How Do I Install Utilities in an ADU? Step By Step Guide To Building an Accessory Dwelling Unit

Step 4: Building Your ADU - Installing Utility Rough-Ins | Step-By-Step Guide to Building an ADU
Welcome to the next step in Maxable's comprehensive guide to building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) - installing Utility Rough-Ins. Whether you're planning to build a small studio apartment or a large 3-bedroom home, this video is your blueprint to building your ADU project on solid ground.
In this episode, we discuss:
- All the utilities you need for your ADU - these start with the ‘rough-ins’ - the systems that exist inside the walls
- Utility Rough-Ins includes plumbing, electrical, and mechanical (Ventilation and HVAC)
- Electrical system - this system requires an electrical panel as well as electrical outlets, switches, lighting, smoke detectors, etc.
- Plumbing system - inside the walls, we’ll install the hot and cold water lines, the sewer waste lines and the venting pipes that penetrate the roof
- Mechanical - this system is comprised of two parts - the ventilation which includes exhaust fans and the HVAC system for interior comfort (hot and cold air)
- Laundry Room and smoke detectors - what you need to know about these requirements
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Is this the year you build the ADU of your dreams on your property? Taking the first steps is going to feel daunting, but when you're equipped with the right knowledge and resources from Maxable, building an ADU can feel like a breeze.
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Key moments
0:35 What's included in the Utility Rough-Is
1:47 Discussing the Electrical System
1:30 Smoke Detector requirements
1:47 Plumbing System - water lines, waste lines, vent lines
2:53 Laundry Room requirements
3:20 Mechanical - Ventilation in bathroom, kitchen and laundry room
3:48 Mechanical - HVAC - furnace, AC unit & ducting
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WHAT IS AN ADU?
ADU stands for accessory dwelling unit. An ADU is a permanent additional housing structure built on a property that already has a main home or main structure. You may have heard them referred to as granny flats, casitas, guest houses, or in-law suites.
They can be built on a single-family lot or multi-family lot (duplexes count as multi- family). An ADU has its own entrance, separate from the primary house, as well as a kitchen, bathroom, and living space. Accessory dwelling units can be rented year-round and add a lot of value to your property.
They can be garage conversions, stand-alone units, attic or basement conversions, or be attached to the main house. ADUs are exceptionally flexible, and most owners find that their use for the unit evolves over the years. The main reason people build ADUs in California is to house a relative, usually a parent but often an adult child. The second most common use is to rent for additional income.
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