Bathroom Plumbing FAQ

Can I move my toilet?

Yes, a toilet can often be relocated, but the feasibility depends primarily on the existing drain, venting, floor structure, and available plumbing access.

Moving a toilet involves more than relocating the water supply. The toilet's drain connection must be moved and properly connected to the building's drainage and venting system. Depending on the new location, the floor may need to be opened to install or modify drain piping.

The distance and direction of the relocation can significantly affect the difficulty and cost. Older Chicago homes may have unique plumbing  configurations, while condominium buildings may restrict modifications to shared plumbing systems.

Before finalizing a new layout, the existing plumbing should be evaluated to determine whether the desired toilet location is practical.

 

Can I move my shower?

Yes, a shower can often be relocated, although the plumbing, drainage, waterproofing, and floor conditions must be evaluated first.

Moving a shower typically requires relocating the water supply lines, shower valve, drain, and sometimes the venting or other plumbing components. The new shower location must also accommodate appropriate drainage and waterproofing.

Moving the shower a short distance may be relatively straightforward, while moving it across the bathroom can require significantly more plumbing and construction work.

The type of building also matters. In a Chicago high-rise condominium, shared plumbing stacks, structural conditions, and building rules may limit where a shower can be relocated. Waterproofing is often overlooked by homeowners. Learn more about it in Bathroom Waterproofing FAQs.

 

Can I move my bathroom sink?

Yes, bathroom sinks are generally among the easier fixtures to relocate, although plumbing access and the desired new location still affect feasibility and cost.

Moving a sink usually requires relocating the hot and cold water supply lines and the drain connection. The drain must maintain appropriate connections and slope, and the new location must work with the vanity or cabinetry.

Because bathroom sinks generally use smaller drain and supply connections than toilets and showers, relocation can sometimes be easier. However, concealed plumbing, wall construction, and floor access can still complicate the work.

The sink location should also be considered as part of the overall bathroom layout, including vanity size, storage, lighting, mirror placement, and circulation.

 

How much does it cost to relocate plumbing?

Plumbing relocation can range from several hundred dollars for simple changes to several thousand dollars for extensive fixture relocation and system modifications.

The cost depends on which fixtures are being moved, how far they are being relocated, accessibility of the existing plumbing, drain requirements, wall and floor construction, and whether additional electrical or structural work is necessary.

Moving a sink may require less work than relocating a toilet or shower because toilets and showers have more significant drainage requirements.

Older Chicago homes and high-rise condominiums can also increase costs because accessing existing plumbing may be difficult or because building systems impose additional requirements.

A contractor should evaluate the existing conditions and provide a detailed plumbing scope before homeowners rely on a relocation cost estimate. A ballpark answer can be formulated via the Bathroom Remodeling Budget

Worksheet on our Downloadable Resources page.

 

Can old plumbing be replaced during a remodel?

Yes, bathroom remodeling is often an appropriate opportunity to replace outdated, damaged, or deteriorated plumbing that would otherwise remain concealed behind new finishes.

Once walls and floors are opened during a renovation, plumbing may be easier to access than it would be after the bathroom is completed. Replacing problematic supply lines, drains, valves, or other components can reduce the likelihood of future problems.

However, not all existing plumbing necessarily needs to be replaced. The decision should consider the material, age, condition, previous repairs, accessibility, local requirements, and expected service life.

In older Chicago homes, evaluating existing plumbing before installing new finishes can be particularly important because problems concealed behind walls may not be visible during the initial inspection.

 

What happens if the drain needs to be relocated?

If a drain must be relocated, the floor or wall may need to be opened so new piping can be installed with appropriate connections, slope, and access.

Drain relocation can be one of the more complicated aspects of changing a bathroom layout. The new drain must connect properly to the existing drainage system while maintaining appropriate slope and accommodating the floor structure.

For showers, the drain location must also coordinate with the shower base, waterproofing system, floor slope, and tile layout. Curbless showers can require particularly careful coordination.

The construction required depends heavily on the existing floor assembly. Wood-framed floors, concrete slabs, and high-rise structural systems can present very different installation conditions. Learn more about the ins and outs of remodeling a bathroom in a high-rise in High-Rise Condo Bathroom Remodeling FAQs. We also have a High-Rise Condo Bathroom Remodeling Planning Checklist in our Downloadable Resources to help you navigate this process as well as keep track of appointments, contacts and most importantly, your thoughts and ideas.

 

Can I change the shower valve location?

Yes, a shower valve can generally be relocated, provided the plumbing can be accessed and the new location works with the shower's construction and fixtures.

Relocating a shower valve requires modifying the hot and cold water supply lines and properly positioning the valve within the shower wall.

The valve location should be coordinated with the showerhead, handheld shower, controls, niches, grab bars, seating, and glass enclosure. Careful planning before tile installation helps avoid conflicts between these components.

If multiple shower outlets or digital controls are being installed, the plumbing design becomes more involved and should be established before the walls are closed.

 

Can I add multiple shower heads?

Yes, multiple shower heads can often be installed, provided the plumbing system can support the required water flow and the installation meets applicable requirements.

A shower can potentially include a fixed showerhead, rainfall showerhead, handheld shower, body sprays, or other outlets. Multiple controls can also allow different outlets to operate independently or together.

The available water pressure and flow rate are important considerations. The plumbing system must be capable of supplying the selected fixtures without creating unacceptable performance problems.

High-rise condominiums and older buildings may have additional limitations involving water pressure, shared plumbing, or building infrastructure. The plumbing system should be evaluated before selecting multiple high-flow fixtures. Additional resources are listed below.

 

Can I increase shower water pressure?

Sometimes, but improving shower performance depends on the building's water pressure, plumbing system, fixture restrictions, and available flow rather than simply installing a new showerhead.

Replacing an older or restrictive showerhead can improve the perceived performance of a shower. However, a fixture change cannot necessarily overcome low pressure caused by the building's plumbing system, supply lines, valves, or other limitations.

Older plumbing may also have internal buildup or deteriorated components that affect water flow.

In a high-rise condominium, the available water pressure may be determined largely by the building's shared plumbing and mechanical systems. Any proposed modifications should therefore be evaluated within the building's limitations.

 

What is a plumbing stack?

A plumbing stack is a vertical pipe system that carries wastewater and, depending on the system, provides connections for drainage and venting between multiple floors of a building.

In multi-story buildings, plumbing stacks allow fixtures on different floors to connect to the building's larger drainage and venting infrastructure.

This is particularly important in Chicago condominiums and apartment buildings because individual bathrooms may connect to shared vertical plumbing systems.

A bathroom remodeling project that affects a connection to a plumbing stack may require additional planning, access, approvals, or coordination with building management. Homeowners should not assume that a shared plumbing component can be modified simply because it is located inside their unit.

 

Why is plumbing more difficult in an older Chicago home? THIS ONE IS IMPORTANT!!!

Older Chicago homes can have complicated plumbing because of aging materials, previous renovations, unusual layouts, limited access, and plumbing systems that may no longer meet modern expectations.

Many older homes have experienced multiple renovations over the years. Previous owners may have relocated fixtures, added plumbing, made repairs, or installed new materials without completely replacing older systems.

During demolition, contractors may discover deteriorated pipes, unusual drain configurations, outdated valves, inaccessible connections, or previous work that needs to be corrected.

Older Chicago buildings can also have masonry walls, plaster, wood framing, concrete, or other construction characteristics that make plumbing access more difficult.

For these reasons, plumbing conditions should be evaluated before the final remodeling scope and budget are established.

 

Why is plumbing more complicated in a high-rise condo?

High-rise condo plumbing is more complicated because bathrooms may connect to shared building systems that limit fixture locations, drainage changes, water shutoffs, and other modifications.

A condominium bathroom may connect to shared plumbing stacks, building water supplies, drainage systems, ventilation infrastructure, or other components that serve multiple units.

Moving a toilet, shower, or drain may therefore require more than modifying plumbing inside the unit. Building management or the condominium association may need to review the proposed work, and certain components may not be permitted to be altered.

Water shutoffs can also require coordination with building personnel, while access to plumbing may be limited by concrete floors, structural systems, or other construction.

For Chicago high-rise homeowners, the plumbing plan should be developed with both the individual bathroom and the building's larger plumbing infrastructure in mind. Our High-Rise Condo Bathroom Remodeling FAQs does a deep dive into this subject as does our High-Rise Condo Bathrooms page..