DIY plumbing is one of those household jobs you can try on your own, but unless you have the experience, you’ll usually end up calling in a plumber. One of those jobs is installing a piping system in your home.
Whether you’re upgrading your plumbing for safety reasons or to make the home more personalized to your tastes, keep these 5 things in mind.
1. You Have to Follow Local Code Ordinances
Before you make any major changes, like a piping system, you will need to either call a plumbing company for code help or head to your local government coding office with a plan. You may need a permit or there could be requirements you weren’t aware of when you designed your dream system. Keeping your home up to code helps it pass inspection if you decide to sell or take out a second mortgage. Not confident about what you’re doing? To be on the safe side and ensure you’re not wasting a lot of money and effort, use professional plumbers.
2. Go Water-Efficient
The focus on eco-friendly products not only reduces your carbon footprint, but it saves you a lot of money in utility and water bills, too. As you’re upgrading your fixtures, look for the WaterSense logo. These are products that are approved by the EPA as water-friendly. They use less water when they’re working while still giving you the same or better results. WaterSense plumbing fixtures are a smart investment when you’re installing a piping system. Your plumbing will run more efficiently, and you’ll get a better return on your investment over time.
3. Choose the Right Materials for Your Home
Pipe materials come in different varieties. Older homes often used obsolete materials like galvanized steel or cast iron DWV. Now, new pipes usually are made of copper or PEX. Finned copper tubing has been tested and approved as more durable and longer-lasting. Consider the area and climate you’re in as you decide what type of pipe material to use. You’ll need something flexible if you live in a climate with extreme temperatures to keep the pipes from freezing and bursting.
4. Invest in Maintenance
Homeowners who renovate their plumbing systems often forget the importance of keeping up with it. Like your roof requires inspections annually, your plumbing should be checked out regularly, too. You can do your part to keep your piping system in good shape by avoiding pouring oil-based products, coffee grounds, and other things down the drain or using harmful drain cleaners. Only flush acceptable toilet paper down the toilet; anything else can get clogged in the pipes. Work with a plumbing company to have your system inspected once every two years. If it’s a new home or you just bought it, you’ll want to do this more frequently until you know the system is working well.
5. Have a Plumber On Call
So you still want to do the piping system yourself? That’s fine! We highly suggest you find a plumbing company that you can trust and feel comfortable with to be on call. You may have questions as you go, or there could be an emergency situation you end up faced with. Not all plumbing companies offer emergency services. Find a plumber who is taking new clients and has on-call emergency hours, and talk to them. If you like them, store them on your phone for later!
