Utility sink into sump pit?

[garrett1812]

I would like to install a utility sink in my basement, very close to an ejector pit.

This ejector pit receives a floor drain(near hot water heater), and drains from a bathroom rough in (not used currently). Since there is no bathroom there yet, there is a sump pump in this pit instead of an ejector pump. This goes into sewer line. There is a separate sump pit for water control which properly discharges to the yard.

Can I install a utility sink drain directly into this pit? Is that to code?

Can I simply cut a hole in the lid to plumb it into? I do not want to do any concrete work.

Is this a vent from the sump/ejector pit (second picture, vertical pipe to the right)? Can I tie in to this, or should I use an independent vent, like the AAV type?

Thanks!!

 

[finn]

I put a trap and sealed cover on mine.

Without the trap and cover odor from decaying soap was objectionable.

 

[PurdueSD]

(Not to code most likely)

Not saying i would do it, but i would

Yes use a trap.

 

[jhelrey]

I'd have no problem doing that in my house. I would have a trap under my sink like a typical set up, then ran over and dumped into the pit.

 

[Chris705]

There should be more knockouts in the lid of your pit to accommodate your waste line. Put a fenco connection close to the lid to ease access to the pit. Think about adding fernco's to the vent & pump discharge while adding sink. This will help ease future pump maintenance.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Is that an ejector pit or a sump pit? If it's a sump out I would not do it as then you will be pumping wastewater onto the ground outside. If it's a ejector pit it should be no problem. You'll need to T into the drain line and you will also need a vent. Although not ideal nor code you could wet vent it. You can put your sink just about anywhere and drain it into a "bucket pump". That sits right next to your slop sink. Then it gets plumbed in as usual.

 

[garrett1812]

Is that an ejector pit or a sump pit? If it's a sump out I would not do it as then you will be pumping wastewater onto the ground outside. If it's a ejector pit it should be no problem. You'll need to T into the drain line and you will also need a vent. Although not ideal nor code you could wet vent it. You can put your sink just about anywhere and drain it into a "bucket pump". That sits right next to your slop sink. Then it gets plumbed in as usual.

It is an ejector pit, which discharges into the sewer, though currently it has a sump pump installed.

I cannot (easily) T into the drain lines because they are all under the floor. They are only a floor drain and rough in for a future bathroom. So instead I would like to drain the sink through the lid of the pit.

Regarding wet vent, would something like this work? Blue being the new plumbing to add to the existing.

 

[Bubbles]

Mine does. Zero issues. You have to dump a lot of water in it trip to pump.
It has a trap on it and dumps next to the pump.

 

[rburke65]

Not a plumber or a code enforcer, but I see no issues wth doing this.

 

[garrett1812]

Do I even need to tie into the vent, or am I okay with just the trap under the sink? The pit it discharges into is vented.

 

[Cyberbear]

I had an old cast iron utility sink in my garage for decades and had no problems. Mine was used for washing hands at the end of days work, and glue water from my cabinet shop. Never any odor or problems of any sort. Try it, if you don't like it, take it out.

 

[dbabicky]

Do I even need to tie into the vent, or am I okay with just the trap under the sink? The pit it discharges into is vented.

No, just run it into the pit.

 

[Chris705]

^^^ +1 you are close enough to the pit to use the vent the pit already has plumbed to it.

 

[engineer2]

For a 1-1/4" drain the vent should be within 5 ft
For a 1-1/2" drain the vent should be within 6 ft
Some of the licensed plumbers on this board should be able to provide expert guidance.

 

[Casey69]

(Not to code most likely)

Not saying i would do it, but i would

Yes use a trap.

me too. buddy of mine does something similar, only he has the sink waste line going directly into the floor drain. definitely not up to code, but not worth jackhammering up the floor to put in a "proper" drain either. he's never had a problem & it's been there for 20 years.

 

[srr]

One thing I would do though is have self closing faucets.

 

[Chris705]

srr....what's you thought for doing self-closing faucets? Just in case to prevent the faucet from being left on? Self closing faucets are a PIA to use, or at least the one's I encounter while camping and such.....??

 

[srr]

srr....what's you thought for doing self-closing faucets? Just in case to prevent the faucet from being left on? Self closing faucets are a PIA to use, or at least the one's I encounter while camping and such.....??

Yes! Since the drain has to be pumped out it would prevent a minor flood. I'm pretty sure you can buy one that can be adjusted to a 5 or 10 second run time. That way you don't have to hold it.

 

[garrett1812]

I have a flood sensor in that area, tied in to the security system, so not too worried.

Do people usually secure a utility sink to the floor, or just let it sit?

 

[ford33]

Change to an quality ejector pump, put a tight fitting lid screwed to the basin because it will stink, use the existing well vent, and connect the ejector pump to the sewer line. I have something similar in my home for a basement bathroom.

I did put a battery back up pump in the well just to make sure it didn't overflow into the basement. It is nasty stuff to clean up if it overflows.

Also put the water alarm sensor in the well at about 2 inches or so below the floor level. It does little good to warn you that the well is overflowing after the well has overflowed. Better to find out that the well is near full before it overflows so you can do something about it.

 

[garrett1812]

When you say use the existing well vent, do I physically need to tie into it, or is it already tied in by draining into the pit?

 

[garrett1812]

My lid is already screwed down (radon sealed type lid) so should be good.

 

[Chris705]

I would fasten either the legs or sink deck to prevent it from moving around & possibly wrecking the drain/trap connection. I think most laundry tubs accommodate the deck being fastened to the wall.

 

[Cyberbear]

I hung my sink from the wall and kept the floor clear. If well supported by the wall, the sink will be fine without the floor support.

 

[flat350]

^^^ +1 you are close enough to the pit to use the vent the pit already has plumbed to it.

This.Cut a 2" x 1 1/2" tee into the existing vent for the pit low enough to run a waste arm to the utility sink(height really depends on the exact sink),you have now created a wet vent for the pit,it will work fine.No need to run a new vent of any type

 

[garrett1812]

This.Cut a 2" x 1 1/2" tee into the existing vent for the pit low enough to run a waste arm to the utility sink(height really depends on the exact sink),you have now created a wet vent for the pit,it will work fine.No need to run a new vent of any type

Would what you describe look like this?

 

[SJR033]

Would what you describe look like this?

No, he was saying to cut a tee into the green vent line and connect the blue sink drain line to that tee. No additional connection through the cover and no additional connection to the vent line.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

We have/had in our basement what you want to do. The basement utility sink had its waste line in the floor that went to a sanitary crock with a regular sump pump that would pump the water up over the hill into a sewer line. When we originally bought the house the washer and dryer were in the basement and the water from the washer went into the sanitary crock. Also hooked into the line to the sanitary pit was the floor drain which took waste water from the water softener and condensation from the furnace and A/C system.

Our basement also has a sump pit. I think the sump pit doesn't seal as tightly as the sanitary crock does. That would be a caution to you.

I think your idea is sound ... although I'm not a plumber nor do I know much about the plumbing code.

 

[garrett1812]

No, he was saying to cut a tee into the green vent line and connect the blue sink drain line to that tee. No additional connection through the cover and no additional connection to the vent line.

Even easier, thanks.


So some vote to tie in to the vent, some say go through the lid. What is most code friendly? Or any big cons to either?

 

[flat350]

Even easier, thanks.


So some vote to tie in to the vent, some say go through the lid. What is most code friendly? Or any big cons to either?

Neither is really "code friendly",it either meets code or it doesn't but tying the new waste into the existing pit vent will work easily and great.Don't know where you are located but some areas require a 2" pump if any fixtures discharge to the pit other than a floor drain,so you may not meet code any way that you pipe it without installing a larger pump.Both ways have the same result,the one is just simpler.

read my signature

 

[TractorJeff]

My brothers house in EAGLE, Wi is setup the same as "**** in Wi's" so it must be to Code in this state.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

It is an ejector pit, which discharges into the sewer, though currently it has a sump pump installed.

I cannot (easily) T into the drain lines because they are all under the floor. They are only a floor drain and rough in for a future bathroom. So instead I would like to drain the sink through the lid of the pit.

Regarding wet vent, would something like this work? Blue being the new plumbing to add to the existing.

I have a self contained sump for my basement.. installed as per the instructions...

View media item 57403
You're proposed installation looks good, might want to make sure that the cover is sealed to the top of the pit (gasket).

 

[garrett1812]

Got to take a look at the pit today. Looks like tying in to the vent line is the easiest and cleanest. Sounds like the best functioning option too, from opinion here. Looks like that's what I will do.

Thanks all!

 

[garrett1812]

Today someone suggested using an AAV for this. Anyone have a thought on this?

 

[rustyjames]

I'm no plumber but I don't see why you'd need an AAV if you plan on doing it as per sketch above.