Understanding Residential & Commercial Plumbing: What's the Difference?
Not all plumbing systems are created equal. Commercial plumbing and residential plumbing systems are designed to do similar sizes, but comparing their setup and functions is a bit like comparing the Great Wall of China to a home's white picket fence: they perform the same basic function on vastly different scales. There are three main sections to examine when breaking down the differences between the two systems: size, complexity, and responsibility.
Understanding the Role of Size 
The first and easiest difference to cover between residential and commercial plumbing systems is their size. Residential plumbing systems are largely defined as being plumbing systems for single or small apartment building-styled residences. Plumbers may have to climb a set of stairs or two to achieve their work, but for the most part, the plumbing is contained within a few thousand square feet or less.
Commercial plumbers face a very different expanse of work. Plumbing in residential buildings varies vastly in terms of size. A two-story factory building will have far less plumbing to work with than a six-story office building or skyscraper. Commercial plumbers may have to climb countless stairwells to access plumbing in commercial buildings, and plumbing problems can span more than one floor, causing toilet clogs, leaks, pipe bursts, etc., on multiple floors at the same time. They also have to deal more with sewer lines and other more public plumbing issues.
Understanding the Role of Complexity
The size and demands of commercial and residential plumbing systems play a big role in their level of complexity and work demands for plumbers.
Residential systems are typically easier to work with and have fewer demands than commercial systems. A bathroom setup in a residential space will last decades, where a commercial system may last only five years due to constant use.
Typically, commercial plumbers are handling more complex work situations, too. They may have to work around business schedules, large populations of workers or visitors, and the demands of multiple clients. Instead of understanding and managing a single unit's plumbing problems, they must locate problems in a system that can be made up of miles of copper pipes, drains, and plumbing fixtures. Commercial plumbers typically receive more complex training to handle the corresponding complexities of their work.
Understanding the Responsibility & Risks
Residential and commercial plumbers face different responsibilities and risks in their day-to-day work.
Both residential and commercial plumbers must abide by local building codes and ordinances, but commercial plumbers usually have to work around more of them than residential plumbers. Additionally, residential plumbers typically only have to handle their responsibilities while working with a single-family or homeowner. Still, commercial plumbers are juggling the demands of multiple companies, employees, or clients, all housed in a commercial building.
There tend to be greater risks when working in commercial plumbing. Larger systems have more demands placed on them, and the larger the system, the more space there is for something to go wrong. The damages from a commercial plumbing emergency can add up to thousands of dollars between structural, furniture, and technology damages after a flooded toilet or busted pipe in a skyscraper. Insurance tends to be more complicated to work within commercial plumbing matters as well.
The inherent differences between commercial and residential plumbing make them two very different types of plumbing work, each with unique demands and expectations.
About Dutch Enterprises
Reliable plumbing shouldn't be hard to find. That's why Dutch Enterprises is proud to serve their Cape Girardeau, MO community with affordable, reliable plumbing service. For over 50 years, their talented local technicians have been solving plumbing problems for their clients. Give their friendly office team a call to get expert commercial plumbing service!
