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Remodeling a bathroom can be an exciting experience. From style updates to adding more features, it’s a good way to boost the value of your home and ensure the space fits your family’s needs.
Before you get started, it’s important to talk to your plumber about any changes, updates, or concerns he or she has about your project. You may not realize just how many plumbing-related concerns may exist. Consider a few of these examples:
Moving Fixtures May Mean New Water Lines
If you plan to move fixtures, such as sinks, you’ll need to consider where water lines currently run. Let’s say you want to move the sink to an opposite wall, for example. There may not be a water line or a drainage line present. That means you’ll need to invest in removing the drywall, adding the new lines, and then updating the layout. Your plumber can help you do this. However, you’ll need to plan for it early on in your project.
Drainage Concerns Are Important Factors
From the toilets to the sinks, bathtubs, and showers, there are various points within any bathroom that move water from the drain out of your home. Drainage lines can be complex, depending on the area. Your plumber will work closely with you to determine where these lines currently exist in your home and provide either extensions or new drains that connect into the main system. Drainage lines must be just right. If they are not positioned well, or there’s too much of a bend, material can get caught in them, leading to complex problems.
While sink lines tend to be rather easy to position, those running from toilets are more difficult. Because of sanitation needs, you shouldn’t try to move a toilet from one location to the next without the help of an expert. A small mistake, such as a fitting that isn’t just right, can lead to full removal of the toilet and flooring to access the drain later on. That’s an expensive problem to have.
Drain Size Matters, Too
The right size drain makes a difference. The standard size in most areas is 1.5-inches. That drain is likely to narrow over time. That’s because material like hair will latch onto the sides, narrowing the passageway for water to flow. That means that the 1.5-inch drain could require a bit more attention than a drain that’s slightly larger, say a 2-inch drain.
Installing a slightly larger drain like this will cost a bit more upfront. However, most often, they save you money later. You may need fewer maintenance calls as a result. Talk to your plumber about the benefits of a larger drain for your home’s sinks and shower lines.
Thinking About Tankless Water Heaters?
If you’re remodeling your bathroom, now is the time to think about the advantages of a tankless water heater. Your plumber can offer recommendations on size, make, and model. These systems replace your existing hot water tank. Instead of a large tank that’s filled with cold water, heated, and drawn from when needed, there’s no tank at all. Instead, the water moves through a small box that heats it upon demand. You still have ample hot water, but there’s no need to use energy to constantly keep a tank of water hot.
Tankless water heaters can be an excellent investment, but they take planning. You’ll need to work with your design team and your plumber to ensure they are installed properly. If your current water heater is inefficient or older, now may be a good time to consider the change.
Get Shower Floor Drains Just Right
Many homeowners are investing in tiled flooring for their shower. It looks good and adds value to a home. However, the shower floor drain that goes in the center of it needs to be installed properly. This generally means it needs to be at the right angle to encourage water to drain properly. After a shower, you want all water to move towards the center to drain easily with the flow of gravity. You’ll want to ensure that your plumber, then, handles this floor drain installation whenever possible.
Low-Flow Fixtures
One way to conserve water is to install low-flow fixtures at your sinks and even in your shower. These can be a good investment if installed properly. Work with your plumber to ensure the right style of fixture is selected. You also need to be sure this lower flow of water doesn’t bother you. Some people don’t like it.
The same is true for low-flow toilets. These flush using less water. They can work well, but it is important that you work with your plumbing team to ensure they work well enough to push material out of the toilet bowl and into the drain efficiently. Also, if they have different size configurations, that may mean a different setup for the toilet drain (most are configured to fit the standard drain, though).
If you plan to buy any low-flow fixture, research how they work and how much water they can save. Be sure this is worth the additional cost of these types of systems.
Recessed Toilet Tanks
Another trendy option for bathrooms is the installation of recessed toilet tanks. If your bathroom remodeling project will involve drywall work, consider the value and space-saving benefit of a recessed toilet tank. The tank is hidden in the wall, rather than positioned above or behind the toilet. As a result, there’s a bit more legroom and space in the bathroom. If you’re not doing any drywall work, this feature will add on to your remodeling cost significantly since it needs to be placed in the wall, often between studs.
Also, note that you can recess many of the pipes and fittings under your bathroom cabinetry instead of having them significantly exposed. Work with your plumber to determine if this is an option.
Are You Ready to Consider Your Bathroom Remodel?
Give our team at bluefrog Plumbing +Drain a call and schedule a consultation or to get an estimate for any project you have in mind.