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Garage Sink - Not enough slope for drainage

E55 Bulldog

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Nov 23, 2017
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Wilmington, NC
Hey everyone. I'm in the portion of my build where plumbing is about to go in for the sink in my detached garage. He have been told there is not enough grade to meet the required drain pipe slope.

The plumber mentioned a pump that would be needed is that correct? Whats the name of it so I can look them up.

Thanks.
 
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strutaeng

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Dec 12, 2011
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Dallas, TX
Have you poured your foundation? How much slope do you need? Can you raise the floor slightly to get more slope?

Most sewer lines are 3 or 4", which require 1/4" per foot slope. If you go with 6" pipe you can do 1/8" per foot slope. I think 8" you can do as low as 1/16" per foot. Is that an option? 6 and 8" pipe is very expensive though.

Pump will be my last option if there was a toilet, otherwise probably ok. Is it a sink only?
 

CJ7VFR

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Jan 13, 2015
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Central New Jersey
yeah its sink only. The slap is not poured but the footer already is.

Was looking at an under the sink utility pump.... something like this maybe? anyone have experience with this?


https://www.homedepot.com/p/AquaPro-1-3-HP-Utility-Sink-Pump-55011-7/206852252

I have a pump similar to that one. It is made by a company called Shellback. The housing and other parts are all brass, copper and metal. It costs about twice as much as the one you have shown. When I bought it 16 years ago there were really no other options available at a lower price.

Here is the one I have: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Shellback-1-8-HP-Laundry-Tray-Pump-3-12-19/206374855

I bought mine back in 2002 along with the utility sink. Both are installed in my basement. I put a brass check valve on the output pipe instead of a plastic one for longevity.

This thing can pump out water fast! And it can also pump out objects up to a quarter inch in diameter. Anything bigger than that will get hung up inside the impeller. So I keep a screen inside the sink drain hole to keep **** out of the pump.

My set up has the pump pushing the water out of the sink and up about 6 feet to the ceiling of my basement. From there the drain pipe slopes down into the main drain where the clothes washer drains into. It doesn't even blink at that pushing the water up that height.

If your garage will not be heated, and it gets below freezing out there, then I don't know how this type of pump will handle those temperatures. Mine is in my basement, and the temperature never gets below about 56 degrees.

What I like about these types of pumps is that they don't have any type of venting piping like some utility pumps have/require. As long as the drain you are pumping the water into is not completely sealed, these types of pumps will work for your application.

Now that being said, these types of pumps might not be completely code compliant in some locations. So if being up to code matters to you, then you might want to check with your local municipality to see if this type of pump is ok to have for your purpose.

Jim
 
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PoorOwner

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Feb 10, 2007
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CA
I am looking for one as well. Probably get the cheaper one, in the garage, occasional hand washing and not washing left over greasy plates it should stay clean and have and long life.
I heard it's no big deal people use these in basements for washing machines or utility sink combo.

Are those things loud? I don't want to wake the whole house should I want to use the sink late in the evening.
 
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CJ7VFR

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...Are those things loud? I don't want to wake the whole house should I want to use the sink late in the evening.

The one I have by Shellback is not loud. When it is running it only makes a humming noise. The actual sound of the water being sucked into the drain at the very end is louder than the pump. Up to that point, you can't even hear the water being sucked up either.

I would say that the overall noise is a bit quieter than when you flush a toilet.

Jim
 

6768rogues

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Western NY
That type of pump and enclosed crock are common for basement laundries that are below the sewer/septic outflow pipe.
 

pgray007

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Jul 25, 2007
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573
Location
Charlotte, NC area
I have a grinder pump for our detached that pumps from a sink and a full bath. Most plumbing supply houses will sell a tank, pump, and check valve combo. Ours is outside, and you only hear a very quiet hum if you’re actually listening for it. I forget the size but it probably runs for 5-8 seconds when the foot valve trigger it.

Do get an alarm for it if it will not be visible. We had the pump fail as the cover wasn’t completely sealed and it was filling with rainwater and the alarm alerted me. Replacing the pump was a little “funky” but technically simple.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Milton Shaw

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Feb 11, 2011
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4,850
How much more height do you need. Raise the sink if it's only a couple of inches. A higher sink is a lot more comfortable to work at if you are above average height. Most sinks are for housewives at 5'4" or so.
 

Radix2

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May 28, 2014
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the thumb!, MI
If it is just a sink, maybe a simple grey water pipe outside ? Do you need to connect it to the sewer? Bury a small tank and some gravel and let it soak away.
 
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