What’s The Difference Between Residential & Commercial Plumbing In Portland

If you need plumbing work done, the first step is hiring a qualified plumber. But before you can make the right choice, you need to know the area of plumbing work you need done, and that includes knowing whether you need a residential or commercial plumber. It can be tempting to say “pipes are pipes” but knowing the difference between residential and commercial plumbing in Portland is the first step to getting the job done right.

Here at We Do It Plumbing, we offer all the plumbing services you need including residential and commercial plumbing, plus new-construction plumbing installation for both residential and commercial buildings. While there are many similarities between the two plumbing departments, small differences make the difference in the crew and work strategy we’ll employ.

Here at We Do It Plumbing, we’ve put together a list of the most significant differences between residential and commercial plumbing in Portland. Read on to figure out the right plumbing strategy for your needs, and following our blog for all your plumbing questions.

What’s the Difference Between Residential & Commercial Plumbing in Poland?

System Scope and Capacity Issues

The average family home only has a few people living there and don’t require a high-capacity plumbing system – just enough to run a bath/shower, sinks, and several toilets. A large commercial building, meanwhile, might have dozens of water outlets that need pipes and increased water pressure with hundreds of people using the system each day. Commercial plumbing is also subject to different code and permit laws that plumbers must follow.

Single Plumber Vs. Work Crew

When working with a family home, an experienced plumber can replace or install a water heater and pipes on their own. This is the most common job that plumbers do and they will at most have a second plumber on hand to supervise and assist.

With commercial buildings, there are dozens of similar jobs to do in a single facility. A commercial plumber will have a well-vetted work crew assigned to tackle specific tasks. Commercial plumbers should also know local overtime laws and are more likely to work off-hours when the owners are away from the site.

Small Vs. Industrial Equipment

Commercial plumbers and residential plumbers use different equipment to fit their client’s needs. Residential plumbers need to be most familiar with items like water heaters, toilet and garbage disposal drains, and local water mains. Most residential plumbing jobs will involve repairing or installing one of these.

While the fundamentals of plumbing are similar in both fields, commercial plumbers work with much larger equipment like heavy-duty boilers and underground sewer lines. The should be trained in working with heavy equipment such as forklifts.

The Personal Touch

Every plumber is as much a customer service specialist as they are a mechanic. This is especially important when working as a residential plumber. A residential plumber’s top priority should be talking to their client and finding out their needs.

This doesn’t change for a commercial plumber, but the methods are different. With a large work crew on the plumber’s side and a busy staff on the commercial side, the plumber works as a go-between – finding out the client’s wishes and communicating them to the work crew. What links the two is one principle—a happy client is a repeat customer.

Residential and Commercial Plumbing in Portland

Whether you’re looking to fix a common home plumbing problem, equip a large building with water, or start a major construction job, We Do It Plumbing is on call. We are ready to handle both commercial and residential plumbing jobs in the Portland area, so contact us for more information or to get an estimate today.