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Plumbing Explained: Residential vs. Commercial Plumbing

Explain Residential vs. Commercial Plumbing

Exploring the Differences of Residential and Commercial Plumbing

Residential and commercial plumbing serve the same purpose, providing a system to bring water into a building and remove tainted fluids from the same building. But, not all pipes are created equal. Residential plumbing serves the needs of a home, while commercial plumbing handles the needs of hundreds of users. While it’s not exactly comparing apples to oranges, residential and commercial plumbing are two very different things that do the same type of job on two very different scales. 

The Size and Scale 

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The most discernible difference between the two systems is the size and scale of their work. Residential systems are sized to fit a home. They handle only the amount of work that is typical of an average household. As such, they do not withstand the same wear and tear of commercial systems. 

Commercial systems are far larger than residential plumbing systems. Their pipes are bigger, longer, and designed to handle more force and use than residential systems. Due to this, and more cnosistent work in sewer lines, the scope of the work for commercial plumbing is larger and more time-consuming. Commercial plumbers typically work all hours of a day to fill the needs of business clients. Additionally, commercial plumbers tend to do more repetitive work, with commercial systems requiring more regular maintenance and repair due to the higher demands on the system. 

The Complexity 

Commercial plumbing is by and large more complex than residential plumbing. It uses literal miles of pipework to provide water to an entire building. Commercial systems are often labyrinthine mountains of copper pipework, toilets, faucets, and drains. They also have complicated water pressure methods to provide water to the higher floors of taller buildings. 

Residential plumbing, on the other hand, tends to be easier to work with. Pipes are usually readily accessible in attics and basements, and there is far less pipework to examine for leaks, clogs, or damage.

The Risks

It’s easy to think of commercial plumbing as a puzzle. When a single piece gets out of place, the entire system goes awry. The bigger the plumbing system, the more likely problems are to occur. 

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Commercial systems are put under rigorous strains every day. Hundreds of gallons of water are flushed on the hour in a typical commercial building like a grocery store, with even more water used in larger buildings like skyscrapers. The miles and miles of pipework in commercial buildings become the perfect maze for leaks to hide in, and when pipes burst in commercial buildings, entire businesses can be flooded. 

The risks are higher in certain commercial situations. Restaurants are required to have certain water standards to stay within the federal health code. Buildings with technology or records departments near pipes run the risk of water damage to those items. Insurance costs are higher when protecting commercial buildings from plumbing problems, too. Overall, commercial plumbing comes with a whole set of risks that residential plumbing does not.

About Cajun Maintenance

Cajun Maintenance strives to provide only the best service for Denham Springs, LA. The health and well-being of their customers is their priority. That’s why their technicians stay licensed and trained in the latest plumbing technology and methods. They stand by their work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call now for expert plumbing service!