Everything You Need to Know About Industrial Plumbing Systems

industrial plumbing systems

There are various types of plumbing services in Canada that plumbing contractors provide for residential and commercial facilities. The primary ones are commercial plumbing, residential plumbing, and industrial plumbing systems. Each plumbing system requires unique services and knowledge to maintain and work efficiently. Additionally, every plumbing system is used for a particular purpose and application. This article primarily focuses on industrial plumbing systems, and by the end, you will learn everything you need to know about these plumbing systems.

What are Industrial Plumbing Systems?

Industrial plumbing systems are created to connect commercial buildings or other areas of a business with a water supply. Industrial plumbing services refer to installing, maintaining, and repairing these systems.

Industrial plumbing systems also refer to pipes and lines transporting wastewater away from an industrial facility.

Industrial and commercial plumbers in Canada are trained to install fixtures and plumbing equipment to distribute water and waste within the facility.

Industrial plumbers in Canada are responsible for installing equipment that is mainly used for different industries, including:

  • Food
  • Healthcare
  • Chemical Manufacturers

In industrial plumbing systems, water is filtered, heated, pumped, and travels through the piping lines to tap around the facility. Wastewater from an industrial building is treated before it is transported away from the facility.

The water and wastewater pipes in the industrial plumbing systems are made from metal or plastic such as PVC.

Industrial plumbing also involves pipes and lines that carry different gasses or steam for the cooling or heating system of the building. These gas pipes are also made from metal or PVC.

Professional industrial plumbers in Canada have the education, experience, and license to offer industrial plumbing services. However, you can quickly learn commercial plumbing basics if you want to become a plumber.

industrial plumbing services and systems

Standard and Common Types of Industrial Plumbing Services in Canada

The most common service for industrial plumbing systems is installing and repairing water pipes, gas lines, and vents. Industrial plumbing services also include using fittings to construct fixtures such as showers or sinks. These fixtures are not referred to as toilets since they belong to a different trade.

Industrial plumbers may sometimes have to install small appliances such as toasters and coffee makers in commercial spaces since these appliances require specialized piping for the operation, which belongs to the industrial plumbing systems. However, their primary duty is to install large equipment such as air handlers or compressors for heating systems of new buildings or business areas that already exist.

Professional and experienced industrial plumbers also work with pipe threading and cutting for large-scale applications. Pipe cutting is an industrial fabrication that involves shearing or sawing sections of metal or plastic pipes to adjust their length or diameter. Threading is a process that is done to adjust the size of the hole in the draining pipes.

Cost of Industrial Plumbing Applications in Canada

Plumbers in Canada charge per hour for their work, and the cost will vary depending on the type of plumbing service you require, your building’s location, and the time it takes them to complete the project. Additionally, their experience level will affect the cost.

For instance, it is expected that you will have to pay more for a complex project such as adding plumbing fixtures than you would for a simple application such as replacing water in your faucet. If you need cost estimation for your plumbing services in Canada, contact O Plus Plumbing.

Industrial Plumbing Systems vs. Commercial Plumbing

Industrial plumbing systems differ from commercial ones since they are constructed with different requirements and characteristics. For example, industrial plumbers install equipment that is mainly used in industries such as healthcare and chemical manufacturers, and the commercial plumbers are responsible for installing equipment such as toilets, sinks, faucets, and other commercial plumbing fixtures.

Industrial plumbing systems are generally more complex than commercial ones. The walls of the commercial piping lines are thinner depending on the material that is used, and they usually require additional insulation since most commercial facilities are indoors. Heat is available to keep water from freezing in cold winters in these facilities.

The pipework used in industrial plumbing systems accommodates and withstands high quantities of water and pressure due to its larger diameter. As told, commercial pipelines are thinner, and accessing them is easier compared to industrial plumbing systems.

Best Water-Efficient Faucets for Home Plumbing System – 3 Types You Should Know

water-efficient faucets

Are you looking to upgrade your residential plumbing system to a more environmentally friendly home? Water-efficient faucets for home plumbing systems can help you decrease wasted water amount and save money.

The average Canadian family of four generally uses about 300 gallons of water daily. So, you can install water-efficient faucets and save 20% on your water usage, which equates to about $200 saving annually.

There are various water-saving faucets available that you can choose and buy for your home. So, it could be a challenging task for you to do without any background. This complete guide to water-efficient faucets will help you choose the best product for your home. We also recommend you know the best residential plumbing fixtures before going further to understand better what you will use for your bathrooms and kitchen.

touchless water-efficient faucets

What are Water-Efficient Faucets?

According to regulations and codes, the standard flow rate of a faucet for a home plumbing system is 2.2 GPM. A tap that can deliver a 30% lower flow rate is considered a water-efficient product.

With this said, water-saving faucets for home plumbing systems have a flow rate of 1.5 GPM. If everyone improves their home plumbing with efficient products, it will save billions of gallons of water annually. So, it is better to benefit from professional plumbing services and use efficient fixtures or faucets.

Top Water-Saving Faucets

So now you want to upgrade your home’s faucets to ones that conserve water. There is a list of water-efficient faucets that we have provided for you, and you can use any of these for your home.

Touchless Water-Efficient Faucets

Touchless water-efficient faucets have sensors that you can use to turn the water on and off. These plumbing fixtures allow the user to use only the amount of water needed.

You can turn the water faucet on and off by waving your hand over the sensor. This makes it easier to turn the water off while lathering your hands up to help economize water usage.

Additionally, you will not have to touch the faucet with wet and soapy hands. Additionally, modern water-saving waters with touchless technology allow users to control their water usage for daily use.

Metering Faucets

The metering faucets that are used for commercial plumbing and residential plumbing fixtures allow you to set a predetermined amount of water flow whenever you turn the water on.

These modern water-efficient faucets can reduce the water usage of a building by more than 30% annually per faucet. You adjust and control the water flow rate from 0.5 to 2.2 GPM with metering faucets.

Water-Saving Faucets With Low-Flow Aerators

Low-flow or tap aerator is an essential residential plumbing accessory installed at the mouth of the faucet. The primary function of these plumbing products is to reduce the amount of water flow.

Low-flow water-saving faucets save water while offering standard water pressure and easy installation.

After installing low-flow aerators, you will slow the water rate up to 1.5 GPM. You can pair these products with other water-efficient faucets and make your saving continue to increase.

water-saving faucets

Advantages of Water-Efficient Faucets for Residential Plumbing Systems

As evident from the name, water-efficient bathroom and kitchen faucets are mainly used for reducing water usage each time you turn on and off the sink.

Water-Efficient Faucets are Environmentally Friendly

According to scientific statistics, every industrial city in the world will experience a water shortage in the next ten years. So, when homeowners install water-efficient faucets, they combat the effects of global warming.

Water-Saving Fixtures are Cost-Effective

You can reduce your water bill by using water-saving faucets. Additionally, you can turn a commercial building into an eco-friendly building with these simple plumbing fixtures.

Increase Your Property Value with Water-Efficient Faucets and Fixtures

Any upgrades in your home that will improve its efficiency will increase its value. So, if you decrease the amount of wastewater by installing water-saving faucets, you will add value to your home.

Hire a Residential Plumber to Help You Choose and Install Your Faucets

Although installing and using water-saving faucets is not so complicated, it is better to let the professionals handle the job. Additionally, when you contact professional plumbing contractors, in addition to helping you choose water-efficient faucets and installing them, they will also inspect for other residential plumbing issues and solve them to make your plumbing system run smoothly and efficiently.

Best Residential Boiler Maintenance Guide for You

If your home has a boiler room, you should know its type and learn how a forced air boiler differs from a steam heat boiler. Each system will affect the energy efficiency of your facility. Besides that, you should know how the residential boiler maintenance process works if you want your home plumbing system to function efficiently.

Nowadays, most modern houses and facilities have different types of boilers that heat water and distribute warm air, steam, or hot water to heat the building. If your residential plumbing system has boiler heating, you will want to ensure it is in good condition before the cold seasons arrive.

As professional plumbers in Canada, we want to get you ready by touching on each type of system and provide residential boiler maintenance tips to help you keep the plumbing system running efficiently throughout the year.

Generally, a residential boiler heats water that moves either steam or water through pipelines to keep your house warm and comfortable via radiators.

Steam and Water Heating Systems in Residential Boiler Rooms

Before getting to the residential boiler maintenance process, you should know the steam and water heating systems and their functionality. Radiators and boiler systems are not generally installed in new homes; however, traditional heating systems are still used in old houses, apartments, and older office facilities.

Steam Residential Boiler System

In the steam residential boiler system, the boiler heats water with burning gas or fuel and turns the water into steam. The generated steam travels through pipelines to convertors or radiators. After the steam is cooled, it condenses back into the water, and the plumbing system returns it to the boiler to be heated.

Hot Water Boiler System

The hot water residential boiler system operates on the same principle as the steam boiler. This system pumps the hot water through the procedure for heating the radiators. Other variations of hot water boiler systems distribute hot water and heat through baseboard units in the walls. The modern systems are radiant in-floor heating systems that go through tubing embedded in the floor.

Advantages of Steam and Hot Water Residential Boilers

Even though hot water and steam residential boiler maintenance and usage are dated, they have some benefits that you need to know:

  • Fewer moving parts
  • Durable and reliable
  • Clean and dust-free heat
  • Maintain the ambiance and appearance of old buildings

Disadvantages of Steam and Hot Water Boilers

  • Uneven and inefficient heat distribution
  • Require diligent gas residential boiler maintenance
  • Expensive installation
  • Accessibility problems
  • Issues with furniture placement

Forced Air Boiler System for Homes

The forced air boiler is another standard system that requires knowledge and residential boiler maintenance. This home boiler heating system heats water and sends it to a hydronic coil similar to the refrigerant coil in your air conditioning system.

As the hydronic coil gets heated, a blower allocates warm air through ductwork through your home or office building, and the water goes back to the boiler for being reheated.

Advantages of Forced Air Home Boilers

  • Circulating air in the system can be humidified, dehumidified, and filtered as desired.
  • Modern air force boilers are more efficient than the old residential boilers.

Disadvantages of Forced Air Residential Boilers

  • Forced air boilers require ductwork.
  • You need space in your home wall’s structure.
  • Ducts must be heated before the system can heat the building.
  • Moving air can cause allergens and dust.

Standard vs. High-Efficiency Home Boiler Replacement

Nowadays, building regulations require that new residential boilers display their AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating. High-efficiency systems that require precise residential boiler maintenance are more expensive since a house must be retrofitted to handle the plumbing system. However, it will decrease your energy bills cost.

With this said, it is better to purchase and use high-energy efficient boiler systems for your home.

Residential Boiler Maintenance Process

Regardless of the differences between the systems above, precise residential boiler maintenance is required for keeping your plumbing system efficient.

Although you can maintain your system with basic residential plumbing skills, it is better to call a plumber to check your boiler once a year.

Before calling a professional for your system, there are things you can do for your residential boiler maintenance.

Residential Boiler Maintenance Checklist

  • If your boiler doesn’t heat the way it should, you can bleed them by placing a protective cloth on the floor and using a radiator key to open the valve. Close the valve after the hissing sound stops, and the water flow starts.
  • Blocked air vents can prevent your residential boiler from efficient functionality. Thus, check the flues and air vents, and if you detect any blockage, clear it to allow the air to flow freely.
  • You should check the water level in your boiler; and if the water is below the manufacturer’s suggested number, check for any plumbing leaks. If there are leaks, you should repair them ASAP.
  • If the overflow pipe of the boiler has leakage, you should hire a plumber to replace it.
  • It would be best if you allowed your boiler to breathe by clearing the system’s area from boxes, bags, and other equipment.
  • Check if your boiler’s flame has a blue color. If it is yellow or orange, call a professional.