Installing a sink

[Maine]

I want to install a sink in my new garage. My garage is attached to my house, and the plumbing is waiting on the interior of the home ready to extend to the garage for hookup.

I do a lot of automotive work and I am cleaning valve covers, etc often, I am concerned with draining the sink into my septic system, will oil and harsh chemicals harm my leech field?

Is there a better alternative?

 

[Gary S]

Yes, oil and harsh chemicals do not belong in your sanitary sewer or your septic tank. Dispose of those things right.

 

[SGKent]

I want to install a sink in my new garage. My garage is attached to my house, and the plumbing is waiting on the interior of the home ready to extend to the garage for hookup.

I do a lot of automotive work and I am cleaning valve covers, etc often, I am concerned with draining the sink into my septic system, will oil and harsh chemicals harm my leech field?

Is there a better alternative?

yes -find a used Safety Clean tank and use it and stoddard solvent to clean parts then let them air dry or with compressed air. I also glass bead some things and then rinse with soapy water. Let any of those harsh chemicals come up in someone's well near you and talk about legal problems that will make you wish you'd done otherwise......

 

[Pluribus]

Septic systems depend on bacteria to break solids down. If you destroy the bacteria, your septic system will no longer break waste down, and things get ugly and expensive from there.

 

[Steevo]

A sink in the shop is a great idea, and I thoroughly enjoy having one in mine. Parts washing, however is done in my parts washer, using solvent.

As has already been stated, you don't want to damage the ecosystem of your septic tank by poisoning your bacteria with grease and grunge.

 

[Maine]

Did you guys buy your parts washer or did you make it? Thanks for any info.

 

[Steevo]

Mine is a factory made unit, from Safety-Kleen:

 

[NUTTSGT]

Is your garage heated so the plumbing doesn't freeze ?

 

[Kenta]

Is your garage heated so the plumbing doesn't freeze ?

I ran into this myself already this winter The pipe going up to the faucet burst and left good inch of standing water in my garage a few weeks ago. Having a heated garage isn't necessary as long as you prep accordingly. What I should have done is close the ball valve going out to the garage from inside the house. On top of that the valve is also equipped with a drain, so I could have blown the water out of the line as well. It was my first year with my house/garage. Oversight on my part. Lesson learned.

So.... if you don't have a heated garage, at least get the plumbing right and take the measures to prep for winter months.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

If you are just washing your hands and not parts or anything other than the occasional paint brush, then a sink drained to your septic or city sewer is going to be fine. Also take the proper steps if you are subjected to freezing as others have mentioned.

 

[Steevo]

Before I got my heater up and running in my shop, I had an under-sink riser burst, even though I had the water shut off, faucets open, and had drained from the lowest hose bib in the building. Fortunately, It was obvious when I turned the water on in spring, and an easy repair.

Now I keep mine heated 24/7.

 

[Maine]

Next winter the garage will be heated. I was planning on keeping the plumbing in the house and just stubbing through to hook to the facet, which should help regardless.