Most people think about a kitchen remodel at some point to upgrade their kitchen space. However, a remodeling project as significant as a kitchen involves more than picking out paint colors and knocking out a few cabinets. Significant preparation and planning must go into the placement of appliances that require a water source.

A Word About Kitchen Plumbing

Thanks to modern innovation and improvements in piping and fixtures, plumbing has become easier to install and repair. More difficult tasks such as supplying enough line, venting plumbing, and ensuring that there is enough room for drainpipes should be left to plumbing professionals who can design and lay out a plumbing plan that works for your remodel.

Is It Easy to Move Plumbing When Doing a Remodel?

When it comes to moving plumbing and fixtures during a remodel, the difficulty level depends on the type of appliance you want to move and the distance you will be moving it. If you’re moving something across a room, the job is significantly more detailed and difficult than shifting it to the side a few feet. Additional holes may need to be drilled to gain access to water pipes, but once they are revealed, pipes can be cut, extended, and run nearly anywhere you have wall or cupboard space.

Kitchen Sinks

When moving a kitchen sink, you’ll need to ensure that your drain has an adequate pitch. There should be at least a 1/4 inch of slope per foot for your vent and drainpipe. The installation of the new vent pipe is especially difficult if there are additional floors above the kitchen, so plumbers must craftily conceal the installation of new vent pipes in areas such as cupboards, closets, and pantries.

If a kitchen sink is not properly drained and vented, it will cause drainage issues that may impact other aspects of your plumbing. Having to redo this aspect of a kitchen sink may involve ripping open recently remodeled floors and walls, so make sure care and attention go into this aspect of your design and that you talk over any plans with a plumbing expert before you begin.

Island Sinks

Island sinks are an attractive feature to include in any remodel. The problem with island sinks lies in the venting. Like regular sinks, the island sink drains, and water pipes emerge from the bottom of the cabinet and connect to both the sink and faucet. When venting an island sink, the vent must rise and loop within the cabinet and drop through the floor to connect to a vertical vent. This provides air to the sink system while keeping the sink trap from siphoning.

Another option for island vents is installing an AAV, a valve that is installed high within the cabinet. Air admittance valves do not always keep up with large water volumes, however, so you may have issues with slow drainage.

Dishwashers

Adding new appliances is often part of a kitchen remodel. Though the cost of a new dishwasher may be off-putting when thinking about how to spend your remodeling budget, new appliances can actually save you significantly on energy costs over time. Installing connections to a new dishwasher involves running flexible water and drain hoses through the cabinet underneath the sink, where they connect to a drain fitting on the sink or the garbage disposal. A high loop may also need to be installed to prevent the drain from reverse flowing into the dishwasher.

Ice Makers and Water Dispensers

Many of us take the convenience of on-demand filtered water and ice for granted, failing to realize that proper plumbing plays a role in allowing us to enjoy these conveniences. A plumber has to tap a water line to supply the water dispenser and ice maker no matter if it’s a stand-alone unit or if it’s on your refrigerator.

The use of a saddle valve makes it possible to reroute water to the back of your refrigerator. When moving a refrigerator with a water line, you may only need to replace the amount of flexible pipeline needed to run from the cold water supply to the connection at the back of your appliance. Flexi-piping is available in various diameters and lengths, allowing you to customize the connection to fit your remodeling layout.

Rerouting Plumbing Lines

The average cost of rerouting a single line of plumbing is anywhere from $650 to $1,500, excluding the cost of drywall removal and replacement. The total cost varies based on various factors such as accessibility and line length.

Rerouting Drain Lines

As your plumbing is rerouted, your plumbing professional might use materials such as PVC, galvanized pipes, copper, or even cast iron. The ideal material for your job depends on your current plumbing system, its condition, and your remodeling budget. Rerouting is often a better and more cost-effective option than simply fixing a leak.

Plumbing on a Slab

Rerouting plumbing that is embedded into your home’s foundation or on a slab is significantly more difficult than plumbing found in walls and in cabinets. If your remodel is a significant project, your plumbing professional may suggest that you extract your existing pipes from your home’s foundation or concrete slabs and reroute them along walls or in ceilings. This makes it easier to handle plumbing issues as they come up, saving you significant money on future repairs. In some parts of the country, it is not permitted to embed plumbing in a concrete slab unless a building engineer is involved in the project.

Moving From Floor to Wall

The average cost of moving a plumbing fixture 3 feet or more is between $500 and $1,000, depending on the number of connections that need to be rerouted. It may cost a little more if the plumber needs to drill access holes, repair cabinetry, or rip apart and patch drywall as a new pipe is installed.

Planning Your Remodel

Your new kitchen needs to be functional yet inviting. Before beginning any major remodel, consider your kitchen’s current plumbing layout, whether new plumbing fixtures will need to be installed, and if any cabinets or walls need to be removed to fulfill your plan. Before you finalize anything, it’s important to run your ideas by a plumbing professional.

Whether or not you’ll be moving plumbing fixtures a significant distance, all plumbing and fixtures should be inspected by a certified plumbing professional prior to any demolition. Their trained eye can look for issues such as worn pipes, cracked fittings, and failed compliance with current building codes. If you haven’t upgraded your plumbing and fixtures in a while, expect that some work will need to be done prior to planning your remodel to ensure that new walls and cabinets do not have to be torn into as you create the kitchen of your dreams.

Turning Remodeling Dreams Into Reality

At On Time Experts, we have been doing what it takes to satisfy our customers since 1981. We offer a variety of HVAC and plumbing services regardless of the size and scope of your project, including all furnace and AC installation, repair, and maintenance. Let us turn your kitchen renovation dreams into a reality with the knowledge and expertise of our plumbing professionals. Your home service professionals in Garland and the whole Dallas metro area are ready to offer same-day service and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all our products and services. Call us today for more information!

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