If you care about your home both as a place you live in and an investment that you want to protect and grow, then you take your plumbing system very seriously. You’re not going to get cheap, slapdash quality work done for it, that may mean a toilet breaks down later and you’ll have to leave your own home just to use the bathroom; you’ll get it done right with a trusted Greensburg plumber.
But that also means that, depending on the type of job you have in mind, you may need more than a professional on the job to get started. Sometimes you’ll need a plumbing permit as well. But what is this, and why—and when—would you need it? Let’s find out.
The Permit Is Protection
As you may have already deduced from the name, a plumbing permit is something that the city of Greensburg will issue to you granting you permission to start on a building code compliant plumbing job.
It means you will have notified them ahead of time by filling out and submitting an application for the work. What the plumbing permit does for you is provide both legal and financial protection by putting your work on record. This means that the plumbing you’ve done is now accessible in city records, is compliant with building code, and therefore still valid for protection under your home insurance.
If you don’t get a plumbing permit for work done, this may violate your insurance terms, and, worse yet, cause problems for you in the event of a home sale. A home inspector may realize that the new bathroom you added is not actually legal, and therefore may cause problems for new, potential homeowners.
When Do You Need It?
The plumbing permit is not a universal requirement.
If you’re just getting something repaired, for example, or upgrading an existing fixture such as replacing an old toilet with a new model or upgrading your kitchen sink, this is something that your Greensburg plumber can do with no issues at all.
You will need to get a plumbing permit if the scope of the job requires for installing something brand new, especially if no plumbing infrastructure existed in that area before.
So moving your washing machines upstairs, or renovating your home to add a brand new bathroom will definitely need a permit. These jobs fundamentally change the plumbing infrastructure of your home with new additions or alterations.
Paying The Fees
A plumbing permit is not free either, but the price you pay on it is going to depend a lot on the actual nature of the job itself. If you’re just getting a new water closet, with only two new fixtures, like a toilet, and sink that may cost you $45.
But if you’re replacing something like the water heater, that might be $30. It all depends on the scope of the job. Try to make sure that if you’re getting some major plumbing work done in Greensburg, PA it’s done properly. Get professional results with an experienced Greensburg plumber, and make sure you have the permit secured if the job is a big one.
