Adding Utility Sink

[DatacomGuy]

I'm looking to add a utility sink in my garage on an exterior concrete block walk. There should be plumbing somewheres along this wall as the hot water heater is at the far right of where I want to put the utility sink, and even possibly the incoming pipes from the city hookup are on this wall too (further investigation needed). I don't think I have any drains anywhere near by... the laundry room, which is 20 feet away or so..

Anyway, I have barely any plumbing experience and little budget. The sink isn't gigantic need for me, but I really would find it useful. I also have future plans of adding a RO/DI system, and would like to mount on this wall also.

Any good thoughts, links, articles, input?

Thanks in advance!

 

[larry4406]

You need both a supply and a drain. Drains work by gravity so that is your limitation.

Find the nearest drain (plumbing stack). Your new sink will need to drain to it. Typically, the waste line is sloped at 1/4 inch per foot. So, if the stack is say 40 feet away, your drain would rise 10 inches from where ever your tapped into the drainage stack. If you tapped into it at floor level, then when you were 40 feet away, your drain line at the sink level would now be at 10 inches above finished floor. Depending on your sink, this may be a little low, meaning you could move the sink further away.

So, in summary, figure out the potential drain location, then select your sink location which satisfies the drain slope, then pressure is your friend to supply the sink. Beyond this, it is a matter of determining what kind of pipe you would use for the drain and supplies and there different assembly techniques. For a novice, I would recommend PVC drain pipe and CPVC supply pipe. These are both solvent welded systems and are straight forward and easy to assemble.

 

[zj96sc]

I dont think you're going to have multiple pipe lines run inside a concrete block wall, but that's just me. I've just never heard of this being done.

Depending on what you want to do with this sink, you can just have it drain into the ground outside the wall. We did this with my dad's old shop, but it was just a handwashing sink. If you're going to be washing parts/grease etc, and are an environmentally conscious chap, this isn't the way to do it.

You need to figure out where your supply lines are.

You need to figure out where

 

[DatacomGuy]

Wheew.. Sounds more complicated than I thought it might be.

 

[RWD]

Wheew.. Sounds more complicated than I thought it might be.

Well, maybe not. Just more expensive. I have seen holding tanks with a sump pump attached to it that are use in basement utility sinks where there is no regular drain plumbing near the sink or in the floor. The unit sits under or next to the sink and the waste water drains into it. When the tank is near full, the sump pump kicks on and drains the tank into your plumbing or outside, away from the garage. Not sure if this will work for you but it's an option.
Bob

 

[DatacomGuy]

Interesting thought!

 

[utah997]

Well, maybe not. Just more expensive. I have seen holding tanks with a sump pump attached to it that are use in basement utility sinks where there is no regular drain plumbing near the sink or in the floor. The unit sits under or next to the sink and the waste water drains into it. When the tank is near full, the sump pump kicks on and drains the tank into your plumbing or outside, away from the garage. Not sure if this will work for you but it's an option.
Bob

That's what I have in my garage basement. Since it's 3 feet below the city sewer. Its in the utility room, and when it gets full.. just whirrs for a minute and pumps it up a few feet so it can drain. No big deal..

 

[RWD]

http://www.saniflo.com/products/sanivite.asp