Bathroom addition

[cpropes2005]

I have another thread going to document my new detached garage build but the next step after that is done is to close in our existing garage and turn it into a game room. Most of that process is going to be pretty straight forward but the catch is that I want to add a bathroom in the space and all of the existing bathrooms and the clean out/main sewage line are on the complete other side of the house and about a foot higher elevation.

The good news is that the bathroom location is on an exterior wall so my plan is to break out the section of drive way along that wall, dig a hole to get under the concrete beam and then tunnel in a few feet from the outside. Then I will break out a hole inside the garage so that I can finish making up the drain line for the new toilet and shower. Once I get the line outside I am planning on running a new main line all of the way to the man hole because I don't think I have enough fall to go across the yard and tie into my existing main line. It will be a deep ditch by the time it gets to the man hole but there is an existing unused clay service pipe that I think is deep enough that we can probably tie into.

Obviously I will have to get it permitted but do you guys see any major flaws in this plan? The parts I am not sure about are will tunneling under the beam put my line too deep under the slab and I am not sure what the city will think about putting a second line into the manhole.

 

[tab2]

Are you not allowed, don't want to, or aren't able to use an ejector pump? To me that seems like a lot less work than your plan.

 

[APEowner]

Are you not allowed, don't want to, or aren't able to use an ejector pump? To me that seems like a lot less work than your plan.

They keep getting better but ejector pumps are nowhere near as reliable as a properly sloped drain pipe and they're really yucky to work on.

 

[cpropes2005]

Yeah, that was my first thought as well. I agree it would be a lot less work up front but the more research I did on those types of systems the more I convinced myself I would rather have a gravity drain if possible. I know it will be a lot more work up front but I don't want to deal with the maintenance of an ejector system if I don't have to.

 

[larry4406]

Basement? If so tie into a stack.

I would put in an ejector pit with a quality Zoeller pump setup before I would do all that work for a single bathroom and destroy the yard.

I'd be surprised if they let you have two sewer taps for a single residence. Tap Fees, at least where I live, can be upwards of $15k or more (yes thousands).

 

[-Brent-]

I think it's against code to turn a garage into a game room (GJ code, that is ).

 

[cpropes2005]

Haha, don't think the idea of just keeping it as garage/shop space hasn't crossed my mind. I am building the new detached as big as I can though with the space I have so hopefully that will be enough space and honestly I am looking forward to a game room. Will be nice to have a seperate space that the kids can play in while adults hang out in the other living area.

Wow, $15k for a sewer tap? Thats crazy, I never dreamed it would be that much. I will definitely find out what that cost would be before getting started. I might be able to tie into my existing main line out in the yard insteading of adding a second tap but I need my dad to come visit me with his surveying level so we can shoot the grade and figure out if I have enough fall to do that.

I guess if not then the backup plan is to go back to the ejector pump idea. I just hate the idea of it breaking every few years and me having to tear apart a pump full of poo.

If I did go with an ejector pump would I just pump it up into the attic (single story), across the house, and then back down a wall to tie into an existing drain?

 

[cpropes2005]

Found this on the city's website. Looks like the tap fees are a lot more reasonable here. $380 for a short 4" tap.

http://www.cityofconroe.org/home/showdocument?id=10875

 

[tab2]

In the 25 years my parents have lived in a 30 year old house, we changed the float switch and a very slowly leaking check valve.

Always remember, when testing the float switch, make sure the piping is connected. The plus side is if you don't, your tolerance for what grosses you out gets a lot higher.