When you begin looking to hire a Pompano Beach plumber, it’s essential to look into the plumbing business’ specializations. Most plumbers divide their services into two categories: residential and commercial. Residential plumbing companies serve homeowners and renters while commercial plumbing companies serve entire businesses.
Although the plumbing problems related to commercial and residential buildings are similar, such as clogged drains and leaking toilets, there are some major differences between a commercial plumber and a residential plumber. Here’s what you need to know.
What is Commercial Plumbing?
Put simply, a commercial plumber is someone who specializes in fixing plumbing fixtures in commercial or industrial settings, such as:
- Shopping malls
- Office buildings
- Schools
- Restaurants
- Apartment buildings/condo associations
- Recreational areas like gyms, waterparks, and public restrooms
Any building that is not a residential property and/or has industrial-grade outlets and pipes will require a commercial plumber.
Even though the setting in which a commercial plumber works is different from a residential one, they still have many of the same duties. It is a commercial plumber’s job to:
- Repair or replace any piping or fixtures needed
- Inspect piping, water heaters, sensors, and more to make sure all plumbing is working correctly
- Perform annual preventative maintenance and routine inspections
- Provide guidance to property owners/business owners on how to prevent certain issues
Commercial Plumbing vs. Residential Plumbing
There are many different variables that separate a residential plumbing issue from a commercial one. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
Size and Stories
The larger the building and more complex the infrastructure, the more complicated the plumbing becomes. Even a small office building will have more complex plumbing systems than a family home. Some buildings may even have plumbing systems that span over multiple floors, using industrial-grade piping that isn’t found in your average home.
In addition to servicing larger areas with multiple stories, commercial plumbing systems usually see a lot more wear and tear than residential plumbing systems do. After all, there are more people using the toilets, running water, and activating the system on a daily basis. Unfortunately, this also means that when things do go wrong, it can be a lot more damaging than a clogged toilet in a single-family home. A leak in your kitchen may cause minor damage, while a leak in a business could be devastating to the company.
As a result, commercial jobs tend to take longer to complete and may require a level of skill that residential plumbers do not have. Commercial plumbers are able to fix all plumbing structures - even those that span over 10 stories on a coastal high-rise building.
Local Codes and Industry Knowledge
Since commercial installations usually use industrial-grade piping and fixtures, it’s important to hire a Pompano Beach plumber who specializes in working with these materials. Commercial plumbers specialize in commercial buildings, so they will be more knowledgeable about the structure, function, and maintenance of your plumbing system.
On a similar note, although all plumbers must follow local codes, the codes in place for residential and commercial properties can be different from one another. A commercial plumber will be familiar with all of the local codes and be prepared to fix your plumbing system in accordance with those codes.
This is important - because if something isn’t completed up to code, you could have to end up paying more for repairs down the line or be subject to fines. A licensed and insured commercial plumber will do the job right the first time.
Frequency of Inspection, Maintenance, and Repair
Another major difference between commercial and residential plumbing is the frequency and timing of inspection and repairs.
Business owners and landlords are more likely to stay on top of their building’s maintenance needs, so they may be more likely to contact a plumber for yearly maintenance and routine inspections. Homeowners, on the other hand, are more likely to contact a plumber for reactive care - they only call when something in their plumbing system goes wrong.
Commercial plumbers often build a long-term relationship with their clients as they return on both a preventative and reactive basis.
Hire The Best Commercial Plumber in Pompano Beach Today
Whether you are the owner of a small business or landlord to a large apartment complex, you’re going to need a reliable plumber who you can call on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At Sam Jolley’s Plumbing, we have been trusted to serve the Pompano Beach/Fort Lauderdale area for over 30 years.
We are dedicated to being there for our customers no matter what the emergency. Call now to learn more or to schedule commercial plumbing services.
