Commercial Plumbing in Anchorage, Alaska: The Ultimate Guide
Most of us understand on a basic level what a plumber does. We at least know when we need to call one — when water is outside of the pipe when it’s supposed to be inside.
Those of us who have owned homes have almost certainly hired a plumber. The handy and ambitious among us may have even tried our own hands at basic plumbing fixes, or even complex plumbing tasks. Probably with mixed results.
Commercial plumbing is a different ball game altogether, at least compared to the kind of plumbing issues we may have encountered in our homes. Anchorage commercial property owners need to understand the difference, so they know what to look for in Anchorage commercial plumbing services — and what to expect when they work with an Anchorage commercial plumbing company.
What Is Commercial Plumbing?
Commercial plumbing refers to the plumbing fixtures and systems found in commercial buildings and properties. This may include, but is not limited to:
Inbound plumbing — pipes and pumping systems that bring water into the building.
Outbound wastewater plumbing/sewer/septic system — plumbing that removes wastewater and sewage from the building.
Interior plumbing — pipes that transfer water and other fluids within the building.
Fire system — sprinklers and fire retardant lines triggered by emergency conditions.
Furnaces, boilers, chillers, and water heaters — fixtures that heat water, or use hot water or cold water to regulate machine or environmental conditions.
Fuel gas plumbing — the pipes that receive and dispense fuel gas from the gas utility.
How is Commercial Plumbing Different from Residential Plumbing?
The short answer to that question is that commercial plumbing is far more complex. Home plumbing systems are relatively simple, with only a few points of inflow and outflow and a few appliances or outlets that tend to be used lightly. In fact, home plumbing systems tend to be designed with the DIY homeowner in mind — most homeowners can easily learn to do simple plumbing fixes themselves.
With commercial plumbing, DIY is out of the question. The stakes are too high, the systems too sprawling and interconnected. Consider the following factors a commercial plumber must contend with:
Multiple Stories
Plumbing is relatively simple when you only have one, maybe two, or three stories to work with. When you start getting into the scales of midrise and highrise commercial buildings, things get a lot more difficult.
Consider the simple fact that water is susceptible to gravity, just like any other fluid. Think of how deep-sea divers wear specialized suits to keep from getting crushed by the massive weight of the water above them.
Now imagine the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest skyscraper in the world at 2,722 feet. It uses almost 250,000 gallons of water per day across its 163 stories.
Imagine if the plumbing system tried to push the water from the ground all the way to floor 163 through one vertical pipe. That column of water would weigh 280 tons and almost certainly break the system.
Midrise and highrise plumbing systems need to be segmented and partitioned to distribute water throughout the building efficiently. Only commercial plumbers know how to install and maintain these kinds of plumbing systems.
Interconnectedness
The complexity of these plumbing systems means that a plumbing problem somewhere in the building will probably have repercussions across the entire system.
Think of what would happen if a water pump breaks at your home. It probably won’t have any effect on the plumbing of your next-door neighbor’s property.
But a broken pump or sink in one wing or floor of a commercial building could disrupt the plumbing of kitchens, bathrooms, and industrial plumbing fixtures throughout the building — even up to the point of affecting the tenants or owners of other units.
Heavy Usage
Commercial plumbing fixtures tend to get heavy usage. Your home toilet probably gets used a half-dozen times a day … but imagine the public restroom at an airport, nightclub, or busy shopping mall, where one person after another after another puts a whole wall of toilets through its paces.
Commercial plumbers need to know how to use durable commercial plumbing materials and commercial plumbing supplies to their best effect so the commercial plumbing fixtures and infrastructure can withstand long-term use.
Industrial-Grade Systems
Residential fixtures, appliances, and piping usually don’t cut it with commercial plumbing. You need industrial-grade products to handle the kind of volume, complexity, and durability it takes to supply a commercial building with water, gas, and wastewater removal capacity over time in a cost-effective manner.
These materials aren’t just more complex — they are also heavier and harder to work with. Handling them usually requires entire teams with specialized knowledge in commercial plumbing equipment.
Greater Potential Damage
Residential plumbing problems can be a nightmare in terms of damage and cost to repair … but that impact looks like sweet dreams when compared to the catastrophe that can follow in the wake of a commercial plumbing emergency.
A pipe breaking on one floor could affect every floor across multiple units. Water pouring out of a broken sink or toilet could pool on the floor and breakthrough into a downstairs unit, requiring a gut renovation of both floors.
With commercial plumbing, the stakes are very high.
Standards of Maintenance
Because the cost of failure is so catastrophic, a lot is riding on the proper maintenance of these systems. Frankly, residential systems are more forgiving of inattentive maintenance; commercial plumbing systems punish neglect harshly.
Commercial building owners put their asset and their net worth at severe risk if they don’t commit to a comprehensive program of preventative maintenance and routine inspections. We discuss what that entails below.
Regulatory Compliance
In addition to requiring high standards of maintenance, some commercial plumbing systems face high standards of regulatory compliance — regulations that residential plumbers need not concern themselves with.
In particular, restaurants and hospitals must comply with stringent health code standards to remain operational. Commercial plumbing companies must be prepared to help their clients validate compliance with those standards.
System Efficiency
Plumbing systems don’t just extract wastewater from the building — they extract money from the building owner’s bank account. Like every major system, plumbing is an ongoing source of operating expenses. It’s just a fact of life.
But proper installation, operation, and maintenance of the plumbing system can reduce the volume of plumbing expenses considerably. This includes lower water utility bills, lower gas, and electric utility bills, prolonging the life of equipment and fixtures, and nipping problems in the bud before they balloon into costly repairs or replacements.
What Types of Buildings Need Commercial Plumbing Services?
Nearly every property that is classified as “commercial” property will require the services of a commercial plumber to install and maintain their pipes and fixtures. This includes, but is not limited to:
Office Buildings.
Retail Strips and Malls.
Hotels.
Restaurants.
Hospitals.
Schools, Universities, and Museums.
Government Buildings.
Larger Apartment Complexes and Condominium Complexes.
Apartment and condo complexes may be “residential” (usually zoned as “residential multifamily”) but midrise and highrise complexes are complicated enough that they require industrial-grade fixtures and appliances. The same rules that apply to large office towers apply to them.
Commercial Plumbing Routine Maintenance
As mentioned above, commercial building owners must pay scrupulous attention to routine maintenance of their plumbing systems to avoid costly failures and interruptions of business. The program should include:
Preventative Maintenance
Preventative maintenance essentially amounts to maintenance when nothing catastrophic has gone wrong. The system seems to be working fine … but hidden problems might be brewing. A commercial plumber should inspect your system from top to bottom to identify plumbing issues while they are small and easier to fix.
Especially when much of the plumbing system is concealed or hidden from view, it needs to be looked at at least annually — preferably quarterly — to catch slow leaks, broken pumps, cracked pipes, and blockages. These defects drain money and sometimes balloon into expensive repairs.
Routine Tests and Checkups
To comply with regulations, you may need to perform routine checks and tests on your systems to validate that compliance — for example, hydraulic tests or toxicity tests. The commercial plumbing company you use for these inspections must be qualified to validate the completion of those tests.
Specialized Inspection
Depending on the nature of your commercial plumbing system, you might need regular inspections by specialized plumbers — fuel gas plumbers, sewer/septic plumbers, etc. A qualified commercial plumber should be able to tell you which systems on the premises require a specialist.
What Does It Take to Become a Commercial Plumber?
A commercial plumber is much more than just a handyman. It requires specialized training, usually over a period of years, to become a qualified commercial plumber. The steps to become a certified commercial plumber in Alaska are as follows:
Complete 125 hours of schoolwork or 1,000 hours of apprenticeship fieldwork (or 500 hours of schoolwork/4,000 hours of fieldwork for gas plumbers).
Apply for a plumbing utility license or plumbing gas license from the Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing.
To become a journeyman plumber (authorized to supervise other plumbers), the candidate must complete 1,000 hours of schoolwork or 8,000 hours of fieldwork. Then they can apply for the journeyman plumber license.
Commercial Plumbing Supplies and Tools
While commercial plumbers use many of the same tools as residential plumbers — pipe wrenches, drain snakes, plungers, toilet augers, etc. — commercial plumbing usually requires a more extensive arsenal of tools and supplies. Examples include:
Tile saw.
Industrial wet vacuum cleaner.
Industrial dry vacuum cleaner.
Motorized drain snake.
Drain inspection camera.
Soldering iron.
Hydro-jet cleaner.
Commercial Plumbing Specializations
Many commercial plumbers are generalists, but some commercial plumbing installations and maintenance tasks require a specialist. A commercial plumbing firm may employ these specialists, but some may have to refer out. Specialties to be aware of include:
Potable plumbers - plumbers who work with systems of drinkable water.
Pipefitters and steamfitters - plumbers who maintain the piping of industrial equipment used to heat and cool machinery.
Pipelayers - plumbers who install the pipes for storm drainage and wastewater removal.
Sewage and septic system plumbers - plumbers who install and maintain sewer and septic systems.
Fuel gas plumbers - plumbers who install and maintain the plumbing that carries fuel gas for burners and furnaces.
What to Look For in a Commercial Plumbing Company
Because commercial plumbing is so important, building owners shouldn’t just trust any old plumber. During the selection process, look for the following qualifications:
Licensed, Bonded, and Insured. Don’t scrimp on qualifications and risk management. Look up the plumber’s license number to make sure it is valid and current. Reputable commercial plumbers also purchase surety bonds and insurance to protect themselves and the customer in the event of an adverse incident. This reduces the risk for both of you.
Experience and Track Record. Make sure the plumber you select is not primarily trained in residential plumbing. Go with a plumber that has a proven track record of commercial work. Look up testimonials on sites like Google, Facebook, or Yelp, and ask for references if need be.
Specializations. Make sure the plumber or plumbing firm you hire has the relevant specialties you need. For example, if you need someone to work on gas lines or septic systems, make sure they are qualified to do that kind of work and have a solid track record.
Hours of Operation. Plumbing maintenance can precipitate costly interruptions of business. Your building may be uninhabitable during repairs and upkeep. Residential plumbers can usually keep regular business hours, but to avoid shutting down over routine plumbing maintenance, look for a commercial plumber accustomed to doing work after business hours.
Questions about commercial plumbing in Anchorage? Click here to schedule an appointment to discuss your requirements, or call us today.
