Q: I would like a bathroom in my basement, but my house is older and doesn’t have plumbing for it, what should I do?

A: Having a bathroom in your basement can be very convenient and can add value to your property, however, when it comes to adding plumbing fixtures to your home there are several very important factors that need to be considered.

First of all, if your house does not have plumbing roughed in for a basement bathroom, you need to have a licensed plumber come in to evaluate whether or not the other plumbing pipes are large enough to allow for this added demand. In most cases this is not a problem.

Secondly, we need to consider the condition and location of the existing pipes to see if they can be used for the new bathroom. This can be done using a sewer camera and locating system that most plumbers should have available. If the pipes are in a suitable location and condition, your plumber should then be able to quote you a price for the installation. However, occasionally the cost associated with unearthing and renovating existing underground plumbing is not a viable option for our clients.

In these cases we can use state of the art products designed to pump waste water from sinks, showers and even toilets to an existing above ground drain pipe using small unobtrusive pipes. These systems in themselves can be quite costly, but they allow you to install a bathroom in virtually any home and in almost any location in a home. We have even seen bathrooms installed in old closets with very minimal damage caused to existing walls and ceilings.

Lastly, the most important consideration is that all local plumbing codes and guidelines are followed, and that your plumber has permits pulled for this work. If you have a question about your home’s plumbing system and the possibility of a bathroom renovation or installation please call the Always plumbing 24-hr service line at 489 - 8118 and speak with one of our qualified technicians. Pre-planning and an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.