A strip of outlets can be mounted under the overhang of the top of a kitchen island, which will give you flexibility when using small appliances.7 Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing
Three of the most important components of a well-functioning home are electrical, HVAC, and plumbing systems. These three systems bring us the basics: lights, heat/air conditioning, and water. Various options to consider for these essentials will be discussed in this chapter.
For your electrical needs you will need a clean copy of your floor plans and elevation plans, plus a Blank Comment Form for taking notes. Using the Electrical Checklist, make notations regarding your electrical needs on the plans with additional comments on the Blank Comment Form. Label the floor and electrical plan “Electrical Needs.” When your architect is ready to produce your electrical plans, this will come in handy during discussions.
OUTLETS
Optimally, your home will have outlets exactly where you need them. To achieve this, identify the items in your home that will need outlets. The Electrical Checklist (page 225) lists the most common items that use an outlet. Check items that you will use, and then check whether it remains plugged in or plugs in and out when used. (An item that plugs in and out when used needs an easily accessible outlet.)
When marking up your clean copy of the floor plans and elevation plans, refer to this checklist to account for every outlet you need.
Some things to consider:
A strip of outlets can be mounted under the overhang of the top of a kitchen island, which will give you flexibility when using small appliances.
Realize that outlets mounted in the baseboard are an additional expense, because of having to cut into the baseboard for each outlet.
Make floor outlets deep enough so that when items are plugged in, the plug is flush with the floor and does not stick up. Specify if you want a single receptacle outlet in the floor outlet or a double receptacle outlet.
TIP: If you will be hiring an audiovisual
consultant, ask if a surge protection will
be included with their equipment.
If you have a piece of furniture with tall legs and a lamp, place the outlet for the lamp just below the table top so that the lamp cord and outlet are not seen, as shown on the right in the illustration on this page. You can see how much more aesthetically pleasing it is to avoid dangling cords.
Discuss with your architect, interior designer, and builder the pros and cons of placing outlets in bathrooms in the mirror or in the stone splash.
If your desk will be located away from a wall, consider a floor outlet for plugging in a lamp on your desk. If you run a lamp cord from the desk to the wall, you could trip on it and it is not aesthetically pleasing. You will want this floor outlet connected to a light switch so you can turn it on and off when you enter and exit the room.
TIP: Know your municipal electrical codes, which give guidelines on the distance between outlets on a wall.
POWER SOURCE
Items that will need electric power need to be identified so the electrician will know where to run wires. These items usually operate by flipping a light switch, pushing a button, or using a remote control. On the Electrical Checklist (page 225), check items that will need a power source. When marking up the clean copy of the floor plans and elevation plans, refer to this checklist to account for every power source you need.
CUSTOM PLACEMENT OF OUTLETS
TIP: Plan for proper lighting to read the
labels on the fuse box. Sometimes
fuse/breaker boxes are located in closets
without enough light to read the labels.
INTERIOR LIGHTING NEEDS
Areas in a home needing illumination that are often overlooked:
Bookcase, so you can read book titles
Fuse box, so you can read the fuse box labels
Linen closet, because any light in the ceiling within the closet does not illuminate lower shelves
Stereo equipment, so you can read the controls
TIP: When planning the placement of
recessed can lights or a chandelier on
your ceiling, consider the distance that
the crown molding or cornice over a
window will project out from the wall. The distance will affect centering.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING NEEDS
If you will use a landscape architect or an exterior lighting expert, discuss areas around your home that may need illumination with those consultants. If not using a consultant, tell your architect your exterior lighting needs. The Electrical Checklist (page 225) presents a number of potential exterior lighting needs. When marking up the clean copy of the floor plans and elevation plans, refer to this checklist to account for every exterior lighting need.
TIP: If you provide outdoor live music
or use a DJ when entertaining,
discuss with your builder and
electrician where to install
outlets for the musicians or DJ.
LIGHT SWITCHES
Analyze the locations of light switches, where you will want three-way, four-way, and five-way light switches, and which outlets should connect to a light switch. If a light switch is in an inconvenient location, you will be reminded of that fact each time you reach for that switch. When you retire for the evening, if you have to walk across the room to reach a light switch, you will be wishing there was a three-way switch at each end of the room. And turning off lamps can be much easier if the lamps are connected to a light switch. Put in time and effort filling in the Electrical Checklist (page 225). You will be glad you did!
FORMS TO USE
Electrical Checklist (page 225)
Electrical Item Shopping Form (page 282)
Individual Room and Closet Fact Sheet (page 81)
ELECTRICAL GLOSSARY
Three-way switch: lets you turn the same light or outlet on from two separate switches.
Four-way switch: lets you turn the same light or outlet on from three separate switches.
Five-way switch: lets you turn the same light or outlet on from four separate switches.
Tip: Using a large font for
labeling the fuse box switches
will make them easier to read.
Light Switch Placement
At times there will be a trade-off between the function of a light switch location and aesthetics.
The edge of a light switch plate should be a minimum of 21.2 inches from the outer edge of the door trim, 3 inches being optimal. This should be consistent on every door. It should be noted on the electrical plans and discussed with your builder. If switch plate covers are mounted on the stud, 16 inches from the door, you will end up with dirty marks on the wall from hands feeling for the light switch.
Make sure no light switches are specified in a wall that has a pocket door behind it, because the pocket door will fill the entire interior wall.
For a group of light switches ganged together, identify what each switch turns on. Spend time determining the most logical sequence of the switches.
Numerous electrical items exist that can add convenience to your lifestyle, add protection to your home, or provide savings, such as a whole-house on-off switch and an integrated home automation system. When marking up the clean copy of the floor plans and elevation plans, refer to the Electrical Checklist (page 225) and add any of these items you want in your home. You will want to add all electrical item decisions you make to the Individual Room and Closet Fact Sheets that you have already started, which are filed in Binder 4.
Although many of the choices for HVAC are technical and the size of your home will dictate those needs, you still have important choices to make. From the heating and cooling perspective, decide if you want air conditioning, forced air heat, a heat pump, radiant heated floors, a geothermal system, solar heat, or a combination of these. Experts in the HVAC field can offer recommendations based on your climate and the home you are building.
From an aesthetic and functional perspective, pay attention to the location of air vents, return air vents, and the thermostat—to avoid these being placed where you planned to put furniture, place a rug, or hang art. A furniture plan will help prevent such mistakes. Also consider the location of the outdoor air compressor. Will it be seen by a guest? Will the noise when it is running disturb someone sleeping? Will it be heard while sitting on your porch, patio, or deck? Is it located along a driveway where a car can accidentally run into it?
The location of vents in your home is influenced by the location of your HVAC system. If the system is located in the basement, vents are generally located in the floor or lower wall. If it is located in the attic, the vents are generally located in the ceiling or upper wall.
Note any decisions you make, such as the location of the thermostats and air vents, on the appropriate Individual Room and Closet Fact Sheet and the Miscellaneous Information Checklist, both of which are filed in Binder 4.
FORM TO USE
HVAC Checklist (page 228)
Individual Room and Closet Fact Sheet
(page 81)
Miscellaneous Information Checklist (page 72)
HVAC GLOSSARY
Desuperheater: a mechanical device that uses the leftover heat from the geothermal system to heat a domestic hot water tank.
Floor register: a vent used to cover the HVAC air source coming out of the floor.
Forced air heat: a common form of heating with natural gas, propane, or electricity. Air is heated and then forced through ducts to various rooms in the home.
Furniture plan: a floor plan showing the placement of furniture to scale.
Heat pump: a mechanical device that moves heat from a cool space into a warm space during the heating season, and moves heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors during the cooling season.
Radiant heat: a method of heating using either water or electricity in pipes that are placed in the floors, walls, ceilings, or other surface.
HVAC VENT AND FILTER PLACEMENT
Ceiling air ducts should not interfere with recessed can lights, pot racks, or chandeliers. Aesthetically, ceiling and floor HVAC vents look more pleasing if they are installed parallel to a wall, not perpendicular. If an HVAC vent is located near a window, it will look better if it is centered on that window whether the vent is located in the floor, ceiling, wall, or baseboard.
In bathrooms, considering locating an HVAC floor vent under the towel bar, which will help dry the towel and in the winter, warm the towel.
You need to be able to easily remove the HVAC filter for changing or cleaning. If they are squished in a closet or a ceiling, access to the filter will be challenging.
Thermostats should be mounted on a wall that will not receive direct sunlight. They should not be placed on a wall where they will interfere with furniture or art placement. In addition, a larger font size will make the thermostat easier to read.
Discuss with your architect the type of plumbing pipe you will use in your home and the type of water heater you will use. The other plumbing basics, such as sinks, faucets, toilets, showers, and tubs, are addressed in Chapter 5.
TYPE OF PLUMBING PIPE
There are three common choices for plumbing pipes for a home: copper pipes, PEX tube pipes, or PVC.
Copper pipes, which have been around since 1920, have been the pipe of choice for many years. Copper is biostatic, which means it does not allow bacteria to grow inside the pipe. It also resists corrosion. Though it costs more, it has a lengthy warranty.
TIP: Know your municipal plumbing
codes, which give guidelines on the
location of exterior house faucets.
PEX is a flexible plumbing tube that has strength and flexibility at temperatures ranging from below freezing to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. It resists corrosion and the scale buildup. It is a cross-linked polyethylene, which makes it more durable under extreme temperatures, and has been used in the U.S. since the 1980s. It can be used with copper and PVC by using special adapters. PEX is a relatively new product in the U.S. and its long-term performance is unknown. (If you live in a cold climate, ask your home insurance agent if PEX rather than copper piping will save on your home insurance.)
PVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) pipe is cheaper than copper, but can be noisy if used vertically in a multistory home. You will hear the water run from one floor to another each time the toilet is flushed or any water runs in the sinks, showers, or tubs. PVC also releases a toxic gas during a fire.
FORMS TO USE
Plumbing Checklist (page 229)
Miscellaneous Information Checklist (page 72)
The number of people living in your home, the number of tubs and showers, and the number of dishwashers and washing machines will determine how many tank or tankless water heaters you will need and the size of each. The layout of your home will determine the location of the water heaters.
Tankless water heater (heat on demand). Tank-less water heaters heat water as you need it, instead of keeping a tank of water hot all the time—which saves money and energy. These have been used in Europe, Asia, and South America for seventy-five years and in the United States since the late 1970s. They have gained popularity in the United States in the last decade. The bigger the gas burner or the bigger the electrical element, the higher the volume of hot water it can supply. Tankless water heaters are about the size of a piece of carry-on luggage. They can be mounted on the exterior of a home in a recessed box or inside the home. You will save the floor space that would have been taken up by a water heater—and you have a never-ending supply of hot water. The disadvantage is that you do not get hot water instantly; cold water must run through the heater until it gets hot. You can add a recirculating pump to the tankless heater for instant hot water at the faucet.
Benefits of a Geothermal System
A geothermal system has many benefits. Heat from the earth is renewable and nonpolluting, and geothermal systems last longer than conventional systems because they are protected from harsh outdoor weather. The ground loop has an expected life of more than fifty years and requires no maintenance. The system will give you substantial energy savings. You can have a payback analysis run to determine how long it will take to recoup the cost of the system in energy savings.
Also known as a ground source heat pump, the geothermal system uses the natural heat stored in the earth to heat and cool your home. The constant ground temperature runs between 50 and 57 degrees, depending on your latitude. By using a network of looping tubes filled with water or antifreeze, these tubes collect the earth’s heat from underground and run it through the system in your home. When the heated water or antifreeze reaches the heat exchanges, it is converted into warm air. To cool your home, it is reversed simply by flipping a switch. You can use a conventional thermostat or an integrated home automation monitor to set the temperature desired.
Tank water heater. If you are using a tank water heater, natural gas usually costs less to operate than electric. With a geothermal system, you can add a desuperheater to the system that sends unused heat to heat the water in the water heater tank. Look at Energy Guide labels for yearly operating cost information. Also compare the recovery rate, the number of gallons the water heater can heat in one hour.
What size tank do you need? Two people usually need a 30- to 40-gallon tank; three require a 40gallon tank; four need a 40- to 50-gallon tank; more than five need a 50- to 80-gallon tank.
A recirculation pump draws hot water from the water heater and simultaneously sends the cooled-off water back to the water heater to be reheated. You will have instant hot water when you turn on the hot water faucet. The recirculation pump can be used on a tank and a tankless water heater. If the water heaters are plumbed in a series, one recirculation pump can operate several water tanks.
FORMS TO USE
Miscellaneous Information Checklist (page 72)
Tip: You may btxentitled to a $300 tax
credit when purchasing a tankless water
heater due to the Energy Tax Incentive
Act of 2005. Ask your tax accountant
or look it up in your tax software.
File in
Binder 4: Design
Electrical Checklist
Potential Items in Your Home Needing Outlets
For each item that applies below, place a check in the appropriate column to indicate whether the item remains plugged in or is plugged in and out when used.
| Item | Remains Plugged In | Plugged In as Needed |
| Air purifier (portable) | ||
| Appliances | ||
| Appliances (handheld) | ||
| Art or portrait light fixtures that hang above frames | ||
| Christmas decorations | ||
| Clocks on mantel, inside bookcase, on wall, or other | ||
| Clothes steamer | ||
| Computers | ||
| Drill charger | ||
| Dustbuster | ||
| Exercise equipment | ||
| Fans (portable) | ||
| Flashlight charger | ||
| Furniture with interior lighting | ||
| Garage door opener motor | ||
| Hair dryer (plugged in bathroom drawer) | ||
| Humidifier (portable) | ||
| Lamps inside bookcase, in powder room, on tables; floor lamps; etc. | ||
| Office equipment | ||
| Outdoor patio fans (portable) | ||
| Outdoor patio televisions | ||
| Pants press | ||
| Pet feeder, fan, and heater | ||
| Plant lighting (interior) | ||
| Player piano (may need floor outlet) | ||
| Popcorn wagon (may need floor outlet) | ||
| Razor, toothbrush, etc., stored in medicine cabinet | ||
| Screwdriver charger | ||
| Security cameras | ||
| Shoe buffer | ||
| Shop vacuum mounted on a wall | ||
| Stereo equipment | ||
| Surge protectors for audiovisual and office/computer equipment | ||
| Telephone answering machine or cordless phone base | ||
| Televisions including those that pop up out of furniture | ||
| Towel warmers (portable) | ||
| Vacuum cleaner | ||
| Other _______________ |
Do you want your outlets mounted in the wall or in your baseboard? ________________________________________________
If in the wall, how high off the finished floor do you want your outlets mounted? ______________________________________
Do you want to customize the exact location of some outlets as they relate to the furniture in this room? __________________
If so, list the room and describe the location so it can be specified on the electrical plans.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Potential Items in Your Home Needing a Power Source
Check any that apply.
Attic areas
Bathroom exhaust fan
Cabinet lights (above)
Cabinet lights (inside)
Cabinet lights (underneath)
Ceiling fans
Doorbell
Driveway gates
Electric towel heaters (fixed)
Exterior steps courtesy lighting
Home automation system monitors
Gas log light switch starters
Gates with release button
Invisible fence
Kitchen exhaust fan
Lawn sprinkler system
Motorized retractable television screens
Motorized window treatments
Outdoor balcony, patio, and porch ceiling fans
Pot rack with lights
Recessed can lights over headboards
Security alarm pads
Security cameras
Security lights
Security systems
Thermostats
Toe kick heaters
Toe kick lights
Whole-house vacuum systems
Other _________________________________________
Potential Items in Your Home Needing a
Light Switch to Turn On/Off (continued)
Check any that apply.
Exterior lamppost
Exterior lanterns
Exterior shrub lights
Exterior tree lights
Gas logs in fireplace starter
Lamps
Outlets with lamps plugged into them
Reading lights over headboards
Recessed can lights
Sconces
Toe kick heater
Toe kick light
Wall light fixtures
Other _________________________________________
Optional Electrical Items
Check any that apply.
Three-way switches*
Four-way switches*
Five-way switches*
Dimmer switches*
Illuminated light switches*
Interior motion sensor light switches*
Jamb light switches*
Timers on light switches*
Whole house surge protector
Generator for back-up power Lightning grounding protection
Lightning grounding protection system
Motion sensors on exterior lights—if so, on which lights?
_________________________________________________
Dusk-to-dawn sensors on exterior lights—if so, on which lights? ___________________________________________
Timers on exterior lights—if so, on which lights?
_________________________________________________
Other ____________________________________________
*List specific locations on a Blank Comment Form (page 18).
Will your yard be fenced in with an electronic gate, preventing the meter reader from accessing the meter box? _________
Where would you like your fuse/breaker box located? ____________________________________________________________
Do you need a larger font size for labeling the breaker box? ____________________________
File in
Binder 4: Design
HVAC Checklist
Which of the following do you want in your home?
Air conditioning—if so, one, two, or three units? ______________
Forced air for heating
Heat pump
Radiant floor heating—if so, electric or water heated? _______________
Both forced air and radiant floor heating—if so, explain which room gets what.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other source of heating _________________________________________________________________________________
Radiant heated surfaces (shower floors, shower walls, shower bench, tub deck, other)—list which you will heat.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Humidifier system for entire home
Humidifier in select rooms—if so, list rooms. ________________________________________________________________
Air purifier system
Geothermal system
Other ____________________________
Do you prefer your HVAC vents to be in the ceiling, walls, floors, baseboard, or a combination of areas? ____________________
How many HVAC systems will you need? ____________________________
Will you want to use decorative vent covers and return air vent covers or standard ones? What color works best with the location of your vents? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you will have two or three systems, what rooms do you want on each system? List.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In what room(s) do you want the thermostat(s) and where in that room will it be located? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If using radiant heat, where in each room will you want each floor heat control panel located? Explain.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Other notes about these rooms:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________:
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________:
Check those that apply:
Other Interior Needs
Aquarium
Ice maker
Water wall
Other ____________________________
Exterior Plumbing
Drinking water fountain
Faucet (back of house)
Faucet (front of house)
Faucet (on garage)
Faucet (other side of house)
Faucet (side of house)
Sink by outdoor grill area
Other ____________________________
Copper and PVC combination
Copper pipes
Geothermal desuperheater
PEX and copper combination
PEX pipes
Recirculation water pump
Tankless water heater
Tank water heater
Other ____________________________
Plumbing Checklist
Interior Plumbing
Place a check in each column that applies. For example, a typical bar will have a sink and a faucet; a dog bath area will require a handheld sprayer. Make notes on the next page as needed, such as noting that the bar and garage will have both hot and cold faucets.
| Plumbing Checklist | Room | Sink/Faucet | Tub | Jetted Tub | Toilet | Bidet | Shower-head | Shower Jets | Water Purifier | Hand-held Sprayer | Heated Towel Bar | Steam Shower |
| Bar | ||||||||||||
| Bathroom, master | ||||||||||||
| Bathroom, guest | ||||||||||||
| Bathroom 1 | ||||||||||||
| Bathroom 2 | ||||||||||||
| Bathroom 3 | ||||||||||||
| Dog bath area | ||||||||||||
| Garage | ||||||||||||
| Kitchen | ||||||||||||
| Laundry room | ||||||||||||
| Morning kitchen | ||||||||||||
| Pool house | ||||||||||||
| Powder room 1 | ||||||||||||
| Powder room 2 | ||||||||||||
| Wine room | ||||||||||||
| Other _____ |