An Overview of Plumbing for Your Next Residential Project
Oct 17, 2023Are you planning to install new plumbing???
Running fresh water supply and drain lines is more difficult than installing fixtures, and knowing all the relevant plumbing codes is crucial. This article outlines the necessary steps to take before beginning a plumbing installation project to ensure its success. From choosing appropriate pipe materials to making access panels for future servicing, each step is crucial to the final outcome. DIY enthusiasts and contractors can follow the plan for installing new plumbing to the letter or modify it to fit their specific project.
From marking the locations of pipes and fixtures on the walls and floors to planning pipe routes as straight, simple paths as possible, there is a wealth of information to aid with a project. Repurposing a laundry chute or running pipes within a closet are tips to make installation a breeze. The article provides options for drilling through wall plates from unfinished attic or basement spaces above or below the wall, and finding “wet walls” where vertical lengths of new pipe can be run along walls that already house existing plumbing pipes. The guide is a step-by-step approach to ensure no detail is missed in planning, from placing control valves where the main distribution pipes meet the new branch supply lines to testing the materials before using solvent glue or soldering joints. You can even use plastic bushings to hold plumbing pipes firmly in openings drilled through wall plates, studs, and joists.