Bathroom remodel plumbing questions, answered

Call before demolition. The plumber can check the drains and vents, tell you what the layout allows and price the work before you order a vanity or shower base. That order matters. A drain in the wrong spot or a valve that doesn’t match your trim is cheap to fix on paper and expensive to fix after tile.

The plumbing itself usually takes 2 to 4 days, split between a rough-in visit and a trim-out visit. The whole remodel typically takes 3 to 6 weeks. Most of that time goes to demolition, tile, drywall and glass, plus waiting for inspections. Order fixtures early, since a late vanity or shower base can hold up the trim-out visit.

Usually not, if the new toilet goes back on the same drain. Like-for-like swaps of toilets, faucets and vanities generally don’t need one. Moving a toilet, adding a shower or building a new bathroom does need a plumbing permit and an inspection. Rules vary by city and township, so your plumber confirms what your address requires.

Michigan lets homeowners do plumbing work on the single-family home they own and live in, with a permit where one is required. Everyone else doing the work needs a license. Many homeowners hire out the drain, vent and valve rough-in, then do finish work like the vanity and faucet themselves. That split keeps the hardest-to-fix work in a pro’s hands.

A flood test is a leak check for a tiled shower. The drain is plugged and the waterproofed pan is filled with water, commonly for about 24 hours, before any tile goes on. If the water level holds, the pan is watertight. Some inspectors require the test and set their own timing. It’s the cheapest insurance in a shower remodel.

An anti-scald valve is a shower valve that keeps the water temperature steady when pressure changes, like when someone flushes a toilet. A pressure-balance valve reacts to pressure swings. A thermostatic valve holds a set temperature and can feed several outlets. Both protect against sudden bursts of hot water, which matters most for children and older adults.

According to the EPA, toilets use nearly 30 percent of a home’s indoor water. A WaterSense toilet uses 1.28 gallons per flush or less, compared with the 1.6-gallon federal limit and up to 6 gallons for some old toilets. A WaterSense showerhead uses 2.0 gallons per minute or less, compared with the standard 2.5.

Usually yes. If the sewer line leaves the house below the basement floor, a toilet and shower can drain by gravity, often into a rough-in left by the builder. If the sewer exits higher, a sewage ejector pit or an up-flush system pumps waste up. See basement bathroom plumbing for costs and options.

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