Adding a sink to nowhere???

[REFLEXX]

Gents,

My (almost finished) garage/shop has no plumbing. According to EVERYONE I spoke to, the PRC (People's Republic of California) inspectors would have put me through hell for plumbing. Not to mention the costs.

I want a sink for just washing my hands inside the shop. No brake cleaner, no dumping of oil, no washing car parts, just getting some muck off my paws.

I can run a line to the shop for water and plumb it up to a sink, that's easy. I even have several electric undersink water heaters, but then what? any suggestions? I have no snow or weather cold enough to freeze anthing,

Tying into the septic system would be too dificult. Another septic tank would be cost and space prohibitive.

Do I bury a 55 gal barrel/drum full of sand with just 5" of it sticking up?? and let it evaporate between uses?

How about just draining it into my dirt lot? it's only soap with very little dirt and I'm not about dump hazardous materials on my property (or anyone elses for that matter).

ANYONE???

 

[Charles (in GA)]

In California I'd be careful. The 55 gal drum would work (just pound it full of holes and surround it with rock, I did this with a plastic barrel) but in California, I'd think you'd be asking for trouble. If you have a place where you can do it, I just run the line out onto the ground, no different than dumping a bucket full of car wash water. I did label my sink, "gray water only, this is not a sanitary drain" to cover myself.

Charles

 

[Der Bugmeister]

You could always tie it into your perimeter drain (if you have those in Cali!), assuming that you would never be sending any vast quantities of water down there.

 

[bmwpower]

What makes it too hard to tie into the septic?

 

[REFLEXX]

Bmwp,

the house is in the way.

tying it into the rainwater drain might be the way to go and yes I would lable it for "gray water".

More ideas?

 

[bmwpower]

Can you tie it into your neighbor's septic?


.....kidding of course.


The drywell idea is probably the best idea.

 

[gerry]

How about just adding a section of subsurface drainpipe underground and tieing into it. Years ago, I did this with an a/c evap drain. No plumbing line was convient because it was all in the slab. I dug a trench, added 6" of gravel and a 4' perforated drainpipe, a layer of plastic on top to keep the dirt from filtering into the gravel from top and covered it up with topsoil. I just ran the drain line through slip-fit PVC pipe to the 4" stuff and I was done. Probably don't need more than a section of perf pipe if you just plan on using it occasionally.

 

[astroracer]

I use waterless hand cleaners in my shop... GoJo, Orange Clean, etc. I buy them in gallon jugs at the outlet stores. They work just fine and actually help keep your hands cleaner once you start using them because the grime can't get through the lanolin they leave on your skin.
Mark

 

[6t7gto]

ok, here's my idea...
just put a 5 gal. bucket under the sink!!!
empty when full.
david

 

[REFLEXX]

Thanks guys.

All these are great ideas. Well except for the 5 gal bucket one, I'd only remember to drain it when my floor gets wet!

I'll post up on what I end up doing.

Since I have several of the stainless (deep) sinks, I'm thinking about converting another into a parts cleaner. Pump under the cabinet, closed system, add a wash hose where the faucet would go, a lid of some sort. What do you think???

 

[6t7gto]

here's another one!
get one of those flood alert beepers (the kind for hot water tanks and such) put it in the bucket.
when the water level reaches it, it will sound and you can empty the bucket.
simple enough?
david

 

[Paradise Ridge]

Reflexx,

If you have a local culvert dealer, check into a 6' section of Infiltrator drain field pipe.

The unit is 6' long, about 3' tall, 3' wide and shaped like an arch. A section should run you about 20 bucks.

Basically it is a plastic arch without a bottom that you bury anywhere you want and plumb your sink into it. There is no bottom so the fluid filters down, and the top keeps the whole thing from collapsing after you backfill. If installed correctly, you can drive over it with a 1 ton truck. Don't buy the spendy end caps, just lay in a couple pieces of plywood and drill a hole for your inlet.

http://www.infiltratorsystems.com/products_septic_standard.htm

My nickels worth,

Scott

 

[stioc]

I don't see why it would be a problem if you built a small bathroom in one corner of the shop and placed a sink and a toilet there ? I've seen several shops up and down CA and home garages with the same setup. Maybe its time for you to get the info right from the source ?

 

[krooser]

stick the drain pipe out the wall and forget about it...what are they gonna do...put you away for life?