Running water in the Garage?

[SprintCC]

Planning my Detached Garage build, and have always planned on having running water. Someone asked me why, cause he's never had it. We discussed it and I started to wonder.

Who has running water in their detached garage?
Is it worth it in your opinion?

Who doesn't have it?
Do you wish you did?

The shop would be about 50 feet from my house, so not too far. I think my main worry is getting something in my eye I need to flush and having to find my way back into the house.

Thanks!

SprintCC
Blue Bell Pa

 

[tim096]

My garage is attached to the house. I spent an entire weekend putting a sink in it, and 2 hose connections one in front and back. All I can say is it was totally worth it. You cant go wrong with running water.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Greasy cruddy hands and hand cleaner in the kitchen or bathroom sink? I think not! Sink with hot water is way too useful in a shop.

Charles

 

[trainer]

Completely worth it! 3/4" or 1" poly water pipe is very cheap,

I've got a 2-compartment restaraunt style stainless sink.


It's nice just to be able to wash your hands during a messy job, to have a wet rag handy to clean up glue during woodworking, or a bucket of water to quench stuff during welding.

I've also got a floor drain and I wash and wax my vehicles during the winter

 

[67pete300]

My last two car attached had the washer and dryer inside (bad.) But I installed a deep sink (good.) Current attached two car has no washer and dryer (good.) But no water (bad.) I miss it. Go with the water.

 

[FunfDreisig]

I guess it really depends on your location. In PA I might consider running water INSIDE the garage due to weather. But here in Central Texas I'm building a 3 bay garage that will have running water OUTSIDE the garage; but not INSIDE it. Around here the status symbol is an OUTSIDE shower

Funf Dreisig

 

[JTFormula]

Go with the indoor plumbing. Besides the hand and parts washing, I'd consider running a toliet in the garage too. This way if nature calls, you can do your business without getting the house grungy. This is one of the things I am considering when I build the second garage.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I'm putting a sink in my attached garage. It has water (well pump switch and pressure tank are in garage), but hasn't had a sink. I'm sick of tracking **** in the house to wash greasy hands every 15 minutes, and not having a place to pee during the day. Yes, I'll pee in my sink.

 

[bmwpower]

I'm putting a sink in my attached garage. It has water (well pump switch and pressure tank are in garage), but hasn't had a sink. I'm sick of tracking **** in the house to wash greasy hands every 15 minutes, and not having a place to pee during the day. Yes, I'll pee in my sink.

Better than peeing in a gallon milk jug, which is what I've been doing lately.

Running water is a must. Just make sure you got a way to keep the lines from freezing. My garage is heated so I don't have that problem.

 

[nissan_crawler]

my garage is heated and cooled, stays between 40-85 year round. I have additional heating and cooling for when I'm out there.

 

[FunfDreisig]

Go with the indoor plumbing. Besides the hand and parts washing, ...

FWIW these are the same reasons I am NOT installing indoor plumbing. I have a septic system. And I don't want to reduce its effectiveness by introducing petroleum products, etc..

FWIW I had a barn without any plumbing for a couple of decades and only rarely wished I had a sink. In my new garage I'll have an outside sink for washing landscape tools etc. but this will be hooked up to a gray water system due to the high percent of solids which eventually have to be pumped out of a septic system.

Funf Dreisig

 

[nissan_crawler]

People freak out about septic systems way too much. I've been on them for 26 years, never had an issue, just get it pumped every 5 years for good measure.

 

[jay50]

Planning my Detached Garage build, and have always planned on having running water. Someone asked me why, cause he's never had it. We discussed it and I started to wonder.

Who has running water in their detached garage?
Is it worth it in your opinion?

Who doesn't have it?
Do you wish you did?

The shop would be about 50 feet from my house, so not too far. I think my main worry is getting something in my eye I need to flush and having to find my way back into the house.

Thanks!

SprintCC
Blue Bell Pa

When I poured the concrete for my 30X30 a few years back, I installed the lines and pipe for water and toilet in the event I wanted to add it in the future. Never have and never regretted it. Outside house facet is only 30 feet away along with unfinished basement which has large laundry sink.

 

[ovilla]

My neighbor ran a water line in his garage so that he could wash cars and all it did was cause problems. His garage is heavily insulated but the copper piping still froze up and exploded and caused lots of damage. A sink in the garage will most likely only get used for washing hands and that's about it. Doubt you'd ever use it to wash parts or tools. On the other hand, a small bathroom would definitely gets used a lot.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Sounds like your neighbor wasn't smart enough to keep it above freezing. It's that damn 2% rule, again.

 

[Steve in Mi]

The shop would be about 50 feet from my house, so not too far. I think my main worry is getting something in my eye I need to flush and having to find my way back into the house. Thanks! SprintCC Blue Bell Pa

My thoughts also, something in my eye or a chemical burn. There are self contained eye baths and safety showers but they are very expensive and must be maintained along with water heating.

Floor drains in the metal fabrication area is something I would not do again but I have no regrets on putting in a half bath on the first floor and sinks both upstairs and down.

 

[Blue]

As far as getting something in your eye, I think you can get an eye wash station that runs off of a container of water. I'm super-**** about wearing my safety glasses when I get anywhere near any sort of chemicals/batteries/etc, just beacuse I don't have any water outside.

As far as water in the garage, I don't have any. But, I do have an unfinished basement with a big laundry sink and a big bottle of hand cleaner. So I haven't missed not having the sink in the garage. If I didn't have the basement, that would be a different story.

 

[ovilla]

Sounds like your neighbor wasn't smart enough to keep it above freezing. It's that damn 2% rule, again.

He had run the copper from the house, over the garage ceiling (which is heavily insulated with blown insulation) and then down inside the same wall as the garage doors. It actually exploded in the ceiling and not even on one of the sweated joints. I'm thinking he must have used schedule "M" pipe. Also, he did not wrap it with pipe insulation which maybe would have helped matters. The sad thing is that he has a BIG Reznor heater in there too but I don't think it's always turned on in the winter.

 

[FunfDreisig]

People freak out about septic systems way too much. I've been on them for 26 years, never had an issue, just get it pumped every 5 years for good measure.

Poorly maintained and/or abused septic systems are a significant source of pollution (including e coli) in the streams and rivers of our nation. Sediment control (e.g. pumping) is only part of maintaining a fully functioning septic system. Harsh chemicals (e.g petroleum based parts cleaners) can significantly reduce a septic system's effectiveness, without adding one ounce of sediment. Much of the nation's water supply now has traces of chemicals and drugs due to improper disposal via our sewers and septic systems.

FWIW I take water quality very seriously. I own a stretch of a clear stream in the Texas Hill Country; and I intend to do my part in keeping it that way, by making sure I don't pollute it directly or indirectly via my septic system. I am part of a sate wide volunteer group that monitors water quality, including e coli, monthly. The differences in e coli counts between local watersheds this summer has been remarkable. Our watershed has had negligible e coli. But an adjacent watershed has recorded e coli counts above the federal/sate standards for contact recreation (e.g. swimming). This is in a stream that has crystal clear flowing water.

Funf Dreisig

 

[nissan_crawler]

A bit of dirt or laundry soap doesn't cause e coli, the two are 100% irrelevant. Cleaning of garden tools in a sink doesn't cause e coli in a stream. NOTHING you mentioned before has to do with e coli.

Edit: and who in the hell was talkinga bout putting petroleum products down the drain?

 

[krusty the clown]

i wish i had run water to my shop, i keep a bucket of water next to the wood stove for hand washing in the winter. it's only 40 ft from the well house to the shop, i just didn't want to dig the ditch. i'm planing on adding another 30 ft and there will be water run when i do that.

 

[Cutch]

We finally got the water hooked up in the garage. Just a couple of spigots for now...will hook up the sinks later. So far it has been handy for filling up the water dish for the Golden and I'm looking forward to cleaning the floor of the slush and dirt we get come winter.

The garage is heated with in floor radiant heat so we should be good to go...will be so much easier than hauling buckets of water from the house

 

[rburke65]

I have a pole barn, 32'x40', and it is 250' from the house. After 15 years without water I finally ran a 1" (plastic or pvc or whatever) line, buried 3', from the house and installed several frost-free yard hydrants. Best thing I ever did. We have a volunteer fire dept, and it gives me a little peace of mind in case of a fire; I at least have access to water. I can now power wash off the tractor, mower, get a drink of water, wash my hands, etc. A real PITA trenching and installing but it sure beats running 250' to the house.

 

[logical]

I installed a wall-mount plastic laundry tub in my attached garage on the back wall that butts to the house. I keep the thermostat for the garage heater set at 40 degrees just in case but it only kicks on if it's 20 outside and the big door sits open a while. I don't worry about it freezing on that back wall and it hasn't. I've got a hose hook-up right next to it. They are both softened water while all my outside faucets are not softened. My water isn't bad at all but I still like using the softer water for car washing.

I use the sink for hand washing primarily but that alone makes it worthwhile to me. I have to cross a nice wood floor to get to water inside the house so it's nice to have water in the garage for coffee making, drinking obviously and it's esecially nice this time of year to have hot water out there for a nice warm car wash bucket. When it's 48 degrees outside, you don't want to be dipping your hands into a bucket of 40 degree soapy water.

 

[FunfDreisig]

A bit of dirt or laundry soap doesn't cause e coli, the two are 100% irrelevant. Cleaning of garden tools in a sink doesn't cause e coli in a stream. NOTHING you mentioned before has to do with e coli.

Edit: and who in the hell was talkinga bout putting petroleum products down the drain?

I did not post anything about the use of a garage sink "causing" e coli.

Read back a bit and you will find my reply (#11) just before your reply (#12) was in response to using sinks in garages for "hand and parts washing". Many people exclusively use biodegradable hand cleaners and biodegradable solvents for parts washing but many use petroleum solvents (mineral oil, Varsol, keosene, etc.) for either or both of these activities. Introduction of non-biodegradable solvents into a septic system can degrade it's performance and cause it to incompletely process human waste and hence RELEASE e coli which can then get into the streams and rivers.

I further explained that I use outdoor hoses/sinks etc to wash garden tools to reduce sediment build up in my septic which also can degrade the performance of a septic system. But this can, as you pointed out, be remedied by regular pumping.

My response to your follow up post (#12) was to point out that simply pumping a septic system regularly does NOT assure that there will be no "issues" as you implied.

In summary... The point of my posts in this thread has been to caution people to not use garage sinks in a way that could adversely effect water quality, particularly if they are on a septic system. And to point out the potential decremental effects of not properly using/maintaining a septic system.

Funf Dreisig

 

[kartracer23]

My mom's garage has a sink / bathroom in it. She doens't use it - it's more for the landscapers, mowing crew, or anyone else working at her house. In the winter, we shut off the water and let it drain (sits lower than the house) and then fill the toilet with antifreeze.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Good grief, throw some bacteria down the crapper every month or so, pump it every 5 years, and don't be a tard and throw solvents down it, and it's fine. I still don't get why if you're cleaning parts with a solvent tank (which I do), why in the hell you would be putting them in the sink

That **** shouldn't go down any drain, septic or not. Any good **** sucker will drain your tank, blast it back into your tank to clean the floor, repeat a few times, then **** it out. Leave some juice in there and throw some bacteria in, and it's good to go again.

*shrug* Each to their own, a sink used like any other sink won't hurt a septic system in the slightest. My well isn't that far from the septic system, and tests great every year.

 

[mikeyr]

I am upset that my new garage will not have a sink, city said no. I use it for washing my hands before going into the house and that way I don't get yelled at by the wife for messing up the bathroom sink with greasy paw prints. I also used it for rinsing parts after soda blasting them since you have to wash the stuff off prior to painting. And when I zinc plated parts it was nice to have a rinse basin. Nothing severe, nothing that would have harmed a septic system but I am on sewer anyway.

But while I am here, my new garage slab at our new house will be about 40-60ft. from the house sewer line and near the same height plus_or_minus a inch, so I won't have a slope, contractor said "dig a hole and put in a sump pump and run a line to the main sewer" is that feasable ?

 

[e-tek]

Better than peeing in a gallon milk jug, which is what I've been doing lately.

Running water is a must. Just make sure you got a way to keep the lines from freezing. My garage is heated so I don't have that problem.

I pee in an anti-freeze jug...but it looks like the real thing so I have to be careful because a couple years ago I used a jug of pee in my truck - seemed to work, but probably better use the real stuff.

 

[rsanter]

if you have the option to do it then I would
I do not have one now but wish I did. a previous house I had did have one in the garage and it got used alot.

if I had my choice I would install on inside and one outside of the garage

bob

 

[Togorashi]

I did not post anything about the use of a garage sink "causing" e coli.

Read back a bit and you will find my reply (#11) just before your reply (#12) was in response to using sinks in garages for "hand and parts washing". Many people exclusively use biodegradable hand cleaners and biodegradable solvents for parts washing but many use petroleum solvents (mineral oil, Varsol, keosene, etc.) for either or both of these activities. Introduction of non-biodegradable solvents into a septic system can degrade it's performance and cause it to incompletely process human waste and hence RELEASE e coli which can then get into the streams and rivers.

I further explained that I use outdoor hoses/sinks etc to wash garden tools to reduce sediment build up in my septic which also can degrade the performance of a septic system. But this can, as you pointed out, be remedied by regular pumping.

My response to your follow up post (#12) was to point out that simply pumping a septic system regularly does NOT assure that there will be no "issues" as you implied.

In summary... The point of my posts in this thread has been to caution people to not use garage sinks in a way that could adversely effect water quality, particularly if they are on a septic system. And to point out the potential decremental effects of not properly using/maintaining a septic system.

Funf Dreisig

I worry about this a lot too. I'm in central Texas right on top of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. Our water table is so sensitive. Responsible citizens really need to do everything they can around here. I'm really careful about taking everything I can to the recycling center, but you just can't get everything. I had my old '66 Chevy sitting in my driveway the other day and it sprung a coolant leak. Not much I could do. I got out the hose and sprayed it all down. At least it got diluted so that an animal didn't get into it, but all that coolant made it into the water table. I'm in the planning phases of building a large garage/shop. I go back and forth about the drain issue. I haven't figured out what I'm going to do yet. I haven't found a solution that totally satisfies me. I love detailing my vehicles so I really want a drain so that I can do that indoors.

 

[D KRAGER]

I have an insulated bathroom in my detached garage with laundry sink, toilet, washer and dryer. All plumbing comes up from the ground into the heated bathroom. The bathroom is the only part that I heat all the time, just use one of those oil filled radiators.

And NO I wouldn't do without it..... Great to have the rest room for the garage parties and such. ALso nice to wash shop rags and work clothes out there.

 

[Ironcrow]

I had my old '66 Chevy sitting in my driveway the other day and it sprung a coolant leak. Not much I could do. I got out the hose and sprayed it all down. At least it got diluted so that an animal didn't get into it, but all that coolant made it into the water table.

Coolant is certainly not in the same class as motor oil and other hydrocarbons for environmental damage. The EPA actually suggests disposal by municipal sewer (flush it down the toilet) although some local sewage treatment facilities may not be enthusiastic about it (I'd call and ask). By all accounts, the ethylene glycol breaks down within a few days/weeks and does not plume further than a few feet. If I was on a septic, I would avoid dumping it there but I would not hesitate to dilute it onto the surface (ensuring it soaked into the ground before being an exposure risk to pets).

 

[BigChevy80]

I installed one of those big 4-leg utility sinks in my 2 car attached garage and would never go back. It's good for washing up after getting all greasy. The end of the spigot has hose threads on it so I can hook up the pressure washer for hot water washing when I need it. It also comes in handy for peeing in when the neighbors aren't looking!

 

[wayne]

I would definately put water in if it is a valid option (here it is too cold in winter to get plumbing from house to shop) I often thought that a re-claimed washer/dryer would be a good thing in a shop for cleaning/polishing towels, grimy coveralls etc.
Although to answer your concerns about eye safety nothing is as cheap as a good pair of safety goggles!!

 

[BrianAltenhofel]

Better than peeing in a gallon milk jug, which is what I've been doing lately.

Running water is a must. Just make sure you got a way to keep the lines from freezing. My garage is heated so I don't have that problem.

I just step outside the garage. Its better than walking 50 feet back to the house, and if I keep it marked often enough the dog won't come in and get into chemicals and paper towels she shouldn't be in.

 

[arthur1920]

I have running water (cold) in the garage and I almost never use it. The contractor put the outside spigot there because he thought I would like it. (garage is attached). Wrong. Now I would have to leave the garage open if I want to water the grass on that side of thehouse. (too much help)

Floor drain...I did want the floor drain, that was a mistake. The other contractor partner suggested I just pitch the floor...he was right. Now my floor pitches to the center drain and it is a pain in the azz.

Solution. Pitch the floor towards the garage doors and get one of those long grid type drains that runs the width of the doors.

 

[nonhog]

What if ?

for those who dont want/or cant bring a water line in the shop how about those water cooler bottles and a small sink just to get clean enough to get into the house ? Or emergency wash .You could drain it into the gutter downspout (w/o solvents of course)
I would love a sink and a toilet but not worth the space trade off IMO.

 

[nissan_crawler]

What if ?

for those who dont want/or cant bring a water line in the shop how about those water cooler bottles and a small sink just to get clean enough to get into the house ? Or emergency wash .You could drain it into the gutter downspout (w/o solvents of course)
I would love a sink and a toilet but not worth the space trade off IMO.

If you do it right, it won't take up much space. The sink I'm putting in mine is 12" wide and 18" long, however, I'm setting it sideways, so it only comes out from the wall 12". It's a good compromise for me. As for a toilet, the sink is the toilet if it's #1.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Not too neat or clean, but here is my double laundry sink. Original legs were as unsteady as a newborn fawn's, so I ditched them and built a 2x4 frame that put the sink at the same height. Probably should have made it slightly higher but it is OK. Blue thing underneath is a 2-1/2 gal electric hot water heater. I recently ditched the original laundry sink faucet and installed the single lever American Standard. It has a longer and higher spout, easier to reach and wash hands or fill buckets with, and doesn't shut off on you like the old one did when the hot water hit the faucet valve.

Charles