Plumbing Tips for Home Renovation

Your home renovation project may include some plumbing work, and you are wondering how to proceed. To help alleviate your worries, below are valuable plumbing tips to assist you while renovating your home. 

Evaluate the Layout of Your Home

The first thing to do while planning a home renovation is to go through your home’s original plan and layout. Evaluate your home’s heating and plumbing layout to understand the areas that require changes. Measure every parameter to have a complete understanding of the needed changes. Examine your floor plan to determine whether sufficient space exists to execute the budget. Avoid revising the entire plumbing footprint or layout because it will cost you more money. Changing the main drain pipes, supply lines, and big-item plumbing lines, like sewer pipes and vent stacks, can take a significant chunk of your renovation budget. 

Ensure you retain the items in their original positions, including plumbing controls, dishwashers, showers, sinks, toilets, and other plumbing fixtures. Replace and upgrade outdated piping. While this might cost you money, it saves you money in the long run by preventing possible damages arising from wear and tear. Evaluate your heating systems as well. Heating systems such as flexible heaters are becoming popular because they provide different benefits, including accuracy, durability, and reliability.

Obtain the Necessary Permits

One of the first things you need to do before installing a plumbing system during home renovations is to obtain and secure the necessary permits. You may wonder why you need a permit to renovate your apartment’s plumbing system. Most states in the U.S. require homeowners to secure a permit if they intend to change their home’s plumbing system. That is to ensure that the plumbing systems you intend to install are safe for the occupants of the building and the community at large. While the process can be long, obtaining the needed permits ensures that your home meets the safety requirements and code guidelines. 

The permits also enable experts to evaluate and examine any issues in your plumbing design to avoid possible pipe malfunctions in the future. Therefore, consult with your local authorities before commencing your plumbing renovations. 

Have a Budget

While it is normal to feel excited about renovating your home, having a clear understanding of your total expenditure is vital. Plumbing can be financially demanding, especially when you need to change or replace entire plumbing layouts or appliances. Therefore, you need to set aside the required funds by having a budget. You must take out time to create a holistic budget to avoid financial difficulties like overspending. Your plumbing budget gives you a realistic estimate of the sum needed to complete your renovation and how to source those funds. Itemize each plumbing need and the resulting costs for executing it. Avoid leaving costs undecided until mid-way through renovation. 

Additionally, it is essential to have a contingency budget to cater to unforeseen expenses. During your renovation, you should also include minor fittings or fixtures, like silicone rubber flexible heaters. The contingency budget will cater to such expenses. 

Centralize Your Plumbing System

While installing your plumbing system, installing everything in one location is important for easier repairs and maintenance. Some appliances you can install together are a furnace, water softener, sewer connection, water heater, sump pump, and sewage ejector pit. These appliances are best installed together in the basement since it is the best location to keep them to avoid having an eyesore. You can install them in a utility closet or on the main floor if your apartment doesn’t have a basement.

Note Down the Spaces That Water Access

While planning the layout system for your plumbing, it is best to list the rooms requiring water access. The major areas that require the most consideration include the following:

Kitchen 

You need to consider the appliances required in the kitchen while planning the layout. You will need water lines for your sink, refrigerator, and dishwasher. If you intend to install a sink later, you may need to add a kitchen island to your plumbing plan. 

Bathroom

Determine the number and type of bathrooms you intend to have in your home. Will you have a Jacuzzi? A bathtub? Or a shower? Consider each item separately to enable you to decide on the necessary luxuries to purchase.

Laundry Area

The laundry bay is just as crucial as the kitchen and bathrooms. The area requires proper plumbing work for easy usage. Adding proper drainage lines to prevent water buildup each time you wash your clothes is also important. 

Apart from these three key areas, you should also make adequate plumbing provisions if you want an outdoor tub, pool, or garden. Ensure you have a layout for everything, including the ones you do not require. 

Install Water Softeners

If you live in an area with hard water challenges, installing water softeners will be ideal for your apartment. A water softener is a filtration system designed to eliminate hardness-causing magnesium and calcium minerals present in the water through a process known as ion exchange. It is especially important considering the devastating effects of hard water, such as the building up of scales in pipes, clogs, and falling water pressure. Scales lower the lifespan of appliances such as ice machines, coffee makers, and dishwashers. Therefore, having a water softener while renovating your home is imperative. With over 80% of Americans relying on hard water for their cleaning, bathing, and cooking, it is essential to install a water softener even if you do not presently require it. 

Plumbing works are central to every renovation plan. However, they could be daunting to carry out by yourself, and as such, you need professionals with the right expertise and skills required for quality plumbing work. Thankfully, we have over 20 years of experience in home renovation services, including kitchen, bathroom, and apartment renovation. We offer our services to the five boroughs of New York City and Bergen County, in New Jersey. Contact us today for a free quote!