Tips For Having New Plumbing Installed In A Duplex Apartment
If you have an older duplex home, there may come a time when the plumbing becomes too expensive to maintain and you decide to just have it replaced. Re-piping can be expensive, but in the long term, not having your renters call you about leaks and rusty water every couple of weeks is very freeing. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you work with a plumbing contractor to have the house re-plumbed.
Have separate water services installed for each side of the duplex.
Chances are high that the existing plumbing system services both sides of the home. There is one main water pipe that comes into the house, and there are pipes that split off from there, some going to one apartment and some to the other. There are a few limitations to this setup. First, you basically have to include water in the rent since there's no real way to tell how much one renter uses versus the other. Second, if there is a problem with one of the main pipes, you have to turn off the water to both units. The renters on the left probably don't love having to go without water because there was a leak in the right side apartment.
So, when you have the plumbing replaced, ask the contractor to install two separate systems — one for each unit. This way, you have the option of asking each renter to pay their own water bill. Plus, both tenants won't have to go without water whenever there's a plumbing issue.
Make sure the pipes are accessible via a shared or public part of the apartment.
If the duplex has a basement that is accessible without going through either apartment, then ask that the plumber make the new plumbing as accessible as possible from this shared or public space. This way, if there are any problems with the plumbing in the future, you are less likely to have to ask renters for permission to enter their unit to have repairs made. The plumber can come work in the public area when it's convenient for them.
Consider installing water softeners.
While you're having the new systems put in, consider having a water softener put on both sides. This will help reduce the number of issues you have later on. A water softener will keep mineral deposits from building up inside pipes, so you will have fewer complaints of low water pressure. It will also keep deposits out of showerheads and faucet aerators, so you don't need to replace these as often.
If you're having the plumbing replaced in a duplex, the tips above can help you make the most out of that endeavor.
To learn more, contact a resource like Easy Rooter Plumbing.
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