Kitchen remodels are consistently the top return-on-investment home project for Houston homeowners, but the kitchen remodel plumbing layer is where mistakes get buried under new tile and cabinets, becoming very expensive to fix later. Repipe Solutions Inc put together this mistake-avoidance guide based on the problems we fix every week in Greater Houston kitchens.
Mistake 1: Relocating the Sink Without Checking Drain Slope
Every drain line needs a quarter inch of fall per foot of run. Moving a sink 10 feet from the existing drain stub means you need 2.5 inches of vertical drop, which often isn’t available under a slab. This mistake causes slow drains that never fully clear.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the Dishwasher Air Gap Requirement
Texas code requires either an air gap or a high loop to prevent sink water from back-flowing into the dishwasher. Most Houston handyman installs skip this and fail inspection.
Mistake 3: Running a New Gas Line Without a Permit
Adding a gas cooktop or range where there wasn’t one before requires a permitted, inspected gas line installation. DIY gas work is illegal in Houston and voids homeowner’s insurance.
Mistake 4: Putting a Pot Filler on the Wrong Wall
Pot fillers need a cold water line run to the stove wall. Running it through an exterior wall invites freeze damage (yes, in Houston — remember 2021). Always run through interior walls.
Mistake 5: Undersized Supply Lines for the Refrigerator Water/Ice Line
A standard refrigerator needs at least a quarter inch line. Newer fridges with hot water dispensers or high-flow ice makers need three-eighths or larger. Running the wrong size is a common “ice maker won’t keep up” complaint.
Mistake 6: Skipping the Garbage Disposal Dedicated Circuit
This is technically electrical, but the plumber needs to coordinate because disposals have specific drain, vent, and power requirements.
Mistake 7: Using the Wrong Drain Size for Double Sinks
Single large sinks need 1.5 inch drains. Double sinks typically need 2 inch drains and proper continuous waste assemblies to prevent one side backing up into the other.
Mistake 8: Not Repiping the Kitchen While the Walls Are Open
If you have old galvanized or polybutylene pipes, the kitchen remodel is your cheapest opportunity to replace them. We see customers pay for plumbing twice because they skipped this on the first remodel.
Work With a Pro From the Start
Repipe Solutions Inc coordinates with general contractors throughout the Greater Houston Area on kitchen plumbing rough-ins and finish-outs. Call us before demo day at 832-662-4288.
