Temecula is mostly homes. The city's owner-occupied rate is 68%, and most houses were built between 1980 and 2009. But the valley also has a large commercial side: Old Town restaurants, close to 50 wineries in the Temecula Valley AVA, the Promenade mall area, and medical and office buildings along the I-15 corridor. The plumbing work is different in each.
Side-by-side
| Residential | Commercial | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical systems | 1/2 to 3/4 inch supply, 3 to 4 inch lateral | Larger supply and drain lines, multiple risers |
| Fixtures | Standard tank toilets, residential faucets | Flushometers, sensor faucets, floor sinks |
| Water heating | 40 to 50 gal tank or tankless | Large or multiple heaters, booster heaters |
| Grease | Kitchen sink buildup | Grease interceptors, regulated discharges |
| Backflow | Usually irrigation PVB | Fire, irrigation, process lines, often RP |
| Scheduling | During the day | Before open, after close, overnight |
| Paperwork | Invoice, permit | Test reports, logs, landlord documentation |
What homeowners need most
Water heaters, slab leak repair, fixture repairs and pressure regulators. See residential plumbing.
What businesses need most
- Restaurants: grease line jetting and interceptor service, booster heaters, floor drains.
- Wineries and tasting rooms: restroom fixtures for weekend crowds, irrigation backflow, long service lines on large parcels.
- Offices and retail: restroom repairs, water heaters, leak detection, tenant improvement plumbing.
See commercial plumbing.
Regulation differs too
Commercial food service and industrial discharges are regulated by EMWD's source control program. Backflow assemblies on commercial properties fall under the water supplier's cross-connection control program, now guided by the State Water Board's Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook. Homes face fewer of these requirements, though water heater replacements, repipes and gas work still need permits.
Can one plumber do both?
Yes, if they are set up for it: commercial fixture parts, jetting equipment, certified backflow testing and willingness to work off-hours.