What we install, in plain words
Plumbing installation means putting in new fixtures, pipes or connections, as opposed to repairing what is already there. These are the jobs homeowners ask about most.
- Toilets, bathroom sinks and faucets, new or replacement
- Showers, tubs and shower valves, with the drain and trap beneath them
- Kitchen sinks, with dishwasher and garbage disposal connections
- Washing machine supply boxes and drains
- Outdoor hose faucets, kept on drinking water and off reclaimed lines
- Tank and tankless water heaters
- Sump and ejector pumps where a fixture sits below the sewer line
- Gas lines to a stove, dryer, grill or fireplace, as licensed plumbing contractor work
- Reconnecting lines under a sink or behind a dishwasher after a remodel or move
Water heater swaps have their own page, see water heater installation. A whole-house pipe replacement is a different scope, covered under repiping. If a toilet is already in and misbehaving, toilet repair is the right page. Large new construction bids and commercial work need plans, so describe the project when you call.
Planning a bathroom or kitchen change: where the drain and vent go
Every fixture drain needs a trap that holds water and blocks sewer gas, a slope that carries waste away, and a vent that lets air in behind the water. Without the vent, draining water can siphon the trap dry. The fixture then gurgles and the room smells.
That is why moving a sink across a room is rarely just two new supply lines. The new drain must meet the old one at the right slope and must have vent air. Homeowners also ask about swapping an S-trap for a P-trap. An S-trap can siphon dry, so the usual fix is a P-trap on a properly vented drain.
Air admittance valves, in plain terms
An air admittance valve, or AAV, is a one-way valve that lets air into a drain line and keeps sewer gas out. The 2023 Florida Building Code, Plumbing (8th Edition) covers them in Section 918. The valve must sit at least 4 inches above the horizontal drain it vents and must stay accessible.
It may vent only fixtures on the same floor, and each plumbing system still needs at least one vent that reaches open air. So an AAV cannot be the only vent in a house. Approval rests with the local building official, and Ocoee's published pages state no AAV policy, so ask the Building Division before you plan around one.
Island sinks
Section 916 allows island venting for sinks and lavatories, including a residential kitchen sink with a dishwasher or disposer. An island has no wall to run a vent up, so this section is what makes a kitchen island sink possible. The plumber still has to lay it out to the code and the inspector.
Planning to add or move a fixture?
Describe the room and what you want changed, and a dispatcher can book a walkthrough.
Which jobs need a permit and which usually do not
The rows follow the state code. Ocoee's pages list plumbing and gas among work that needs a permit, and they do not spell out every small job.
| Job | Permit? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New bath, kitchen or laundry fixtures | Plan on a permit | Building Code Section 105.1 requires a permit to install, alter or replace a plumbing system. |
| Moving a drain, vent or supply line | Yes | Rearranging pipes falls under 105.1, and the 105.2 exemption does not cover it. |
| Gas line to a stove, dryer or grill | Yes | Gas systems are covered by 105.1, and Ocoee lists gas among the permits it issues. |
| Clearing a stoppage or repairing a leak | Usually no | Section 105.2 exempts it unless the repair replaces or rearranges valves, pipes or fixtures. |
| Pulling and resetting a toilet | Usually no | The same exemption applies when no valves or pipes change. |
| Swapping a faucet or disposer like for like | Not stated | Ocoee's pages do not address it, so ask the Building Division. |
Rules vary by job. Confirm with the City of Ocoee Building Division at 407.905.3104 before work starts.
How an installation job runs from walkthrough to inspection
Most delays come from skipping the first step, so a clear sequence saves time.
Walk the site
The plumber checks access under the slab, in the crawlspace or attic, then locates the existing drain, vent, shutoffs and supply. If you already bought fixtures, share the model so the rough-in size can be checked.
Price and permit
You get a clear price before work starts. Permitted work is filed with the City of Ocoee. If the job involves digging, a Sunshine 811 ticket comes first.
Rough in and test
Supply, drain and vent pipes go in, and the drain and vent system is tested before it is closed up. The inspector looks at the rough-in at this stage, and AAVs are installed after the drain test.
Set fixtures and finish
Fixtures are set, connections are made and every joint is checked under pressure. The plumber shows you each shutoff before leaving.
Gas line work: licensed scope, and what to do if you smell gas
Gas piping is licensed work. Florida Statutes 489.105(3)(m) places the installation of natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and related venting inside the plumbing contractor's scope. A new stove, dryer or grill connection looks simple and is still gas work that needs a permit. You can check any contractor's license on the state's online search by name or license number.
If you smell gas, do not hunt for the leak. Leave the building, switch nothing on or off, and call from outside. Call 911 if you are in doubt. If Peoples Gas serves your address, its 24-hour line is 1-800-400-4271, and your gas bill shows which utility you have.
Rust on an existing gas line, a new appliance or a renovation are all good reasons to have the piping inspected. Call the plumber after the gas utility has cleared the home.
What an installation costs depends on
Installations vary too much for an honest average. These factors move the price most.
A homeowners policy usually responds to sudden and accidental damage, not to wear or gradual leaks, and not to the fixture or pipe itself. A new installation is rarely an insurance matter. Ask your insurer if damage is involved.
Ocoee permits and who to call
The City of Ocoee runs plumbing and gas permits through its Building Division. Each point below affects how a job should be scheduled.
Apply online
Permits go through permits.ocoee.org. The city uses one application for all permit types, so a bathroom job with plumbing and electrical work can be filed together.
Call the Building Division
The number is 407.905.3104, and the office is on the first floor of City Hall at 1 N. Bluford Ave. Inspectors take phone calls on weekdays from 7:00 to 8:00 am, so call in that window to schedule or ask about a small job.
Check the contractor
Ocoee requires contractors to keep active registration with proof of a state license, liability insurance and workers' compensation. Ask for the license number and check it on the state's lookup.
Call 811 before digging
Florida law requires a Sunshine 811 call at least two full business days before breaking ground. That matters for a new outdoor faucet line or a gas line trench.
Keep reclaimed water separate
Ocoee's reclaimed water is not drinking water, and cross connections to potable lines are not allowed. An outdoor hose faucet must stay on the potable side.
Nearby areas such as Winter Garden have their own permit offices, so ask that city's building department about its rules.
Installation questions from Ocoee remodels and new fixtures
Usually, if the drain and vent are planned for it. The Florida code allows island venting for kitchen sinks, including ones with a dishwasher or disposer. The plumber still checks the slope of the drain and the permit requirements with the city.
Only in part. Section 918 allows AAVs, but each plumbing system must still have at least one vent that reaches open air. Approval is up to the local building official, so confirm with the Ocoee Building Division.
If it installs, alters or replaces plumbing, the state code says yes. Pulling and resetting a toilet or clearing a clog is normally exempt. A like-for-like faucet swap is not addressed on Ocoee's pages, so call 407.905.3104.
Rarely, but not never. NWS Melbourne documented record-cold days in January 2010. In a hard freeze, cover exposed faucets and disconnect hoses so water does not sit in the spigot.
Stop using fixtures that drain to the pit. Switch the pump off only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water, and keep away from outlets near wet floors. Our 24/7 line is open, and a plumber can replace the pump.