Plumbing Installation Upgrades for Alliance's Older Homes

Bringing the Laundry Up From the Basement

Carrying baskets down steep basement stairs is one of the first things older homeowners want to stop doing. Moving a washer to the first floor, often into a mudroom, back hall or large closet, is very doable. It needs hot and cold supply lines with a washer box, a 2-inch drain with a trap and proper venting, and a dryer vent route to the outside. Gas dryers also need a gas line.

We look for the closest path to the main stack and existing supply lines, then plan the drain so it has steady slope. A drain pan with a leak sensor is cheap insurance for a washer on a wood floor, and we recommend one on every upstairs laundry.

• Recessed washer outlet box with quarter-turn valves
• Properly vented standpipe drain sized for modern washers
• Floor pan plumbed to a drain where possible
• Gas line for a gas dryer, if needed
• Optional utility sink beside the washer

Adding a Main-Floor Bathroom

Many older Alliance houses have only one bathroom, upstairs. Adding a full or three-quarter bath on the main floor lets someone live on one level if stairs become a problem. A first-floor bath above a basement is usually straightforward, since we can run drains through the basement ceiling to the main stack.

For accessibility, consider a curbless or low-threshold shower, a comfort-height toilet, and blocking in the walls for grab bars. We set drain and valve locations to match the fixtures you choose.

Retiring Galvanized Supply Pipe

Galvanized steel water pipe was standard in homes of Alliance's older era. It rusts from the inside, so the opening shrinks year after year. The result is weak flow, rust-tinged water and leaks at threaded joints. If a magnet sticks to your water pipe and it is gray rather than copper-colored, you likely have galvanized.

Before adding new fixtures, it makes sense to replace the old supply lines. New fixtures connected to corroded pipe will still get poor pressure. We usually run PEX from the main shutoff to each fixture through existing walls and floors, keeping wall openings small. You can read more about whole-house projects on our Alliance repiping page.

Check the Water Service Line Too

If pressure is weak at every fixture, the problem may start before the water reaches your basement. Older service lines from the curb can be narrow galvanized or even lead in some older homes. Replacing that buried line with a properly sized one can make more difference than anything done indoors. Our Alliance water main service covers that work.

Planning the Project

We start with a free estimate and a walk through the house, noting pipe materials, stack location and how a new laundry or bath can tie in. Once you approve the plan, we coordinate any required permit and inspections, complete the rough-in, set fixtures and pressure test everything before walls are closed.

If you only need fixtures replaced in their existing spots, our fixture installation service in Alliance is the better fit. For the full overview of system upgrades, see our Stark County plumbing installation page.