The Role of the Industrial Plumber

Residential Plumber vs. Industrial Plumber

When homeowners have a plumbing problem or need a fixture installed, they call a plumber. Residential plumbers are an important part of society: they keep everything flowing. But what about the plumbing in office buildings, shopping malls, or restaurants? The huge scale of these places requires the work of an industrial plumber.

This article will explain the difference between the types of plumbers, what it takes to become an industrial plumber, and what services they offer.

Beyond Residential Plumbing

Residential plumbers are skilled at repairing the plumbing in people’s houses. The most commonly offered services include drain cleaning, clog repair, repiping, fixture and appliance installation, and gas line services. Thanks to residential plumbers, homeowners have daily access to clean, hot water, and fully functional toilets, sinks, and tubs.

Society benefits from the work of specialty plumbers in ways that are not always obvious. The toilets and sinks in office buildings, movie theatres, shopping malls, factories, and airports are all heavily used and need constant repair and maintenance. Enter the commercial plumber, who understands the complex plumbing system these buildings usually have.

Industrial plumbers install and maintain the heating and cooling systems and sprinkler systems that keep businesses and restaurants comfortable and safe. Even the sewer grates that keep streets from flooding and the water main that delivers water to the home are all maintained by an industrial plumber. Without the help of specialty plumbers, society would devolve into misery and chaos.

What It Takes To Become an Industrial Plumber

The first step to becoming an industrial plumber is to learn the basics of plumbing and receive a certificate from a vocational school, technical school, community college, or online program. This can take one to two years. After that, most plumbers begin with an apprenticeship program lasting four to five years, which will pair them with an experienced plumber and provide all the hands-on training they need.

A plumber must be licensed to work on their own. License requirements vary state by state, but all require a specific number of hours in the field and to pass an exam. Two years after becoming a licensed journeyman plumber, plumbers can apply to become a master plumber.

Because of the breadth of knowledge industrial plumbers must have, most are licensed journeymen, and many are master plumbers. It can take up to 10 years to achieve these accreditations. 

Services Offered by Commercial Plumbers

Commercial plumbers are responsible for installing and maintaining the toilets, sinks, drains, and pipes in commercial buildings. They have a special range of tools and skills for these services.

Their services often include:

• Drain cleaning: Commercial drains are susceptible to buildup and clogs from grease, dirt, and waste. Commercial plumbers can provide drain snaking and hydro-jetting for their clients.
• Toilet repair: Commercial toilets suffer heavy wear and tear from being used hundreds of times per day. Commercial plumbers must be able to diagnose problems and repair or replace various toilet parts.
• Sprinkler system maintenance: Building codes require restaurants, theatres, shopping malls, and other gathering places to have a sprinkler system in place in case of fire. These systems must be inspected and maintained annually. Some commercial plumbers specialize in this area.
• Fixture installation: Commercial plumbers must know how to install and maintain fixtures such as drinking fountains, commercial dishwashers, and restaurant stoves and sinks.
• Pipe repair: On rare occasions, commercial water or drain pipe leaks or bursts, and commercial plumbers are called to repair them. Commercial buildings often use heavy grade pipes, so commercial plumbers must have experience working with those materials.

About S&J Plumbing

With over two decades of experience in the industry, S&J Plumbing is the dependable choice for commercial and residential plumbing repair in Arlington Heights, IL, and the surrounding areas. Their technicians are fully licensed and insured and offer 24/7 emergency services. S&J Plumbing is the immediate choice for “plumbing peace of mind.”

• 
  +
• 
  +
• 
  +
• 
  +