When it comes to kitchen renovations, taking care of the plumbing and electrical aspects of the space tends to be the most complicated. To be frank, this is where a lot of DIYers get stumped.
If you’re wondering how to carefully plan the plumbing and electrical in your kitchen renovation, this guide is meant for you.
Consider All Necessary Plumbing Fixtures
Before delving into the plumbing part of your kitchen renovation, stop to think about what you truly need. Plan for hookups to the main sink, dishwasher, and refrigerator.
Other plumbing fixtures to keep in mind might include a pot filler, ice maker water line, water filtration system, and instant hot water system.
Plan Beyond Just General Lighting
Many homeowners forget to implement other types of lighting in their kitchen beyond general lighting. This being said, it’s important to plan the electrical part of your kitchen’s renovation around the incorporation of a variety of illumination, such as:
- Task lighting: Pendant lights, recessed lights, or lighting under cabinets designed to provide ample illumination over common workstations like the kitchen island or the stove
- Accent lighting: Spotlights or LED strips designed to intentionally highlight certain aspects of the kitchen, such as artwork or architectural features
- Decorative lighting: Light fixtures, like chandeliers or unique pendant lights, with a wow factor. These are decorative in themselves, but can also be functional in adding more lighting to a kitchen
Map Out Your Layout
Planning out both your plumbing and electrical needs is important. Visually mapping out the layout of your kitchen with all aspects – from water supply lines and gas lines to general outlets and outlets – can help you get a better idea of what you’re going for and ultimately what is necessary.
During this process, expect there to be multiple changes. You’ll need to reference building codes to ensure compliance. You may also need to make plan changes to improve the safety, efficiency, space, and flow of your kitchen.
Avoid These Common Plumbing & Electrical Mistakes
Plumbing and electrical might seem straightforward, but there’s certainly more to it than people might realize. However, with knowledge, one can avoid a plethora of mistakes.
Common DIY plumbing mistakes include using incorrectly sized pipes, not properly venting the sink drains, forgetting to install shut-off valves, and not properly aligning the sink drain.
Electrical mistakes common in kitchen DIYs include not installing enough outlets, having inadequate circuit capacity, ignoring GFCI requirements, and avoiding local codes or permits.
Hire Licensed Professionals
The plumbing and electrical components of a kitchen renovation can be complicated, no doubt. From ensuring proper placement and installation to making sure everything is up to code, there’s a lot involved in just this part of a kitchen renovation alone.
When in doubt, always leave the work to a professional. At Build BLVD, we have crew members who specialize in both plumbing and electrical. We’ll help navigate the complex plumbing and wiring for you while working efficiently and up to code.
Contact our construction company today for more information about our services.
