Many people assume
that plumbing is plumbing and that there is little difference between
commercial and residential plumbing jobs. After all, it’s all just water and
piping. What could be the so different about plumbing in an office building
versus home? And while it is true that there are many similarities in both
technique and design, there are important differences between commercial and
residential plumbing that need to be understood. Let’s take a look on the main
difference between commercial and residential plumbing is the size of the
systems and the number of people they are designed to serve. A residential
plumbing system is designed to handle the needs of only a few people throughout
the day. A commercial plumbing system, such as those in a modern office
building, are far more complex. An office building often has multiple stories
of pipes, bathrooms, faucets, water heaters and sewage lines that all have to
work in concert to avoid a failure.
Another important
difference between commercial and residential plumbing is the knowledge and
tools required to work on each. The plumbing of commercial systems is large and
complex and often utilize plumbing parts that an ordinary house does not. Some
of these parts include industrial grade pipes and fixtures that require special
tools, techniques and experience to work on safely. The complexity of
commercial plumbing mean that mistakes or sloppy design can result in code
violations and costly damages. Now that you have an idea of what the
differences are between residential and commercial plumbing, it’s time to
consider what to look for when choosing a plumber. This is by far the most
important thing to consider when hiring a plumbing profession. It is not
learned overnight and the fact that plumbers play such a critical role in the
safety of our drinking water means that they have to follow and be aware of a
tangle of rules, codes and regulations. If the plumber is not licensed for the
scope of the work that they are being hired to do, consider finding a licensed
plumbing company.
Unfortunately, a
license doesn’t mean that someone is competent just think about all the car
accidents caused by licensed drivers as an example. Before choosing a
commercial plumbing service, do some research on their services and check out
reviews. Ask them if they have ever had experience in a commercial plumbing
setting. The last thing you want is a plumber who has more experience
unclogging drains than working with the heavy duty equipment on an industrial
plumbing job. Does the company strive for a professional look and conduct
itself in a professional manner? Do they return your calls in a reasonably
prompt manner? Do they have a website?
Now, this doesn’t mean that you should be checking the shine of their
shoes and critiquing wear and tear to equipment that comes with plumbing work.
Just make sure that the company or plumber is operating in a way that is appropriate
for a professional. Besides the service of plumbers are
pleased to provide troubleshooting and upgrades to more efficient and
energy-efficient system that provide cleaning and maintenance. Whatever the
reason, a clogged system in a commercial enterprise needs to be fixed.
