plumber who is experienced in dealing with both residential and commercial plumbing issues. A knowledgeable plumber can adjust to the situation and offer unmatched plumbing services in both residential and commercial facilities. A leaky faucet might be the small nuisance for you but the plumber might discover that the root of the problem is in the entire foundation of the piping system.

At Norwalk/La Mirada Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning our plumbers can tackle any kind of a plumbing job no matter whether it is in your home or in a business facility. Contact our company and we will gladly answer the questions concerning the plumbing issues you might experience.