Plumbing is a crucial part of any new construction project. Although it might not be the most exciting, when it’s done the right way it can increase your home’s resale value, make future projects or remodels a more realistic and affordable option, and ultimately save you time and money fixing mistakes. Here are five things to consider when installing the plumbing for new construction.
Laws, Regulations, and Permits
First, before any work begins, you’re going to need a building permit to install your plumbing. In order to get one, you will likely need a plumbing diagram that details where all the pipes will go. The inspector will look at this to ensure the proposed work is safe before approving your permit. Requirements will change depending on your location, so make sure to check permit guidelines for your specific area.
Placement of Plumbing Fixtures
We highly recommend placing your water heater and furnace on the lowest level of your home. In ideal cases, this would be in the basement so that if there were a malfunction of any kind and water were to leak out of the appliances, you wouldn’t have to worry about what might get damaged underneath it. However, if there isn’t a basement in your home, don’t worry! The main floor of the house works as well. If you can, place these in a separate utility area to limit any damage.
We also recommend putting all appliances in the same corner or area of the chosen floor. This would include appliances such as the water heater, water softener, the main water shut-off valve, the sewer connection, etc. This makes it easier to manage in case there are any issues down the line.
Placement of Multiple Bathrooms
Another thing to be aware of is where to place your bathrooms. One of the biggest plumbing items installed in residential projects are plumbing stacks that link your fixtures to vent, water, and drain lines. Houses usually only have one or two stacks, depending on the size. They are expensive in both material and labor, and the investment will increase the further away they are from your fixtures, so it’s best to consolidate and have your bathrooms stem from one stack if you can. The best way to do this is to place bathrooms on different floors on top of each other in the design for the home or have them share a wall if you have two on the same level.
Think Ahead
When building a new home, it’s not always within budget to install multiple bathrooms or fixtures such as water softeners right away. If you think there’s a chance you might want to add to your current plan at a later date, it will save you a lot of time and money to prepare the plumbing from the beginning. For example, if you think you might want a bathroom in the basement at a later time, you should consider having the plumbing prepared for a future remodel. The same applies to water softeners. If you think you might want to install one down the line, you should ask your plumber to install the plumbing connections for it now instead of later.
Plumbing Timeline and Coordination
When planning a new construction project, the final thing we want you to bear in mind is the overall timeline of the build and how plumbing fits into the bigger picture. First, it’s important to coordinate with other construction teams so there aren’t any unnecessary delays. The timeline is important when it comes to the installation of larger fixtures because items like tubs and showers typically need to be installed before the doorways and walls are framed, whereas smaller fixtures such as toilets and sinks can easily be installed afterward.
As you can see, there’s a lot that goes into installing plumbing for new construction. Our professionals at Kegonsa Plumbing aren’t your average plumbers. We’ve had over a decade of experience in project managing new construction and renovation projects and know exactly what needs to be done and when. If you’re thinking about building a new home and have questions about the process, feel free to reach out to our team.