When remodeling or renovating your home, there are a number of common plumbing mistakes that can cause serious problems in the long run. Throughout your remodeling project, it is important to keep your plumbing needs in mind. With proper planning, you can keep your project on schedule and within your budget. Here’s what to watch out for.
Not Measuring Accurately
Many home remodeling projects include new appliances. In some cases, this can result in the need for additional piping to reach appliances with different configurations or in new locations.
If your measurements aren’t exactly right, you could end up with pipes that are too short or too long for the correct placement. This can result in added labor and extra costs for your project. During the planning process, take care to check and double-check your measurements to ensure everything is accurate.
Unsafe Material Dumping
Renovating and remodeling create a lot of debris, from drywall dust to wood shavings to hardware. To save time, it can sometimes be tempting to flush these materials down the toilet or simply sweep them down floor drains. This is one of the most common plumbing mistakes and can result in major damage to your plumbing system.
Dust and other debris can clog your pipes, and bits of hardware, rocks, and other solid items can cause cracks or breaks. Make sure that you and any contractors are disposing of all waste properly to minimize the risk of plumbing damage.
Choosing the Wrong Pipes
If the pipes you choose are not the correct size, you may have difficulty matching them to your existing pipes. The same goes for any new plumbing fixtures.
Forcing ill-fitting pipes to connect can result in leaks, which can cause costly water damage. As with measuring for appliances, take the time to measure any pipes and fixtures beforehand to ensure you have the correct new pipes and fittings to ensure tight seals.
Not Considering Future Access
Another one of the most common plumbing mistakes is laying flooring over all of your pipes. While this may seem to make your remodeling project easier, it can cause future headaches. When you or your plumber need to gain access to your pipes for repairs, it will be difficult if the flooring is on top of everything. A better plan is to lay the flooring before or at the same time as the plumbing. This way, you’ll be able to ensure there are convenient access points for any future plumbing jobs.
DIY Common Plumbing Mistakes
Many homeowners mistakenly believe that they have the skills to avoid common plumbing mistakes. While this may be true for minor repairs, renovations and remodels are much more complex.
Unless you have significant experience with plumbing, you’ll likely need a professional to handle the more technical tasks safely. It is far better to pay a bit more upfront to work with a professional plumber than to expose your home to the risk of future problems. These will likely cost you more in repairs than you would have paid for an expert plumber in the first place.
Avoid Common Plumbing Mistakes with Forrest Anderson
When you are ready to renovate or remodel your Phoenix home, don’t leave the plumbing to chance. The experienced technicians here at Forrest Anderson know exactly how to avoid the most common plumbing mistakes. We’ll ensure your project goes off without a hitch, saving you both time and money in the long run. We invite you to get in touch with us today to learn more about our plumbing services. We’ll be happy to provide you with a price quote.
Contact Forrest Anderson Today!