Plumbing Tips for a Smoother Home Renovation
There’s a lot to think about when you’re remodeling a home—paint colors, flooring, cabinets, light fixtures. Plumbing? That’s usually one of the last things people consider… until something goes wrong.
If you’re getting ready to take on a renovation, especially one that involves bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry areas, you’ll want to have a game plan for the plumbing side of things. Here’s what you should know before the demo starts.
Start With the Boring Stuff (Trust Us)
Yeah, we get it—talking about building codes isn’t exactly exciting. But depending on where you live, there might be rules about pipe sizing, drain slopes, water heater placement, or even what type of valves you’re allowed to use. Don’t skip this part. A quick call to your plumber (or even the county office) can save you time, money, and a headache later.
Leave Some Wiggle Room in the Budget
You know how it goes: open up a wall and suddenly you’re dealing with an old pipe that’s corroded or patched with duct tape. It happens all the time. Set aside a bit of your renovation budget for plumbing surprises, especially if your house is more than 20 years old. It’s better to be prepared than to be stuck with no hot water and a busted schedule.
Don’t Get Too Fancy With the Layout Without Talking to a Plumber First
Want to move the toilet across the room? Add a second sink? Relocate the water heater? It might look great on paper, but plumbing isn’t always as simple as dragging a fixture icon around in your design app. Some changes are easy. Others require rerouting everything, which adds up fast. Always run layout ideas by someone who knows what’s behind your walls.
Check the Health of Your Existing Pipes
This is your shot to deal with hidden plumbing issues before they become big ones. Ask a plumber to do a quick inspection. You might find pipes that are undersized, leaking, or made of materials that are no longer up to code. If you’re already tearing things open, you might as well fix it now rather than five years from now during another project.
Take the Opportunity to Upgrade
Swapping out old fixtures during a remodel is usually a no-brainer. Low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets, tankless water heaters—they’ll save you water and money in the long run. Bonus: newer fixtures tend to just look and work better.
Watch Out for Drainage Issues
Adding a shower or laundry setup in a new location? Make sure the drain lines are properly sloped and vented. Poor drainage can lead to slow drains, weird smells, and clogs you don’t want to deal with. Your plumber should double-check this during the rough-in.
Talk to Everyone Working on the Project
Here’s the truth: plumbers, electricians, HVAC folks, and general contractors don’t always communicate as much as they should. If you’re managing the remodel yourself, make sure everyone’s on the same page. That simple extra step can prevent delays, double work, and a lot of finger-pointing.
Prepare for a Little Inconvenience
You might lose access to water or hot water for a day or two, depending on the scope of the job. Plan ahead. Stock up on bottled water. Let the family know. Maybe even book a hotel for a night if it’s a big job. It’s better than getting surprised mid-shampoo.
Protect What’s Staying
Not everything in your home is getting replaced, and the last thing you want is construction dust or a rogue hammer cracking a perfectly good sink or faucet. Cover up what’s staying. Tape it off. Bubble wrap it if you have to. You’ll thank yourself later.
Renovations Are Messy. Stay Flexible.
Even with the best plans and the best crew, things don’t always go smoothly. Supplies get delayed. Pipes are in weird places. Sometimes, things just take longer than expected. Stay patient, ask questions, and work with people you trust.
Need Backup? That’s What We’re Here For.
At My Georgia Plumber, we’ve helped homeowners all over North Georgia tackle everything from bathroom upgrades to full-house gut jobs. We’ll help you plan your plumbing layout, troubleshoot old systems, and make sure the final product works as good as it looks.
Thinking about a remodel? Give us a call at 770-592-0081. We’ll help you get ahead of the plumbing side of things—before it turns into a problem.
