New Construction Plumbing in Stone Mountain, GA

Most of the attention in new construction plumbing goes to bathrooms and kitchens, yet everything they do depends on a few feet of pipe where the water service enters the house. The service line, the main shutoff, the pressure-reducing valve and the expansion tank decide how much water reaches the fixtures, how hard it pushes and how easily someone can stop it in an emergency. Getting that entry point right on a new Stone Mountain home takes careful thought but very little extra material.

The service line from the meter

The water service runs underground from the meter to the house. Common materials include copper, PEX and polyethylene tubing, each installed to its manufacturer's requirements for bedding and burial depth. Plastic lines should get a tracer wire so they can be found later, and the line should pass through the foundation in a sleeve so settling cannot pinch it. Size matters too: a service that is too small for the number of bathrooms, or too long for its diameter, leaves upstairs showers weak whenever someone else runs water. Replacing an undersized service later means digging up the yard as a main water line repair, so it pays to size and bed it correctly now.

A main shutoff anyone can find

Every household member should be able to find the main shutoff and close it in seconds. A full-port ball valve, which closes with a quarter turn, is easier to operate than an old-style gate valve. Put it where the service enters, in a utility room, garage or accessible closet, not behind a finished panel or under stored boxes. Label it clearly. A second valve on the house side of the meter gives another place to stop the water from outdoors.

Setting the pressure

Street pressure varies, and water that arrives at high pressure wears out faucet cartridges, toilet fill valves and appliance hoses faster and makes leaks more likely. Measuring static pressure at the first hose bib before finishing the plumbing shows whether a pressure-reducing valve is needed. If it is, the PRV goes right after the main shutoff, with a gauge port so the setting can be checked later. If the setting drifts years after move-in, a pressure check and PRV adjustment puts it back where it belongs.

Room for water to expand

Water expands as the water heater warms it. In an open system, that extra volume simply pushes back toward the street, but a PRV or a check valve at the meter can close that path. Without somewhere to go, pressure spikes inside the house each time the heater runs, and the relief valve on the heater may drip. A thermal expansion tank on the cold supply near the water heater absorbs that expansion. It is small, inexpensive and much easier to install while the piping is open.

Planning the entry wall

• Main shutoff, PRV with gauge and any filter or softener grouped in order on one wall.
• A hose bib or test port near the entry for pressure checks.
• Unions or service valves so each component can be replaced without draining the house.
• Enough clear wall space for a future softener or filter with its bypass.

Stone Mountain permit details

Sewer and water service lines appear on the city's plumbing permit application, measured in feet, so work out the service route on the site plan before applying. Contractors attach their license documents, and an owner doing the work files a homeowner's affidavit instead. The city's Building Department also asks people to check with City Hall before starting any construction, even work they believe needs no permit.

Water entry questions in Stone Mountain

What size water service does a new house need?

It depends on the number of fixtures, the length of the run from the meter, the pressure available at the street and the height of the highest fixture. Many single-family homes use a three-quarter-inch or one-inch service, but the right size comes from a calculation, not a rule of thumb. Larger homes and long services often justify stepping up a size.

Do I need an expansion tank with a new water heater?

If the water system is closed, usually because of a pressure-reducing valve or a check valve at the meter, an expansion tank is the standard way to absorb the extra volume as water heats. Without one, pressure rises each heating cycle and the heater's relief valve may drip. The plumber can confirm whether your system is closed.

Which pipe material is best for the water service?

Each has its place. Copper is durable but costs more and can be attacked by aggressive soil, while PEX and polyethylene tubing resist corrosion and come in long rolls with few joints. Soil conditions, the length of the run, local requirements and the utility's connection fittings all factor in, so the plumber chooses the material after seeing the site.

Get the entry point right

Before the foundation is poured on your Stone Mountain lot, call (404) 409-4448. We will measure the service run, size it and lay out the shutoff and pressure controls along with the rest of the new construction plumbing.