Kitchen renovations are exciting, but they’re also a lot of work and a bit overwhelming. Before you can even worry about having new cabinets, counter tops, appliances, and fixtures put into your kitchen, you need to focus on your kitchen plumbing. It’s almost certain that there are going to be some necessary plumbing modifications and enhancements that you should make before having the rest of the kitchen remodel completed, so take some time to consider those changes and have your plumber put them into place. Below are the most common plumbing considerations and changes necessary for a kitchen renovation.
Consider What Needs Moving
While going over ideas for your new kitchen, you should make note of which fixtures you’re going to move from one location to another. This is a very serious concern because you’ll likely have to reroute plumbing and electricity to make these changes work out alright. Take some time, make notes and figure out exactly what changes are necessary and what aren’t. Talk with the professional that’s responsible for your remodel and work out what plumbing changes are necessary, so you can relay this information to the plumber. If you’re working with a general contractor, he can make sure that all the necessary changes are made aware to the plumber so that they can be made before the other projects are under way.
Reroute the Plumbing
Now that you know where all of your fixtures are going to go throughout the kitchen, it’s time to get them all rerouted. Have a plumber come into your home and move around all the plumbing to its final destination to meet the needs of your remodel plan. This may take some time and effort, but it will all be worthwhile when your kitchen is ready to go for the remodelers.
Add Shutoffs
Your sink, your refrigerator and your dishwasher should all have shutoffs. At the very least you want a water shutoff that cuts water going to all of these appliances in your home. This gives you more control over your plumbing and helps ensure that you can easily respond to a leak. Ask your plumber about adding in some shutoffs when getting your new plumbing all ready for the remodel.
Switch to Modern Plumbing
One excellent investment that you can make when remodeling your kitchen is to upgrade to a modern plumbing option like PVC if you have older style iron pipes running through your home. By upgrading you’ll make maintaining your plumbing easier and you’ll also make it easier to reroute plumbing if you want your sink or your appliances in a different location than they’re currently in.
Add in Additional Plumbing
Many kitchen remodels add in additional fixtures and requirements that weren’t originally there. If you decide to get the fridge with the ice maker, you’ll need a water supply line to run to it. If you decide to add in a dishwasher or a garbage disposal, you’ll need to modify your plumbing to meet those needs. These are important considerations that you have to make, so sit down and talk with your plumber to make sure all the necessary plumbing is being put in place for every enhancement that you’ll be making to the kitchen.
It takes time and consideration to get a kitchen remodel right, and plumbing should be one of the key concerns on most homeowners’ minds. Without proper plumbing, a kitchen remodel will ultimately fail. So, before you begin tearing out cabinets and flooring, contact us at 815-515-4062 to request a complimentary consultation.
