Should You Call an Emergency Commercial Plumber? 5 Things to Consider

Facing emergency plumbing problems and considering whether you should call a commercial plumber? 

Before you make that decision, it is important to understand what commercial plumbing entails and in what instances should you opt for emergency commercial plumbing services. 

Does your situation even warrant commercial plumbing as a solution, or could any maintenance person fix your issue?

To find the right answers you have landed on the right page! 

What Does Emergency Commercial Plumbing Entail?

Commercial plumbing jobs require licensed professional plumbers that have years of experience, advanced training, specialized skills, and high-tech equipment to handle larger and more complex plumbing tasks. 

These tasks can include the installment, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of sewage lines and piping that are broken, damaged, leaking, or corroding. 

Commercial plumbers can also be called for fixing clogged and faulty drain issues that are quite severe. 

They differ from residential plumbers and handymen in terms of the scope and scale of the projects they take on. 

Hiring a commercial plumber to take on a sizable job can cost you thousands of dollars, so you need to find a company that gives you the best value for money. 

Thus, in most cases, it is always best to take your time and shop around for the best commercial plumbers near you. 

However, if there is a leakage or a broken pipe that requires immediate fixing and is hurting business operations, you may have no choice but to hire emergency commercial plumbing services. 

Therefore, before choosing emergency commercial plumbing services here are six things you should consider.

5 Things to Consider Before Calling An Emergency Commercial Plumber 

1) Understand What a Commercial Plumber Does

Commercial Plumbing is strictly about professionalism and specialization. A commercial plumber is licensed and specialized to work on large-scale projects such as commercial businesses, housing, properties, retail, etc. 

The kind of repairs, installations, and plumbing maintenance projects that come under their job description are complex and large. 

As such, commercial plumbing isn’t done by anyone and everyone. 

It requires education, training, and passing exams to get proper certification. Hence, it is not surprising that commercial plumbers, unlike handymen, are not called for meager residential issues. 

They are hired for big sensitive tasks and referred to in cases of emergency. 

2) Learn More About the Type Of Services Offered By Commercial Plumbers

Several reputable companies offer commercial plumbing services. However, it is easy to get confused about whether your plumbing problem warrants a commercial plumber to solve it or not. 

So, to make things easier, here are some of the plumbing problems that might warrant the need for an emergency commercial plumber.  

• Leaking Pipes
• Clogged Drains
• Plumbing system maintenance
• Sewer system backups
• Plumbing repairs
• Frozen pipes
• Drain and sewage cleaning
• Water line reparation
• Reparation of trenchless sewer lines
• Plumbing inspection
• Plumbing diagnosis
• Reparation and/or replacement of water heaters
• Water back-up
• Installation of copper and PVC fixtures for piping 
• Maintenance of hot water systems
• Unclogging and clearing of blocked drainage
• Fixing problems with the water pressure
• Issues of burst or faulty pipes and water leakage
• Insurance work concerning sewer and stack replacement 
• Setting up of HVAC rooftop units
• Maintenance and/or construction of the fire sprinkler system
• Cleaning out grease traps
• Gas installations and repair
• Inspection and examination of the thermostatic mixing valve
• Scheduled maintenance checks as preventative measures.
• Soldering, brazing, pipe fitting

3) Understand The Differences Between Residential & Commercial Plumbing

Commercial plumbing is different from residential plumbing in many ways as explained in this video and the table below.

Commercial plumbers are normally hired for extensive, complicated, and large-scale projects in industrial or other commercial settings. These are highly professional and specialized people trained to handle complex situations and advanced machinery.

Commercial plumbers deal with: 

• Locations with Multiple Buildings or Stories

Commercial plumbing jobs take place in buildings with multiple levels. These locations have complex, interconnected systems of water, pipelines, gas, drainage, etc that require specialized knowledge, equipment, and expertise.

• Complex Plumbing Projects

A commercial plumber deals with large and complex problems. While the nature of commercial plumbing issues may sometimes be similar to a task any handyman will work on (drain clogging, leaks, etc.), they are more extensive. 

Given the complex plumbing problems that can arise in large-scale infrastructure, commercial plumbers are trained to use industrial equipment and highly specialized tools. 

• Maintenance Contracts

Rather than day-to-day work, commercial plumbing is typically associated with maintenance contracts. 

Given that commercial plumbing takes place in large buildings, a regular check and balance is required to ensure that any potential large-scale plumbing problem is either avoided or mitigated. 

• High-Level Safety Standards

The stakes are very high when it comes to commercial plumbing. Commercial plumbers must ensure efficiency in all their work to prevent unnecessary delays and setbacks all while adhering to the highest safety standards and regulation requirements. 

• Irregular Work Hours

Contrary to residential plumbing where working hours are typically from 9 am to 5 pm, commercial plumbing work hours are extensive and outside of business hours. 

Industrial and commercial places prefer to get the maintenance work done after business hours to ensure that the work can take place seamlessly without interruptions or accidents of any kind. 

Residential plumbers, however, sometimes work outside their normal timings too, mostly in cases of emergency. 

• A Wide Range of Plumbing Problems

Where residential plumbers have to solve different variations of the same kind of problems, mostly domestic, commercial plumbers must cater to a wide variety of issues. 

It is sometimes a lot more viable to hire a residential plumber instead of a commercial plumber to deal with smaller plumbing issues as it can save you a substantial sum of money as a property manager or business owner. 

• Specialized Tools & Equipment

Pipe wrenches, plungers, toilet augers, sink snakes and other such small tools are characteristic of residential plumbing. 

Commercial plumbing requires larger, heavier, advanced tools. 

A commercial plumber is used to operate machinery such as big and heavy generators, tile saws, industrial vacuum cleaners (both wet and dry), drain cleaners, jetters, etc. 

• Communicating & Coordinating with Different Professionals

The job of a commercial plumber isn’t solitary like that of residential plumbers who either work independently or with known colleagues. 

Commercial plumbers, on the other hand, must coordinate with plenty of other professionals. 

These experts can include project managers, engineers, construction managers, architects, strata managers, and a wide range of government authorities. 

4) Consider Specialized Commercial Plumbing Services

If you are looking for a commercial plumber, chances are that the plumbing issue you are facing is a big one. Depending on the issue at hand, it may be feasible to hire a specialist commercial plumber that only deals with the issue at hand. 

Specialized commercial plumbing services can include:

• Installing and maintaining portable systems involving drinking water
• Pipelayer work that involves the laying of pipework for stormwater or wastewater drainage
• Master pipefitters and steamfitters
• Industrial cooling, heating, and electricity generation repair and replacement
• Sewage and septic system services
• Repairing fuel gas systems

5) Factors That You Should Account for In Your Selection

How do you find a reliable, trusted, and experienced emergency commercial plumber for the project at hand?

By doing your due diligence! 

Your need for an emergency commercial plumbing solution indicates that the plumbing issue is serious and as such should be handled by trained professionals. 

Here’s a checklist to help you make sure you are hiring the right commercial plumbing company for the job at hand.

Their Experience & Equipment:

Make sure the person you hire has at least a decade or more worth of experience working in a commercial plumbing setting. Ask them about their previous jobs and in which areas they were executed. 

Also, inquire about what equipment and tools they have at their disposal to deal with the problem at hand. 

Using specialized tools can help make a commercial plumbing task a lot more efficient and quicker which can help you save a lot more money. 

Companies that have specialist equipment will also likely give you a lower estimate as there would be fewer labor charges and the machinery can also help lower the amount of time needed to get the task done. 

Their Track Record & Reputation

Having done some commercial projects isn’t enough. The question is whether the jobs were executed professionally. 

As such, when shortlisting potential companies, it is best if you ask for references, reviews, and testimonials from their previous employers. 

Find out about what type of projects the company has done, how skilled and punctual the plumbers were with completing tasks, and whether the jobs stayed true to the original estimates. 

It also helps to research the plumbing company online to find out if they are legitimate and well-reputed through sites such as the Better Business Bureau. 

Insurance & Licensing

It is essential to ask any commercial plumbing contractor or company to show the appropriate licensing, permits, and codes required to conduct large-scale plumbing projects in your township, city, or municipality. 

To operate as a commercial plumbing company in Los Alamitos, CA, for example, you have to be bonded and require multiple licenses including c36, c42, and c34 classification licenses. 

These licenses allow contractors to work not just on the property but also underneath the sidewalk and beyond. 

Without the proper licensing, it is illegal for plumbers to take on residential or commercial plumbing tasks. This can not only get them in trouble but you as well!

Click here to learn more about the permits, submittals, and building safety standards needed to perform commercial and industrial plumbing jobs in Los Alamitos, California.

Regardless of whether it is an emergency or not, you must first ensure that the contractor you are leaning towards has the credibility, paperwork, track record, and expertise to deal with the issue at hand efficiently and effectively.

Only once you are completely satisfied with their skills, education, training, background, cost estimation, and paperwork, should you give them the green light to work for you.

FAQs

Q) How much do commercial plumbers make?

A commercial plumber’s salary can range from $36,000 to $82,000 annually. The hourly rate for commercial plumbers in the US is between $25/hr to $75/hr. Specialized commercial plumbers can easily make upwards of $100,000 a year. 

Q) When should you call an emergency commercial plumber?

In instances where the main water line has burst or is leaking, and for some reason turning the shutoff valve isn’t stopping the water from flowing you should call in an emergency commercial plumber to deal with the issue right away. The other instance would be in the case of a natural gas leak. 

Q) How much do emergency commercial plumbing services cost?

Many types of commercial plumbing jobs can vary greatly in terms of scope and scale. As such, there isn’t a definitive answer to this question. However, you can expect to pay more if you want the plumber to visit right away or during holidays or off hours. How much more depends solely on the urgency and timing of your plumbing emergency.

Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Plumbing Services – All Service Plumbers!

The bottom line – emergency plumbing situations do not always require emergency commercial plumbing solutions. 

It is important to understand that given your plumbing problem, emergency or not, it is likely that a residential plumber or local maintenance person could fix the issue.

Most plumbing issues tend to be small and don’t require the need for specialized or large-scale commercial plumbing services. 

However, some companies have the framework to deal with both residential and commercial plumbing jobs. 

We at All Service Plumbing, for example, offer a wide range of residential, commercial, and industrial plumbing services all over Southern California. We also offer 24/7 emergency services! 

For clients facing plumbing emergencies call us now at (888) 300 9648 or contact us for more information, bookings, and estimates.

Here is a list of all the areas we operate in!

• Orange
• Newport Beach
• Cerritos
• Anaheim
• Long Beach
• Bellflower
• Tustin
• Santa Fe Springs
• West Covina
• San Marino
• El Monte
• Aliso Viejo
• Brea
• Buena Park
• Capistrano Beach
• Corona Del Mar
• Costa Mesa
• Cypress
• Dana Point
• Foothill Ranch
• Fountain Valley
• Fullerton
• Garden Grove
• Huntington Beach
• Irvine
• La Habra
• La Palma
• Ladera Ranch
• Laguna Beach
• Laguna Hills
• Laguna Niguel
• Laguna Woods
• Lake Forest
• Los Alamitos
• Midway City
• Mission Viejo
• Placentia
• Rancho Santa Margarita
• San Clemente
• San Juan Capistrano
• Santa Ana
• Seal Beach
• Silverado
• Stanton
• Sunset Beach
• Surfside
• Trabuco Canyon
• Villa Park
• Westminster
• Yorba Linda
• Alhambra
• Altadena
• Arcadia
• Artesia
• Azusa
• Baldwin Park
• Bell Gardens
• Beverly Hills
• Burbank
• Calabasas
• Canoga Park
• Canyon Country
• Carson
• Chatsworth
• Claremont
• Compton
• Culver City
• Diamond Bar
• Downey
• Duarte
• El Segundo
• Encino
• Gardena
• Glendale
• Glendora
• Granada Hills
• Hacienda Heights
• Harbor City
• Hawaiian Gardens
• Hawthorne
• Hermosa Beach
• Huntington Park
• Inglewood
• La Canada Flintridge
• La Crescenta
• La Mirada
• La Puente
• La Verne
• Lakewood
• Lancaster
• Lawndale
• Lomita
• Los Angeles
• Lynwood
• Malibu
• Manhattan Beach
• Marina Del Rey
• Maywood
• Mission Hills
• Monrovia
• Montebello
• Monterey Park
• Montrose
• Newhall
• North Hills
• North Hollywood
• Northridge
• Norwalk
• Pacific Palisades
• Pacoima
• Palos Verdes Peninsula
• Panorama City
• Paramount
• Pasadena
• Pico Rivera
• Playa Del Rey
• Playa Vista
• Pomona
• Porter Ranch
• Rancho Palos Verdes
• Redondo Beach
• Reseda
• Rosemead
• Rowland Heights
• San Dimas
• San Fernando
• San Gabriel
• San Pedro
• Santa Clarita
• Santa Monica
• Sherman Oaks
• Sierra Madre
• Signal Hill
• South El Monte