Installing Mechanical - You House "Veins"

Installing mechanicals                                                                            

The term “mechanicals” refers to your home's hidden components, the wiring, plumbing, ducts, furnaces, and fans that give you control over your indoor environment. Your builder will typically bring in specialty subcontractors—electricians, plumbers, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) specialists—to install your home’s mechanical systems.

Electrical Panels components

Most municipalities publish highly detailed codes that mandate the proper installation of mechanical systems. These rules emphasize safety but sometimes ignore other important variables.

As always, it pays to get involved. Look for missing pieces of your mechanical puzzle--details that will simplify maintenance, save money on energy bills, and increase your home’s value.                                             

Plumbing- even with the code book open, plumbers still can make mistakes. Sometimes, they follow poorly designed construction plans. Or they may work too strictly to code, disregarding unwritten extras like those described below. These often-overlooked details are worth considering since each can improve your plumbing system’s performance. 

Water heater location-  Water heaters should be installed close to major fixtures to prevent excessive energy loss in hot water lines. If this proves impossible, energy-saving in-line water heaters can be installed.                           

Branch plumbing- Improper pipe sizing may result in loss of shower water pressure when someone turns on the dishwasher or flushes a toilet. To solve this problem, branch pipes that run from main supply lines to various fixtures should have a smaller diameter. Pressure balance shower valves also help.         

Shutoffs, drains, and alarms- Supply line shutoffs allow you to repair leaky faucets without shutting off water to the entire house. Specifying a drain valve near the main water inlet can empty all pipes when you leave on vacation. As added, insurance installs electrical alarms that sense overflowing water around toilets, bathtubs, and washing machines.                                                                                                                                            

Insulation- Many codes now require all hot and cold supply lines to be wrapped with insulating material. On cold water lines, insulation prevents condensation from causing moisture damage to walls or ceilings. On hot water pipes, it reduces heat loss.                                                                                                                                                       

Sound buffers- Pipes that contract hard surfaces may vibrate and create noise. Your plumber or builder can prevent these rattles and thumps by wrapping the drain and supplying pipes with buffering material.                                        

Wiring quality and quantity- the electrical codes allow minimal improvisation when installing outlets, light fixtures, and switches, and they seldom reflect changes in how people live. In the past five years, digital electronics have invaded the home. Programmable thermostats have led the way, with occupancy sensors, infrared security alarms, and motion detectors following quickly. New communication technologies are emerging, including interactive television, video telephones, and high-speed internet access.            

Even if you are not interested in building a high-end entertainment center or working out of a home office, an investment now in your home’s upgrade may pay for itself in just a few years. There are several ways to beat the home electronics curve.                                                                                                                                                                      

Boost capacity- Most modern homes will benefit from installing a 200-amp service rather than a standard 100-amp box. Additional service capacity costs slightly more upfront, enabling you to run dozens of devices without overloading circuit breakers or causing brownouts.                                                                                                    

Use better cables- By using shielded cabled and high-capacity telephone data wires, you can improve the ability and speed of the signals your equipment can send or receive.                                                                                            

Wire for sound- almost every new technology puts high demands on wiring. Adding extra runs of wire and cable provides conduits that can be used to automate your home as you grow older or bring global information to your children.     

Back Yard electrical lighting

Electrify your yard- It may seem premature to talk about landscaping, but if you ever want to power an electric lawn mower or install outdoor lighting, now is the time to install outdoor wiring.