4 Plumbing Upgrades for Your New Home That Require Professional Services

What are the top plumbing services new homeowners need to schedule? If your home's plumbing system needs an upgrade (or a few), take a look at the top residential services to consider.

New Bathroom Fixtures

A brand new bathroom could break your home improvement budget. According to data from the National Kitchen and Bath Association, Americans are on track to spend a collective $162.4 billion on kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects in 2023. If you used the bulk of your savings for a down payment on your new home, a total bathroom renovation is out of the question. But this doesn't mean you can't make a few high-impact upgrades.

Instead of a demolition and rebuild type of project, swap out all or some of the old bathroom fixtures for new ones. This adds a fresh shine to the space—without the major expense of a total redo.

Not only can a new shower head, bathroom sink faucet, bathtub faucet, or toilet change the face of the space, these plumbing fixes can save you money. Older or leaky fixtures waste water, which means you're washing hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the bathroom drain every year. A professional plumber can look for leaks and replace these worn, damaged, or inefficient bathroom fixtures.

New Kitchen Fixtures

Again, kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects cost Americans hundreds of billions of dollars annually. If you aren't ready to add to the money U.S. homeowners spend on kitchen projects, a simple sink fixture swap-out can cut your renovation expenses. Like bathroom fixture replacement, a new kitchen sink faucet can help to change the room's aesthetics and may help you to save money on water bills.

A New Water Heater

How old is the existing water heater in your new home? A conventional tank type of water heater has a 6- to 12-year lifespan and on-demand tankless models can last for at least one decade, according to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors. These are lifetime averages and may vary depending on the quality of the water heater, use, and maintenance.

If the water heater in your home is well past its expected lifespan, in poor condition, doesn't heat the water effectively, can't handle your household's hot water use, or you want to switch to a different type of water heater—from conventional to tankless or vice versa—you will need plumbing services from a professional.

Water heaters may seem like simple appliances. But failure to install a water heater correctly could lead to pipe damage, appliance damage, high utility bills, or cause a serious home hazard. Conventional water heaters require extensive knowledge of home plumbing systems and natural gas line installation/use. A tankless model has electrical installation needs that a novice DIYer can't navigate safely. This means you will also need help from a professional plumber for this type of water heater.

Drain Clog Maintenance

How well do the drains flow in your new home? If the water drains slowly from the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, or bathtub, you need to call a plumber. Clogs can make it difficult to use your sinks, wash dishes, take a bath, or even flush the toilet. While it's tempting to save money on DIY fixes such as chemical drain cleaners or a plunger, a professional has the experience and equipment necessary to find the clog and clear it completely.

Improper use of a drain snake could damage the plumbing system. Likewise, chemical drain cleaners can also cause additional plumbing problems and pose a health risk to you and your household members. Before you plunge, snake, or pour chemicals down a drain, talk to a plumbing contractor.

Do you need help with plumbing upgrades in your new home? Contact Service Star Plumbing for more information.