At some point, most homeowners will decide to remodel their bathrooms. Whether to replace failing equipment, improve efficiency, or increase aesthetic appeal, you can gain a great deal through a well-considered remodel.
While remodeling any room of the house can be challenging, making changes to your bathroom will require several potentially tricky considerations. Making changes to your plumbing entails careful planning and attention to detail. Considering the following factors will lay the foundation for a successful and enjoyable bathroom plumbing remodeling experience.
Understand Your Current Plumbing Situation
Before you make any changes to your bathroom, you need to do an assessment of your current plumbing situation. Ask yourself questions such as:
- Where do the pipes run in the bathroom? If you are considering completely changing the layout, you’ll need to know whether the pipes currently run through your floors or the walls. Their location will make a big difference in the remodeling process.
- What type of plumbing pipes do I have? In many older homes, the pipes are too narrow to supply enough water to newer types of water fixtures. If this is the case, you may need to have the pipes replaced.
- What condition are the pipes in? If the pipes in your bathroom are starting to wear down, replacing them now will save you a lot of time and money later.
Consideration 1: Optimizing Your Water Pressure
Having low water pressure in your shower can be both frustrating and time-consuming. As you conduct your remodel, you can optimize your water pressure by keeping the following things in mind:
- Showerhead: Current US regulations limit showerheads to a flow of 2.5 gallons per minute (GPM). If you have not remodeled your bathroom since 1994, you might have an old showerhead that allows a greater flow. It is nevertheless possible to get good water pressure from newer showerheads. Just be sure that your showerhead will function well with the other components of your plumbing.
- Leaking or clogged pipes: The water pressure throughout your house may be low if there is a leak somewhere in the plumbing system. Be sure to address these issues while you are remodeling.
- Water pressure regulator: A pressure regulator maintains a safe water pressure range within your home. If this unit is faulty, you may experience unwanted fluctuations in your pressure. Because the regulator is not in the supply line within your home, you will need a plumber’s assistance to address this issue.
Consideration 2: Changing Your Water Heater
Issues with your water heater may also contribute to low pressure. Furthermore, your old heater may be lagging far behind current energy efficiency standards. While remodeling the plumbing of your bathroom, you may want to upgrade your water heater, too.
Central Texas is no stranger to hard water. The minerals in our water can easily lead to a buildup of sediment in water heaters, causing them to require more energy to heat the same amount of water. If you have an older heater with a tank, consider a tankless model.
Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient and take up less space. While they are not impervious to hard water issues, they tend to require far less maintenance than traditional heaters. The investment can save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
Consideration 3: Energy and Water Efficiency
In addition to upgrading your water heater, considering a toilet, faucets, and showerheads with higher efficiency ratings can help you significantly reduce your utility bills.
Consideration 4: Types of Pipes
If it has been a long time since your bathroom’s last remodel, your plumbing pipes might be made of iron or galvanized metal. However, this type of piping does not work well with many new plumbing fixtures, such as low-flow toilets. Upgrading to PVC or PEX pipes is an affordable way to update your bathroom’s functionality.
Consideration 5: Moving the Drain
In any remodeling job where you need to move the drain, you will need to apply for a permit. If you don’t, you will run into issues during a home inspection if you decide to sell your house.
Contact a Trusted Central Texas Professional Plumbing Team
Remodeling a bathroom is a complicated project that leaves little room for error. Trust the professional plumbing contractors at Indigo Home & Facility Services to get the job done right. Our Austin-based team offers competitive pricing for our excellent plumbing service, and we are committed to completing each project to your satisfaction.
Call us now at (512) 608-4999 to book an appointment with one of our experienced professionals.
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