Every great home needs a great foundation, but that means more than just the concrete under your feet. Your home's infrastructure is equally important, and your plumbing is one of the most critical aspects of that infrastructure. Plumbing problems can lead to plenty of frustrations in the future and potentially even create costly repairs.

Working with an experienced plumbing company is the best way to ensure your new home's plumbing provides years of trouble-free service, but there are also some pitfalls you'll need to avoid. Keep reading for crucial tips to avoid three common new construction plumbing traps.

1. Neglecting Your Hot Water Requirements

If you have a big family, you know the pain of being last into the shower and first to experience that uncomfortable blast of cold water. A traditional storage tank water heater works by keeping a volume of water heated and ready to go, but performance can be iffy once the tank "runs out." An undersized tank cannot provide enough hot water for periods of high demand, resulting in a lukewarm or cold surprise.

The best solution is to work with your plumber to determine your hot water needs. Once you know your maximum demand, you can select a traditional tank storage heater with the necessary capacity to keep up with a busy morning shower routine. Alternatively, upgrading to a correctly-sized tankless water heater can ensure constant, on-demand access to hot water.

2. Not Considering Future Maintenance

You probably don't want to consider maintaining the plumbing for a home you haven't even built yet, but future maintenance and repair requirements are critical considerations during construction. Even the best-built plumbing will eventually require repairs, and your decisions now can help you save money by providing smarter and more convenient access in the future.

One way to improve your ability to maintain and repair your plumbing in the future is to install modern PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) pipes with a manifold system. PEX manifolds act like circuit breakers for your plumbing, providing a central access point to turn off the water to individual rooms and fixtures. PEX manifolds are a great way to avoid expensive water damage from future leaks.

3. Failing to Test Your Water

While most US cities provide clean and safe drinking water, that doesn't mean all municipal water supplies are the same. Mineral content and even some forms of contamination may not make water harmful, but they can affect its taste or appearance. Hard water can also be an issue for plumbing maintenance since it can affect your pipes, appliances, and fixtures.

Testing your water early in the construction process will allow you to understand and, if necessary, address these issues. Since installing a water softener or whole-home filtration system will be cheaper during construction, testing now will save you money by helping you avoid a more costly future retrofit.

For more information, contact a plumbing company near you.