Plumbing is one of the most essential and most used systems in a home. It supplies water for indoor and outdoor use and facilitates the drainage of wastewater from the building. In some homes, plumbing pipes are even used for central heating. Most of the plumbing work done at the construction stage is completed before the plastering process. Thus, once the pipework is in place, altering it can be costly. Therefore, it's essential to plan for the design of your system. Here are some tips to consider during the process.

Plan for your installations

Which plumbing fixtures would you like in your home? Where will they be located? The first step to creating a practical design is outlining your installation. These include:

  • Fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers and bathtubs
  • Laundry room plumbing
  • Hot water system
  • Sewer line and septic tank

Your plumbing contractor will help you design the locations of the various fixtures. Having a clear view of what you want and where you will place it will allow for proper designing of the system for maximum efficiency.

Think about the future

 As aforementioned, most parts of a home's plumbing system are installed out of sight. Thus, it's hard to alter the plumbing for new fixtures and installations in your home. Therefore, before creating the layout, think about your future plumbing needs. Will you need a whole-house water softening system? If so, where will you install it for maximum efficiency? 

Do you intend to install a bore in your home? How will you connect the bore water to the water mains? Are there water pressure issues in your area? Will you need to install a water pump or water tank in the future? Account for all these issues when designing your system. This will help your plumber to create inclusions that will minimise system invasion during future modifications. 

Consider plumbing efficiency

An efficient plumbing system can eliminate water problems and save energy in your home. Therefore, when designing your new plumbing, think of ways to boost efficiency with your plumbing fixtures. For example, research shows that water heating accounts for 23% of the energy used in homes. This figure can be higher if you adopt water heating systems such as the traditional tanked system. However, if you design your plumbing to accommodate modern tankless or hybrid heaters, you can save a lot of money on heating.

If you have a lawn or garden, you can adopt greywater systems to provide irrigation water and increase your home's water efficiency. You need to design your plumbing to redirect water from bathtubs and washers from the main sewer line to the greywater system. Planning for this at the design stage will save you money in the future. You can also improve plumbing efficiency by installing a pressure pump to tackle low pressure.

Plan for pipe placement

Proper piping placement prevents costly mistakes and extends the durability of your system. Thus, determine the placement of the pipes in relation to the indoor plumbing fixtures. Avoid designing piping routes through sharp bends and corners. Ensure you don't have water fixtures all over the house, as this could force you to run plumbing pipes throughout the entire home. This type of installation complicates processes such as leak detection and piping repairs. 

Don't forget outdoor plumbing

Outdoor plumbing is necessary for easy access to water for outdoor uses. You need water to pressure wash your driveway, clean your car, water the lawn and garden and clean tools and machinery. If you have a pool, outdoor plumbing ensures proper water flow at all times. Therefore, factor it into your design as well. Think about the placement of outdoor water spigots, irrigation systems, water pumps, rainwater tanks and other fixtures. Also, remember to account for any future outdoor plumbing systems you plan to install.

The right design can improve the efficiency and performance of your plumbing system. As you plan the installation, consider the above issues! 

Contact a company like Martech Plumbing PTY LTD to learn more.

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