Are you planning to add more value to your house during 2021? Thinking of selling and wondering what can help boost your home’s value? Consider plumbing upgrades!
Particularly if you live in an older home, plumbing problems can often be hidden and subtle, leading to unexpected disasters when you least expect them.
Why upgrade your plumbing?
Regardless of whether you’re planning to sell your property or you simply feel it’s time to enjoy an optimised plumbing system and functionality in the kitchen or bathrooms, the right plumbing keeps your home functional and comfortable for the long term.
So how exactly can upgraded plumbing increase your home’s value and make your place a more attractive option to your market?
Increase home efficiency
Efficient homes are not only attractive to potential home buyers but help you save more money in energy costs.
Suppose you’re planning to give your kitchen and bathroom an upgrade. In that case, you are increasing the efficiency of your home by adding new fixtures and appliances that are eco-friendly, and use less water than their older counterparts.
This is an attractive selling point for buyers to enjoy long-term savings!
Improve home functionality
Perhaps a second sink in the master ensuite? A larger sink in the laundry? An outdoor shower to accompany the pool?
No matter what your home looks like, we bet there’s something we can do to improve its functionality in wet rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, or laundry – and even outdoors.
Improve your home’s safety
Domestic plumbing maintenance and plumbing upgrades protect your household in many ways.
The presence of moisture in your home can lead to mould growth that can put your family’s health at risk of allergies and other respiratory diseases.
Mould can easily grow in your home, especially if there are water leaks where bacteria and mould can quickly grow. And this becomes an even bigger problem when this growth is hidden beneath the foundations of your home, thanks to a hidden leak.
Regular plumbing maintenance also ensures we get an in-depth look at your home’s structure, ensuring a concealed water leak is not causing any structural damage.
10 ways to upgrade your home plumbing
Not sure where to start when it comes to plumbing upgrades that improve your home’s value?
Engage a qualified Melbourne plumber to make sure that your plumbing plans are realistic, effective, and brought to life on time and on budget!
These are our top 10 plumbing upgrades to consider…
1. Replace your old plumbing
Of course, this is a pretty generic statement, however we’re talking particularly to those who live in old homes, especially if you’ve also engaged in extensions.
Outdated plumbing materials, such as lead, polybutylene, and galvanised iron pipes may pose health risks, and should be inspected by a professional. We’ll be able to advise you on any risks, and create a plan to replace them.
If you’re in doubt, the best way to know not only what type of pipes work best for you, but to uncover your current scenario, is with the help from a Melbourne plumber who can inspect, repair or replace your old plumbing.
2. Upgrade kitchen and bathroom plumbing fixtures
As with almost anything else in our homes, plumbing fixtures are prone to wear and tear, especially in old houses.
You might be used to old plumbing fixtures, and have come to accept that fiddly tap or frustrating leak, but you should also keep in mind that updating your fixtures is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to boost your home’s value.
We recommend choosing efficient plumbing fixtures such as showerheads and taps that have water-saving features, which leads us to our next point…
3. Choose eco-friendly and energy-efficient fixtures
Known as “green” plumbing or eco-friendly plumbing, this conscious decision to utilise water-saving kitchen, bathroom, and laundry fixtures can easily save water and money compared to older or traditional fixtures.
Such fixtures include:
- Dual-flush toilets
- Low-flow showerheads
- Tankless water heaters
Green plumbing is one of the best ways to conserve water (as well as gas and electricity, too!)
Kill two birds with one stone when you not only replace old fixtures, but choose energy- and water-saving ones, too.
4. Replace your old toilet
You may be stuck on the thought that as long as your old toilet works, then there’s no need to replace it.
However, did you know that replacing your old toilet will save you money and water?
The average toilet lifespan is around 25 years, which, granted, is a long time. However if your toilet is starting to reach this milestone – and particularly if you’re thinking of selling – then you might consider replacing it.
So how do you know if you need to replace your old toilet soon? Watch out for these signs:
- Toilet tank crack
- Leaking toilet
- Constantly running water
- Frequent clogging
- Weak flushing toilet
It’s only a matter of time before a troublesome toilet will lead you to a plumbing disaster!
We can help remove your old toilet and replace it with a new, modern, and efficient one.
5. Add a new toilet
Consider adding a powder room or half bath, should your home’s layout allow. This can be an attractive selling point and is usually an easier process (that requires a smaller footprint) than a new bathroom.
Generally quite compact, a powder room is a clever investment, particularly as home buyers are known to focus on spaces like the kitchen and various bathrooms. If space and budget allows, we’d love to talk to you about how we can incorporate a powder room into your home.
Another great solution is fitting a toilet in your laundry room, again if space permits.
6. Install a dishwasher
Reduce the pile of dishes mounting in the kitchen sink with an efficient dishwasher that will become a much-loved part of your daily routine.
While old appliances usually consume more electricity and water, newer versions of appliances like dishwashers have been created to be more efficient than ever.
Handwashing can waste up to five times as much water than an energy- and water-efficient dishwasher. So think twice before you pick up that scrubbing brush!
7. Install a rainwater tank
You might be tempted to DIY your installation, but what you might not know is that your rainwater tank will need to be connected to your gutters first.
After that, you may also need to connect your rainwater directly to your toilets, sprinklers, and garden taps for better functionality.
DIY installation of your rainwater tank can also mean you miss important compliance rules and building codes. You may also need their help to install new pipes for your rainwater tank.
When working in your home, expert plumbers in Melbourne know the rules, regulations, and local council laws like the back of their hands.
We’ll ensure your system is as safe as it is efficient, including:
- A reliable access flow
- Filter system for clean water that’s free from dirt and insects
- Protection from water overflow
- Suburbs that regulate rainwater tank usage, such as Brighton
8. Choose a tankless water heater
Do you want to save energy using your hot water system? Then go for a tankless water heater!
Tankless systems heat up water on demand, reducing the energy output compared to a tank storage, where high water temperature is maintained.
A tankless system can help you save on energy usage and costs, as it works on demand: it only heats the water you need at the very moment you need it!
There are a lot of benefits that tankless water heaters offer and can bring your home as it:
- Supplies hot water on demand
- Is easy to install
- Is more energy-efficient
- Is suitable for homes with limited space
9. Add outdoor taps
Whether you want to wash the car with a hose attachment or wash off muddy boots after a walk, an outdoor tap makes those cumbersome tasks so much easier!
It’s also great for cleaning items like bins and bikes – things you can’t (and definitely don’t want to) clean inside.
The good thing about outdoor taps is they can be installed in one location, and you can attach a hose to the tap for flexible use.
10. Buy new bathroom appliances and fixtures
The bathroom is an essential part of the home, and like we mentioned above, is one of the rooms most scrutinised by potential buyers.
If renovating is beyond your budget, we suggest starting small: upgrading features is a great yet inexpensive way to instantly reinvigorate your space. Matching tapware and shower fixtures go a long way to making your space look consistent and chic.
You could also look at upgrading lighting (such as a heat light), improving storage, and replacing a small mirror with a larger one.
Even small things like new towels and a toilet paper holder go a long way in making a bathroom look more polished and modern.
Increase the value of your home with the help of Watermaster Plumbing!
Don’t settle using those old pipes, fixtures and old plumbing systems when you can upgrade them into efficient and affordable plumbing solutions with the help of Watermaster Plumbing.
Watermaster is highly committed to providing quality service to any of your domestic and commercial plumbing requirements across Melbourne.
Whether you’re preparing your home to sell or simply feel it’s in need of a bit of a facelift, make sure you’ve got an expert Melbourne plumber on your side.
Our team of local plumbers is there for you: in addition to installations, replacements, and repairs, we also offer emergency services for all types of plumbing issues, including:
- Blocked drains
- Burst pipes
- Gas leaks
- Shower leaks
- Blocked toilets
- Plumbing inspections
Call Watermaster Plumbing on 1300 156 650 or fill in the form to request a quote from us today. Tell us what you’ve got in mind and we’ll be in touch!
