How plumbing factors into your new home build guide, House plumber maintenance tips, Property drainage advice

How Plumbing Factors Into Your New Home Build

26 October 2022

Building a brand new home is an exciting time. However, it can also be complicated and stressful when it comes to the design and being able to incorporate everything you want and need into your new home build. There is a lot to consider and one of the most important parts of building a house is the plumbing system and fittings. This article is going to be taking a closer look at how plumbing factors into a new home build and some things to think about and be mindful of.

Finding the Right Plumber

One of the first steps is to locate the right plumbing company, one you can trust and rely on for the plumbing installation in your new home. If you don’t already have a plumber in mind, a good starting point can be to ask for personal recommendations from others, or go online and research plumbers in your area.

A good way to find a plumber is by thinking about how they go about generating new plumbing leads. For example, many plumbers will use keywords like “plumbers in *location*” to ensure they’re easy to find on search engines. Use similar keywords to locate the right professional.

Some things you’ll want to know are:

How long has the plumber been in business?
Does the company perform residential plumbing work on new homes?

Do they offer a free consultation and free quote?
Does the plumber have a good reputation?
Are they available to work on your home during the proposed time frame?

Start searching for a plumber to lock in well in advance. Don’t wait until construction is about to begin on your new home to source a good plumber.

Think About Your Plumbing Needs

While hunting for the right plumber, also put some thought into your plumbing needs. This includes things like the location of baths, showers, basins and so on, as well as the types of fixtures you want and whether you want low flow taps and shower heads installed to conserve water. Also, in which rooms of the home will you require water access? Typically these will be the kitchen, bathrooms and the laundry but sometimes people wish to have a hand basin installed in the bedrooms for convenience.

Apart from the home’s interior, consider the yard as well. How many taps will you need outside and where would you want them to be located? If you live near the beach or plan to have a swimming pool, you might even want a simple outdoor shower installed, where people can rinse off before coming inside. If you need professional plumbing assistance, contact Inner City Plumbing.

Work Out Your Plumbing Budget

In the beginning, this will largely be an approximation at best. It will be hard to determine the real cost until your plumber has organised a quote based on your overall plumbing requirements and the fittings you select. However, it’s still wise to work out a rough estimate beforehand so you have some idea of what the plumbing phase of your new home build is likely to cost you.

Once you’ve come up with a budget or have a firm quote in hand, always factor in some extra “unexpected” costs, as these are bound to come up somewhere along the line.

Get the Plumber Involved During the Planning Stage

A lot of planning goes into designing a new home to be built and this includes the home’s plumbing system. While an architect will handle the majority of the planning based on your specifications and desires, it’s wise to get your plumber involved in what you propose, as they will have suggestions based on their experience.

At this stage, you can also let the plumber know what type of fixtures you want, or have them advise you on some practical and attractive choices.

The hot water system is an important consideration. You won’t want one that’s too small or even too large for your needs and the location of the system within or outside the home can also be important.

The more your plumber is involved during the planning phase, the better the results will be once your new home is built. Your plumber will also be able to more accurately plan their job schedule as they work on your home.

There is also the subject of building permits and this is something your plumber or builder will likely handle.

Will Your Home Have Gas As Well?

Many modern homes incorporate gas into the picture, as gas appliances and hot water systems are far more cost-effective to run than electric ones. If you plan to have gas in your home, you will need to either find a plumbing company that also does gasfitting, or find a gasfitting specialist to organise and install the gas pipe network and the gas appliances.

Not all plumbers are qualified and experienced gasfitters but as plumbing and gasfitting tend to go hand in hand, a lot of plumbers are qualified gasfitters as well. For convenience, it would be best to find a plumbing company that also handles gasfitting.

Septic Or Sewer?

While the majority of homes in urban areas will connect to the town’s sewerage system, sometimes there is the need for a septic system instead, if your new home build is taking place in a more rural or less populated area.

If a septic system is the only or best option, you’ll need to know what size septic tank you’ll need and be aware of what varieties of modern septic systems are available and how they function.

Plumbing Maintenance

Something else to consider after your new home is built and you’re ready to move in is plumbing maintenance. Although your plumbing system, the pipes and fittings, are brand new, things suffer wear and tear over time and sometimes parts and materials can have defects.

It’s wise to schedule regular plumbing maintenance with your plumber, where they perform periodic inspections to ascertain that all is well and functioning as it was designed. Also, early detection of a potential problem can save money and major headaches down the track. Regular plumbing inspections and maintenance are a good way to stay on top of things and will also give you peace of mind.

How plumbing factors into your new home build – Takeaway

A new home build takes careful planning and the home’s plumbing system is a vital aspect of your new home. Think about your requirements and find the best plumber to handle the project. This way, you will ensure your new home is your dream home.

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