What counts as a plumbing installation
New plumbing is any work that adds a fixture or a line, or replaces one in a new location. Typical jobs include a bathroom remodel, a kitchen sink move, a laundry hookup, a new shower or tub and outdoor faucets. Gas piping for a range, dryer or fireplace is part of it too.
Replacing a toilet or faucet in the same spot is often simpler, and it is covered under toilet repair and faucet and sink repair. If your project involves a new water heater, see water heater installation. This page covers the broader work around them.
Planning the project before anyone opens a wall
Good installation starts with a plan. The plumber walks the space, checks where supply and drain lines can run and flags anything that needs a change. Drain slope, vent connections and access to the main shutoff all affect where fixtures can go.
Bring your layout, fixture choices and any drawings. If you have not picked fixtures yet, ask first, because the rough-in measurements depend on them. A few minutes of planning avoids moving pipes twice.
| Project | Main steps | Inspection |
|---|---|---|
| New bathroom | Supply, drain and vent lines, fixtures | Rough and final |
| Tub or shower swap | New valve, drain and wall connection | Rough and final |
| Outdoor faucet | Supply tap, shutoff and drain-down | Per permit scope |
| Gas appliance line | Sized pipe, shutoff, pressure test | Per permit scope |
Bathtub and shower installation
Tubs and showers are the most involved fixture installs. They need correct drain placement, a proper shutoff for the valve and a watertight connection to the wall. Remodels often reveal old pipes behind the tile, which can change the plan.
If your shower or tub leaks after installation, ask the plumber to pressure test before the wall is closed. That is a better time to find a problem than after the tile is set. For a leak that appears later, leak detection can trace it without removing the whole wall.
New toilets, sinks and laundry connections
Adding a bathroom or moving a sink means new supply and drain lines. A toilet needs a flange at the right height and a secure connection to the floor. A laundry hookup needs a standpipe and a supply valve that is easy to reach.
Include shutoff valves at each fixture, so you can stop water at one spot without closing the whole house. Braided supply lines and old valves are the parts that fail most often, so replace them when you install the fixture. Call (630) 822-9290 if you want a plumber to review the plan.
Outdoor faucets and winterizing
Outdoor faucets should be installed with winter in mind. Illinois frost reaches deep, and Village code lists the frost line at 42 inches. NWS normals for O'Hare show a January average low of 18.8 F, so a faucet that holds water in a freeze can split.
A frost-resistant faucet or an interior shutoff lets you drain the line before cold weather. That small step often prevents a winter burst pipe repair call. Ask the plumber to show you the shutoff location when the job is done.
Gas line installation and inspection
Gas piping is not a do-it-yourself job. If you smell gas, leave the building and call Nicor Gas or 911 first, then call us from outside. Never switch lights on or off, or use a flame, when you suspect a leak.
For planned gas line work, such as a new range or a fireplace line, the plumber sizes the pipe, tests it and handles the permit. The Village has adopted the 2021 International Fuel Gas Code for this work. Ask for a pressure test result so you have a record of the job, or call (630) 822-9290 to plan it.
Permits and inspections in Hoffman Estates
Plumbing installation needs a permit from the Village's Development Services Code Enforcement office. The fee schedule lists $75 plus $10 per fixture, and the handout says it is not all-inclusive. A remodel needs a complete written scope, a rough plumbing inspection and a final inspection.
Inspections are requested online through the Village's BS&A portal by 3 p.m. the day before. Most improvement permits are valid for one year, and a permit becomes invalid if substantial work does not start within six months. A licensed plumber pulls the permit, since Village code forbids lending a plumber's name to someone else's job.
The Village standard calls for both a rough plumbing inspection and a final inspection on remodels. Schedule drywall after the rough inspection passes, because closing walls early can mean opening them again for the inspector.
What the Village code means for your project
The Village adopted the Illinois Plumbing Code, 77 Ill. Adm. Code 890, and added its own plumbing section in Chapter 11. In practice, that means a new fixture must meet state rules for traps, vents and materials, and the inspector checks them. Plumbing on the Village water system must also follow that code.
If you plan a basement bathroom, note that floor drains go to an ejector pump discharging to the sanitary sewer. Sump pumps and footing drains follow different rules, since footing drains may not connect to the sanitary sewer. See sump pump installation and repair before you plan the basement layout.
Water treatment and filtration add-ons
Many installation projects include a filter, a softener or an under-sink system. These need an available cold line, a drain connection and space. The Village's water comes from Lake Michigan, and its report lists no lead service lines, so filtration is a taste or preference decision more than a safety fix.
Our water softener and filtration page explains the options. Tell the plumber what you hope to change in your water so the right equipment is chosen.
What affects plumbing installation cost
What changes the price
You get a price by phone before work starts. If the plumber finds something unexpected behind a wall, you hear about it first. Call (630) 822-9290 to describe your project, and we will go through the options.
Plumbing installation questions
Yes. The Village requires a plumbing permit, with a fee based on fixture count. Your licensed plumber pulls it and schedules the rough and final inspections.
Inspections are requested online through the Village's permit portal by 3 p.m. the day before. The plumber usually handles this.
The 24/7 line answers for emergencies, and planned projects are scheduled with you. The Village limits construction hours near homes to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.
Often yes. It depends on drain slope, venting and access. The plumber checks these on a walk-through before quoting.
No. Gas piping needs a licensed plumber, a pressure test and a permit. If you smell gas, leave and call Nicor Gas or 911.
Yes, if they are stiff, corroded or leaking. Replacing them while the wall is open costs less than a separate visit later.
Yes. If the supply pipes are old, doing both at once means opening walls only one time. See our repiping page for the details.