Among the key differences are:
Size and complexity
The most obvious difference is the size and complexity of the work, which increases in commercial plumbing due to the scale of most commercial premises such as shopping centres, hospitality suites and office complexes. They comprise numerous floors with a multitude of interconnected pipes and different plumbing systems.
Contributing to the complexity is the number of users. Since more people are coming in and out of commercial properties every day, demand and usage are higher, so there is a greater chance of fixtures, pipes and appliances getting worn out.
Specialist situations
All plumbers rely on specialist tools such as pipe wrenches, toilet augers, sink snakes and plungers. However, commercial jobs are larger in scale and require a different skill set.
Variety of problem
Residential plumbers tend to come across variations of the same sort of fundamental issues, while commercial plumbers face a wider variety of plumbing problems.
Working hours
Except for emergencies, most residential plumbers keep regular working hours of 9 am to 5 pm. However, commercial plumbers often work outside these hours because premises managers prefer to schedule repairs and maintenance outside of the typical working day to minimise disruption.
Working with others
Residential plumbers tend to work independently or with a colleague, while commercial plumbers often need to coordinate with engineers, tilers, project managers, strata managers, architects and construction managers.
