Water/Sink

[Steve Szakats]

I am considering running water to my new free-standing garage. Ideally, I'd install a slop sink in the corner. I think my sewer pipe runs within 10' past the garage. My questions are, how practical is it to tap into the sewer pipe to drain the sink as the pipe heads to the street? And how to I prevent the pipes from freezing/bursting in the winter? (I live in the NorthEast.)

Thanks.

 

[toxicz28]

You won't have to worry about it freezing in the sewer pipe, because water doesn't sit in there. It's the supply lines you have to worry about. Keep them below the frost line(36-48"), insulate them as well. Install a shutoff valve and drain in the house so you can drain the system. Or, keep the garage heated.

 

[Willy Victor]

Steve if you tap into your sewer line do it on the sly. Depending on what it's made off it should be fairly easy. Are you charged a flat fee for your sewerage. Do you have a water meter? Some towns use a water meter to calculate the sewer fee, so whether you're flushing or watering the lawn you're getting charged. You must also contend with nosy neighbors.

Like Tox28 said you must drain down the supply lines in the winter, also put a cup of RV antifreeze in the sink trap to keep it from freezing. Make sure there is liquid in the trap or you will get sewer gas backup (not good)

Good luck with your project.

Willy

 

[bmwpower]

The bigger the drain line, the less likely it is to freeze. I also think you need to vent the line per code, no?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Whats done is done, but you really should have run the water line up thru the slab to the inside during the pour. Now you will have to run the line up out of the ground and thru the wall into the building. I did this, but I'm in Georgia and the pipe is wrapped and a split sleeve of 4" pipe surrounds it. Frost line here is not a problem, depending on where you are in the NE, your legal (code) frost line could be as deep as 8 ft. (the entire state of NH). To have an exposed pipe that is pressurized and in use up there in the winter, it most certainly will have to be heated well, wrapped and sleeved, even then it might not be enough.

Charles