The difference between residential and commercial plumbing is always a hot topic for debate—after all, pipes are pipes, right? Well, not exactly.

While it's true that commercial and residential work do share certain attributes, there are key elements that set these work environments apart for plumbers.

In this post, we look at some of those elements, as well as the distinct challenges plumbers face in residential versus commercial settings. Here are six differences between these two plumber career paths.

Pre-apprenticeship plumber students hard at work at Herzing College in Toronto 

Updated November 2022

Thinking about becoming a plumber and looking into pre-apprenticeship programs? Like most skilled tradespeople right now, plumbers are in demand—so it’s a smart career choice. 

Updated January 2023

No doubt, you've heard that demand for skilled tradespeople is on the rise in Canada. If you're thinking about a career change, or looking for a path to follow after high school, trades training makes a lot of sense.

But which trade?

There is a long list of occupations to choose from—everything from carpenter, welder, and auto mechanic, to steamfitter, powerline technician, brick and stone mason...and, of course, plumber!

Here's our list of very good reasons why plumber training is a smart career move and an excellent investment in your future.

A plumber diagnoses the source of a leaky pipe (image courtesy of Ocean Yamaha)

Considering plumber training and wondering what kinds of problems you'll face on a day-to-day  basis?

Home and commercial building owners often wait till the last minute to seek professional plumbing help. When you get there, you will often encounter ill-fated attempts at DIY fixes and neglected issues that have multiplied into messy and expensive jobs.

And of course, you will get called in to fix those pesky little plumbing problems we all face from time to time—the routine water and drainage issues that derail our routines and totally disrupt our lives.

This post looks at three such problems and how you can expect to handle them after finishing plumbing training.

Updated October 2022

Effective problem-solving in plumbing means having the right tools on hand and knowing which ones are best suited to each challenge. A pipe may have just burst and the house or office is rapidly filling with water—but a good plumber doesn't panic. He or she knows exactly which tools to reach for first.

Plumbing tools vary depending on the work environment (residential, commercial, industrial), but there are definitely some standard go-tos you'll use on a regular basis after becoming a plumber. Here are our top five.