Differences Between Commercial and Residential Plumbing

Residential and commercial buildings can never run properly without the crucial systems, especially the plumbing system. It ensures that both clean and dirty waste inside the building gets appropriately regulated. Without it, you will have difficulty getting clean water and dumping wastewater out of the building. 

But have you wondered the difference between a residential and commercial building's plumbing system? You might find similarities between the two, but you need to learn what sets them apart, especially if you own a house or a commercial building. In most cases, people don't even know the difference between the two plumbing systems that they would try to let somebody else figure it out. 

1. A commercial plumbing system is more complex

You can find many large commercial buildings with several floors and vast that at least six average-sized houses can fit on the land. Because of the commercial building's extensiveness, it's only right that they have the most extensive plumbing system. You will find several toilets, faucets, and sinks strategically placed in different parts of a commercial building. It would also mean that commercial building owners need to have several plumbers working because having one is not enough to complete the plumbing repairs and maintenance within the day. 

But with residential buildings, their plumbing systems are usually not that complex, which means even one or two plumbers can finish it without a problem. The only time the residential building's plumbing system is challenging to work on is larger than an average house. So, if you only have a home that needs plumbing maintenance, hiring a single plumber is enough to get it done. 

2. Plumbing Damage

Because of the commercial building's extensive plumbing system, the damage is more likely to occur than in a residential building. Usually, plumbing problems that happen in residential buildings get taken care of right away. Homeowners would contact a plumber to fix a burst pipe, and they can get it done at a moment's notice. 

But if a burst pipe happens in a commercial building's plumbing system, the damage could cause more problems other than plumbing damage. It could also reach other systems such as electrical wires and gas pipes, which should never happen. What makes the scenario even worse is that the overflowing water could make its way down to the lower levels and disrupt everyone's activities. If ever that happens to your commercial building, provide your plumbers' convenient access to the plumbing system by installing plumbing access panels. 

3. Plumbing System Cleanliness

When it comes to keeping your home's plumbing system clean, you would usually ignore it until an issue happens. That would be the only time when you would ask your plumber to clean the plumbing system, but that isn't the case with commercial buildings. They need to clean their plumbing systems at all times to comply with specific health rules and regulations. 

Failing to clean a commercial building's plumbing system could result in hefty penalties, which could potentially cause the building to close down. Examples of commercial buildings that need clean plumbing systems are restaurants and other businesses that are part of the food industry.

4. Plumbing System Efficiency

Your average home will usually have one or two bathrooms, which is already enough for four family members to use all the time. If one of the bathrooms has problems, everyone can still use the other bathroom. But if that happens to a commercial building, it may become a massive problem for everyone because they would have to look for another inside the building. 

Usually, plumbers would need to close the entire restroom, especially when they need to make extensive repairs. It is one reason that most commercial buildings will have their plumber because no one will ever know when a plumbing issue could happen. They are also crucial to have around the building to fix plumbing problems as quickly as possible.

Don't forget to make the job easy for your plumbers if you want those annoying plumbing problems resolved right away. A good way you can achieve that is by letting your contractors install louvered access doors and panels!

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson