For many people out there, if you were to ask them what the most important modern invention is, they would probably say plumbing. There’s a good reason for that, right? Having those amenities in our homes is something that few people really want to live without.
So, when something goes wrong, let’s just say that it’s quite noticeable. Whether it’s a leak, a clog, or anything in between, not having our plumbing operational or at peak performance is a pretty big issue. It raises the question, though: What are we supposed to do if an emergency like this happens?
Plumbing services are here in those circumstances, which is probably quite obvious. However, sometimes it can be somewhat difficult to figure out when calling one is the right move. There’s always that worry that we’re wasting someone else’s time (and our own money) in these cases.
Today, we’d like to explain when you should call in professional plumbing services for your commercial buildings and properties. After all, it’s important to have proper restroom facilities for any employees, and sewage problems in commercial buildings are a real hassle. You can read more on that here, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.17.22269440v1, but for now, let’s take a look at the matter at hand!
What is Commercial Plumbing, anyway?
When most of us think of plumbing, we probably think of the residential style. They are quite different, though, so let’s cover some of the distinctions that we may not notice at first. An obvious thing is that the scope of most commercial structures is much larger than a residential one.
What goes in tandem with this is the fact that commercial operations tend to have a lot more people using the systems in a day. The workload is a lot larger, to put it delicately. This means that they need to have much more robust options as far as fail-safes go.
As you can imagine, this means that they need to be much more complex to function properly. Typically, an issue that arises won’t be a one-person job. This is why a company may be needed to help solve emergencies that arise.
Another unfortunate difference is that most of the time, these sorts of buildings are more susceptible to damage and malfunctions that could arise. We can thank the fact that they get used so much to that to a certain extent. It’s not hard to see how these problems intertwine, right?
How to Find an Experienced Plumber
Finding residential plumbers is a piece of cake. While they’re still obviously in a specialized position that requires education and experience, that doesn’t necessarily equate to experience in the commercial field. We’ve already covered some of this. You can check out articles like this one to get more of an idea of what each respective type of plumbing can entail.
This is all to say that one of the most difficult parts of running a commercial building is finding a company or contractor that can bring the necessary knowledge to the table. Thankfully, there are ways to find one that can get the job done though.
Of course, you can just search for them online, whether you use Google or another engine. Just be careful in those instances. A lot of businesses purchase advertisement space to artificially boost themselves up to be the top result. Do your research. Read some reviews rather than just settling on the first thing that shows up in the results.
What should we be looking for, then? Well, prior experience in commercial plumbing is a must. This is probably the biggest concern, but there are other factors to keep an eye on as well.
An example of that is what sorts of services they discuss on their website or flyer. For instance, they may list things like “back flow,” “excavation”, or “pipe repair” just to name a few. Ideally, try to find one that offers what you need in that moment. If you’ve got clogged pipes (or at least, if you suspect that’s the problem), you probably wouldn’t want to hire someone who isn’t experienced in that matter.
How it Works
With all of that said, how does hiring professional plumbing services work in practice? What does the process look like? For the most part, it’s similar to bringing in a residential one. However, there are some key differences to bear in mind.
For one thing, the scope of the job will probably be much longer. Don’t be surprised if the results aren’t instantaneous – you may have to wait up to a week for everything to get sorted out. Sometimes it could take longer than that, but most of the time it should be settled within a few days at most.
Luckily, most of the time professional plumbers who handle commercial buildings are well aware of the stakes at play. The more time lost to a potential flooding risk or inoperable restrooms, the more chance that a business takes a loss. So, they tend to be quick and efficient.
Keep in mind that these types of services may be somewhat expensive, especially if we’re delving into “emergency” options. While this isn’t a deal breaker most of the time, it’s just something that you should be aware of and prepared for. You can always ask for a quote before you definitively hire a contractor.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, it’s not a secret that commercial buildings need plumbing to operate just like residential buildings do. While there are differences between the two realms on a practical level, we need both of them. Office buildings and other commercial properties have a lot riding on operational plumbing, so it’s critical to ensure that there aren’t malfunctions.
To help prevent this, you may consider professional plumbing services at least once a year for an annual inspection. Preventative measures tend to work out in the long run, even if we don’t see their impact right away. That’s kind of the point, right?