Intro
On most jobs, you learn this fast: The technology is not enough and the tools are available renovation plumbing, but only if you use them right. Apps don’t solder pipes. Cameras don’t fix falls. You still need solid tools, a clean plan, and clear client sign-off. In this guide, we show what to carry, when to use it, and how to blend tech and hand skills. You’ll see step-by-step workflow, numbers that matter, and simple checks that stop leaks and call-backs.
Quick Answer
Technology helps you plan and document, but renovation plumbing still depends on choosing the right tools, setting correct pipe sizes and falls, and testing systems properly. Use smart tech for surveys and sign-offs, then rely on proven tools and steps to build, pressure-test at 3–5 bar, and deliver clean, quiet plumbing.
Table of Contents
Key Takeaways
- Tech won’t fix bad falls or poor joints. Tools and checks will.
- Pressure-test at 3–5 bar for 30–60 minutes before closing walls.
- Maintain 1–2% fall (10–20 mm per metre) on waste runs to avoid blockages.
- Common copper sizes: 15 mm feeds, 22 mm mains/boiler primaries.
- Clear sign-offs reduce call-backs by days and protect your margin.
Why The Technology Is Not Enough In Renovation Plumbing
Tech won’t undo a bad tee or a tight bend. It can’t feel a seized stop tap. Renovation plumbing has old fabric and hidden surprises: odd joists, mixed metals, and paint-filled valves. That’s why The technology is not enough and the tools are available renovation plumbing is a lesson you learn the hard way.
What wins jobs is still the craft:
- Correct pipe sizing (15 mm for most outlets, 22 mm for mains/primaries).
- Solid supports every 1–1.5 m to stop noise.
- Clean cutting, deburring, and square joins to prevent pinholes.
Tech helps you plan and record. Your hands and tools make it work.
You don’t need every gadget. You need the right kit, ready to go.
- Cutting and prep: pipe slice for 15/22 mm, mini-tube cutter for tight spots, deburring tool.
- Joining: press-fit gun with 15/22 mm jaws, quality solder kit, PTFE and jointing compound.
- Waste: 32 mm for basins, 40 mm for showers, 110 mm for stacks; solvent weld with 30–60 minutes cure.
- Measuring and fixing: spirit level, laser for falls, pipe clips at 1–1.5 m, lagging 13–19 mm.
- Testing: gauge, pump or compressor, caps and blanks, thermometer.
- Inspection: borescope/endoscope, thermal camera for hidden leaks.
Carry spares: isolation valves (1/4 turn), olives, fibre washers, 15–22 mm couplers. They save an extra trip and 60–90 minutes of dead time.
Smart Tech That Actually Helps (And When)
Tech is a tool, not the job. Use it where it counts:
- Survey and quote: voice notes, photos with measurements, and room scans. Tools like Donizo let you capture details with voice, text, and photos, then turn them into a clean proposal with e‑signature and quick invoicing. That keeps site notes and client promises in one place.
- Inspection: cameras to see behind baths or in boxing; thermal imaging to find a 2–3°C cold spot from a leak.
- Layout: laser lines to keep a 1–2% waste fall (10–20 mm per metre) consistent.
- Documentation: before/after photos and test logs to prove quality.
Use tech to reduce doubts and disputes. Use tools to make the system sound.
Tip for internal linking: If you’re also looking to streamline professional proposals, link the anchor text “professional proposals.” This pairs well with understanding “project timelines” and using “invoice templates” to bill fast and clean.
Follow this simple flow. It works in flats, semis, and terraces.
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Record The Start (20–30 minutes)
- Photos of every wall and floor. Note valves, boiler, and mains route.
- Voice-record issues: low pressure, old lead, tight boxing. Time-stamp it.
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Isolate, Drain, And Strip (45–90 minutes)
- Isolate at the stopcock. Open low taps to drain.
- Cap live lines with compression caps. Keep buckets ready.
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Plan Runs And Falls (30–45 minutes)
- Mark hot/cold routes and clip points, 1–1.5 m apart.
- Set waste fall at 1–2% (10–20 mm per metre). Use a laser.
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Rough-In With The Right Joins (2–4 hours)
- Cut square. Deburr inside and out.
- Use press-fit for speed on 15/22 mm, or solder where heat is safe.
- Keep at least 300 mm from electrics when soldering. Fire mat ready.
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Pressure-Test Before Boarding (30–60 minutes)
- Cap system. Pump to 3–5 bar. Hold for 30–60 minutes.
- Check every joint with tissue or leak spray. No drop = good.
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Waste Test And Flush (20–30 minutes)
- Fill traps. Run 10–15 litres quickly. Watch for slow drains or gurgle.
- Adjust fall or vent if needed.
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Fix And Protect (30–45 minutes)
- Clip pipes. Add lagging (13–19 mm) where needed.
- Photo everything. Note pressures, times, and any changes.
Quality Control: Pressure, Flow, And Falls
Here’s what to measure so you sleep at night.
- Static pressure: aim 2–3 bar at outlets. If under 1.5 bar, warn the client.
- Pressure test: 3–5 bar, 30–60 minutes, zero visible drop.
- Hot water: 50–55°C at the tap after 30–60 seconds. Too low? Check mixing or cylinder.
- Flow: 9–12 litres per minute for showers is common. If low, check restrictions and pipe size.
- Falls: 1–2% on wastes. Less than 1% risks standing water. More than 4% can outrun water and leave solids.
Write these numbers down. They protect you if walls hide your work.
This isn’t theory. The technology is not enough and the tools are available renovation plumbing only works when your process is tight. Use tech to see, quote, and prove. Use tools to cut, join, test, and clip. Keep your numbers straight. Get sign-off before you close.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping deburring. One burr can cause a weep in 2–6 months.
- No isolation valves. Future you will thank present you.
- Testing after boarding. Don’t. Test first. Every time.
For internal linking, this topic pairs well with “pricing strategies” for clear allowances and “change order management” to protect margin when surprises pop up.
FAQ
Do I Really Need Both Press-Fit And Solder On Renovations?
Often, yes. Press-fit is fast and clean in tight or risky areas. Solder is great for heat-safe spaces and awkward angles. Many contractors carry both for 15 and 22 mm. Use press where speed matters and solder where you want a slimmer profile or lower fitting cost.
What’s A Safe Pressure Test For A House System?
Most plumbers test at 3–5 bar for 30–60 minutes on cold systems, watching for any drop. Always follow manufacturer guidance for pipe and fittings. Test before boarding or tiling. If you find a leak, fix it immediately and re-test for the full time.
How Much Fall Do I Need On Waste Pipes?
Keep 1–2% fall, which is 10–20 mm per metre. That slope moves water and solids together. If the run is long, break it with a change of direction and support every 1–1.5 m. Too flat leads to blockages. Too steep can leave solids behind.
How Do I Prove Quality To A Client Without Drama?
Take clear before/after photos, record your test pressures and times, and share a simple summary. Many contractors add a one-page sign-off with notes and images. That reduces disputes and call-backs because everyone sees the same facts.
Where Does Technology Fit Best In Renovation Plumbing?
Use tech for surveys, quoting, measurements, and documentation. Cameras and thermal tools help you find issues quickly. Admin platforms help with proposals, signatures, and invoices. But the actual fix still depends on tools, materials, and checks done on site.
Conclusion
Renovation plumbing needs a steady mix: smart tech for planning and proof, plus solid tools and steps for clean installs. The technology is not enough and the tools are available renovation plumbing, but only when your workflow enforces testing, falls, and sign-offs. Next steps: 1) Standardise your kit list, 2) Pressure-test every job before boarding, 3) Document with photos and a one-page summary. If you want faster proposals and sign-offs, try tools like Donizo to capture site notes by voice, send branded proposals, collect e‑signatures, and invoice in one click. Build right, test right, and leave the site watertight.
