5 Things You Need to Do When Planning Your Plumbing


 

If you are planning on building a new home, you’ll want to hire a trusted Pittsburgh plumbing service for help

Building a new home is a major project that often has many unforeseen roadblocks. To avoid these roadblocks, you need to do a lot of planning ahead of time. This is especially true when it comes to installing new plumbing. Plumbing installation can be complicated — and potentially disastrous — if it isn't done correctly. Many people who are building on new property are not plumbing experts, which is why you should first consult with a Pittsburgh plumbing service before you take any major steps. After you've hired a skilled plumber, it's time to get started preparing your new home for plumbing installation.

  1. Consider your Overall Plumbing Layout

Consult with a Pittsburgh plumbing service help design your new plumbing system

When you’re planning your plumbing, its best to think about the big picture before getting into specifics.

Before you start any construction, or even planning, you first need to take note of your plumbing priorities for your new home. When you’re planning your plumbing system, the first thing you should take into account is location. You need to decide where your plumbing, sewer, and drain lines will be installed so they can fit with your new home and property. A good list of plumbing priorities includes any present or future plumbing needs you will have. After all, it is always easier to make changes to a design than it is to make changes to an already existing plumbing system.

This is also a good time to plan for the climate in your area. In Pittsburgh, plumbing often is at risk of freezing when the temperature drops for several days at a time. If you live in a cold region like the northeast or midwest, you should talk to your plumber about installing sturdy, freeze-resistant pipes.

  1. Secure Permits

When you secure your permits, you are allowing for safe inspection from a Pittsburgh plumbing service

Securing permits is one of the most important steps in constructing your new home.

After you’ve listed your plumbing priorities and come up with a preliminary design for your new home, it's time to secure your permits. Permits are important to ensure that your plumbing meets all important guidelines. Getting the right permits not only means that your plumbing will be up to code, it also ensures safety for yourself and your family in your new home.

  1. Determine Which Rooms In Your Home Need Plumbing

As you consider what fixtures you’ll need in your new home, make a list to keep track of your plumbing preferences


Envision your kitchen appliances before you start plumbing installation.

When you are planning your new home, you should make a list of your plumbing needs by room. When you present your requests to a skilled plumber, they’ll be able to design your plumbing around your needs. So let’s discuss some common homeowner priorities, starting with the kitchen:

Kitchen

For your kitchen plumbing, you’re going to want to start with the basics. You’ll need a water line to your refrigerator, sink, and dishwasher at minimum. If you have any plans to expand your kitchen — like adding a secondary sink — you should install a line in preparation.

Bathroom

Just like kitchen appliances, you want to plan for any current or future bathroom appliances. To cover the basics, each bathroom will need a line for the toilet, sink, and shower/tub combo. However, if you intend to install a jacuzzi tub,  several showerheads, or other bathroom modifications, you’ll want to write those down too. 

Laundry

Though laundry may not seem as important as your kitchen and bathroom, improperly installed laundry connections can become a major headache down the road. It is super important to plan for washer and dryer connections as well as your drainage line. An improperly placed drainage line can lead to water buildup over time, which is likely to cause damage to your home.

Outdoor

If you intend to have any sort of pool, hot tub, or sprinkler system installed outside your home, now is the time to plan for it. When a future project is already built into your current home build, you can save a lot of money down the line. Pools and hot tubs are already expensive, so you won’t want to also pay to alter your plumbing system only a few years after moving in.

  1. Plan Your Plumbing System For Easy Maintenance

When you’re designing your plumbing system, it’s easiest to have all essential appliances in one place

Consolidating your plumbing appliances makes repairs much easier for technicians.

It is inevitable that you will have to have your plumbing serviced at one point in the future. While this is hopefully not for a while after you've moved in, it is still important to consider how a technician will maintain your plumbing system. For this reason, you should consolidate your appliances into one area of your home. The appliances you should plan to have installed in the same area are your:

  • Water Softener

  • Sump Pump

  • Water Heater

  • Furnace

  • Sewer Connection

Most homes will install these appliances in the basement. If your new home doesn’t include a basement, you can always install them together in a utility closet on the ground floor.

5. Prioritize an Easy to Find Emergency Shut Off Valve

Though it may be tempting to place your shut off valve out of the way, you’ll want to prioritize easy access

Knowing where your water main shutoff valve is located is always a major asset in case of emergency.

Though we never want to think about plumbing leaks or burst pipes, they happen more often than you think. Because of these issues happening so frequently, many regret putting their water main shut off valve in a hard to reach area. So, to avoid searching for your shut off valve during a plumbing emergency, you should plan to install your shut off valve somewhere that you can easily locate. 

Now that you’ve planned some of the most important aspects of your plumbing, it's time to hire a Pittsburgh plumbing service to turn your plan into a reality. Remember to always plan ahead to avoid costly repairs and modifications down the line.

Recommended Posts:

Back