The Green Revolution in Plumbing: Environmentally Friendly Plumbing

Why It's Vital to Call a Commercial Versus a Residential Plumber

If you own or manage any type of commercial facility, you need to understand why it's vital that you call a commercial plumber, versus a residential plumber, to handle leaks, broken pipes and other such repairs or needed upgrades. While it's easy to think that all plumbing is the same, there are some very vital differences between commercial and residential plumbing systems; note a few of those differences here, so you know the right expert to call for your building's maintenance needs.

Plumbing architecture

Plumbing architecture refers to how pipes are set out and connected to each other. In a residential home, this architecture may not be very complicated, as certain plumbing pipes bring water to the home's hot water heater and to taps and toilets in the home. Other pipes are connected to remove water from drains and toilets, so the architecture of all those pipes is rather simple.

However, in a commercial building, that architecture may be more complicated, as there are typically far more pipes needed to support the increased number of toilets and sinks in a commercial building. Those pipes also need to supply water to a commercial sprinkler system or boiler used for heating, to decorative water features such as fountains and to other such pieces not typically found in a residential home. It can be difficult for someone not familiar with commercial plumbing to know how those pipes are all connected, so they may not know how to replace certain pipes properly or where to look for water leaks, burst pipes and the like. A residential plumber may even cross plumbing pipes so that water isn't delivered properly to taps and toilets or doesn't drain as it should, causing clogs.

Types of pipes

Not all plumbing pipes are alike, and many pipes used for commercial structures need to be heavier and stronger than those used for residential structures, since a commercial building usually means more taps and toilets being used at once. If a plumber doesn't use the appropriate industrial-grade pipes and fixtures for repairs, this can cause a burst pipe, water leak or other such damage and may increase the risk of a clogged pipe.

A commercial building may also have different local building codes it must meet when it comes to the pipes used, versus residential building codes. To reduce the risk of damage to pipes and to ensure all plumbing codes are met, rely on the services of a commercial plumber for any needed repairs or replacement in your commercial building.


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