Whether you’re having a major renovation or building a new home, it’s important to know the structure of your plumbing system. The blueprint provides all the details on water lines, drain pipes, and plumbing fixtures. Now, if you can’t find your plumbing plans, you can reach out to the experts to help you locate them.
What is a Plumbing Plan
Before anything else, let us first learn what a plumbing plan is and how it works for the benefit of new homeowners. A plumbing plan or drainage plan is the original layout of a property which includes the drains and other water lines. It indicates where the foul water and surface water drains are located.
Moreover, the plan may also include other drains such as storage areas and wastewater tanks. The following are some of the most common inclusions in a plumbing plan:
- Main water supply, sprinkler control, and other valves.
- Depth, construction, and location details of soakaway drains.
- Storage areas for wastes, products, and raw materials.
- Onsite wastewater treatment plants.
- Location of drain covers, spill kits, and other emergency equipment.
- Unmade ground and other sensitive areas.
- Springs, boreholes, and watercourses near or on the land site.
- Capacity indication for bunded areas.
- Discharge points on or from the land site.
In other words, the plumbing plans for homes indicate the entire water and drain system underneath the property. They are important for locating where exactly the pipes, drains, and other fixtures involved in your plumbing system.
Ways to Find Your Plumbing Plans
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If you don’t know where to start, the following are some helpful tips to locate your plumbing plans:
- Visit your local building office. Most towns keep records of building schematics for homeowners. However, some only keep the file for a specific period of time. You can go to your building office to check if your plumbing plan is available. Usually, they charge a small fee when releasing this information. If available, plumbing plans are stored either on microfilm or digitally.
- Check with your contractor. If the building office can’t provide you with the information you need, reaching out to your previous contractor is the next option. It’s important to retrieve the contact information of the contractor that performed your plumbing works. They can help you locate your plumbing plans and other important information you need. It’s easier if you have recently received plumbing service, just contact your plumber and ask him about the structure.
- Build a new plan. If there’s no other options to locate your plumbing plans, you can hire an expert plumber to draft the plan for you. If your house has simple plumbing system and layout, it’s easier to create a new plan. On the other hand, if it’s a complex system, you can find a master plumber to do the job. Allow the plumber to access your attic and basement since these areas are most likely to expose your plumbing.
Main public plumbing plans can be accessed through local water suppliers. They are typically referred to as asset location plans that you need to pay before you can obtain them. These plans are also included in the requirements for main sewer connection applications. However, the plumbing plans from local water authorities may only indicate the location of main drains instead of private drainage systems.
Booking an Expert Plumbing Tracing Service
In case you can’t retrieve the plumbing plan of your home, you can still find it through a mapping service. Check your local community for the best recommendations for professional plumbing tracing service providers. This special service will help you survey your property’s plumbing system and determine where the drains and pipes are exactly located.
Having a plumbing plan is important in identifying where each pipe lead and how wastewater leave your home. In addition, this plan is required when applying for an environment permit, planning permission, and consent to emanate into a waterway. If your house is old and there’s no plumbing plan in place, you can update it by having a new layout drafted by a professional.
Wrapping It Up
Having a well-crafted plumbing plan is essential in a new construction as well as in maintaining the waterlines of a property. If you can’t find your plan, mapping services can help you locate it. Find a reliable contractor that can perform a thorough survey to make sure your plumbing system is properly designed. Once you have the blueprint, secure a copy so you won’t have any problems in the future.
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