Is your shop connected to septic system? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Nima · 01-20-2014, 10:45 AM

He guys:
We are shopping for a house and everything we are looking at is on septic system. Many of the houses that we are looking at have some kind of shop

and I have not seen any of them having any sink or water source. With that much I know about septic system, you don't want oil or grease get in the septic system and I am assuming that is why these shops don't have a sink so what you guys with shop on a septic system doing? A shop without water is kind of a messy place!

Thanks.

Custom 68 · 01-20-2014, 11:04 AM

My shop has a full bathroom and washer and dryer hook up that was in part because I lived in it for a few months while I finished building my house. I am on a septic tank now I don't have a floor drain or anything that might flow the bad junk into my system I will wash up in there but that is not much worse than what most will do in their house.
My buddy added a sink to his shop recently and it is considered "gray" water so it just drains outside it is the same as washing your hands at an outside hydrant It is just convenient to get water there or rinse your hands.
There may be different regulations in different states or areas. If you have water in your shop and it gets cold you will need to heat that area or completely drain it. It is nice but I don't really find myself using alot of water in there.

faribran · 01-20-2014, 11:25 AM

i just spent this weekend putting in a new septic system at my "barn". the only reason is i am adding on where the old septic tank was.

like Custom said above.... what goes into the septic tank is pretty much like what goes into my house system... i have a small bath room (commode and sink).. let me tell you, it is nice to not have to RUSH up to my house to use the John. i have missed it during the recent down time...
i dont put grease or oil down my sink.

63burban4x4 · 01-20-2014, 02:16 PM

As a licensed septic installer for over 25 years, (& a MA Title V Septic inspector since the inception of that law,) I can tell you that grease is the enemy of any septic system, it gradually creates an impermeable slick where the drainage or leaching field meets the surrounding soil. That said, it is quite true that ordinary hand washing, will doubtless put less grease into the system than your kitchen sink and dishwasher do, and it would take many, many, years for that to affect the leaching. The bacterial activity in the tank does break down and consume some of the grease that enters the tank. You sure wouldn't want, however, to be washing any additional grease down the drain, like rinsing parts or such, which does seem obvious. (and NO floor drains) If you were to connect to an already existing field, which had some grease buildup already from age, this could hasten the demise of the system. If you expected to put an abnormal amount of grease down it, you could install a grease trap before the septic tank, such as restaurants have, but this would be pretty extreme. For a shop with a toilet and a hand washing sink, just being careful would certainly suffice. Local or state laws may dictate if this is allowed, if there is already a system on the site, as well as setbacks from water supplies (yours and any neighboring) Just my 2 cents.

**LockDoc** · 01-20-2014, 07:19 PM

-
The thing to remember about a septic system is to not flush ANYTHING that will not dissolve, period!

LockDoc

71swb4x4 · 01-20-2014, 08:24 PM

So Leon, are you telling me that Matchbox cars shouldn't be flushed?

**LockDoc** · 01-20-2014, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

So Leon, are you telling me that Matchbox cars shouldn't be flushed?

... no problem as long as they aren't '67-'72 Chevy trucks...

LockDoc

68C15 · 01-20-2014, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 71swb4x4

So Leon, are you telling me that Matchbox cars shouldn't be flushed?

no pencils or action figures from "Flushed Away" either

Nima · 01-21-2014, 01:45 AM

Thanks guys.

studda · 01-21-2014, 04:01 AM

Oil is lighter than water so it will float to the top of your septic tank and be dispersed through your leach field and exit the system through the ground (leach field).

63burban4x4 · 01-21-2014, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studda

Oil is lighter than water so it will float to the top of your septic tank and be dispersed through your leach field and exit the system through the ground (leach field).

Keeps guys like me in business.

_Ogre · 01-27-2014, 08:21 PM

i've been on well and septic for 32 years at 2 different houses.

in my first home shop i used a plastic 55 gal barrel with a lot of holes drilled into it and
a truck load of gravel around it in a hole for my septic tank.
i only drained my sink into it.

in this shop i just have the pipe run thru the wall behind my sink.
other than grease on my hands, i would never flush any grease or oil down a drain.
any where.

imo... floor drains in a garage are a waste of time and effort unless you have a dedicated wash bay.
even then washing oil or grease into a drain is just wrong.

68anthony · 02-10-2014, 12:37 AM

I have septic for my house and my detached garage. They are two separate systems though. Mainly was hands and flush toilet in the garage. I live in AZ so in the summer if I don't use the sink or toilet much the water evaporates out of the P trap and can make things smell. Works great though much better than having to go inside the house all the time.

01-20-2014, 10:45 AM	#1
Nima Blue 67 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Western WA Posts: 1,179	Is your shop connected to septic system? He guys: We are shopping for a house and everything we are looking at is on septic system. Many of the houses that we are looking at have some kind of shop and I have not seen any of them having any sink or water source. With that much I know about septic system, you don't want oil or grease get in the septic system and I am assuming that is why these shops don't have a sink so what you guys with shop on a septic system doing? A shop without water is kind of a messy place! Thanks. __________________ 1953 GMC 3/4 ton: current project 1967 C20: 5.3 voretc with T5 conversion, 4 wheel 8 lug disc brake 1972 Nova: my 4 door sport sedan! 5.3 voretc + T5 conversion. drivable project, FUN!! 1979 Camaro Z28: 5.3 vortec conversion with build TH350: drivable project, Fun to drive 1992 Camaro RS convertible (Z28 clone): 5.3 conversion with build T5: on going project 2005 Silverado 2500, 4x4 Duramax, original owner

01-20-2014, 11:04 AM	#2
Custom 68 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Springfield, MO Posts: 2,939	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? My shop has a full bathroom and washer and dryer hook up that was in part because I lived in it for a few months while I finished building my house. I am on a septic tank now I don't have a floor drain or anything that might flow the bad junk into my system I will wash up in there but that is not much worse than what most will do in their house. My buddy added a sink to his shop recently and it is considered "gray" water so it just drains outside it is the same as washing your hands at an outside hydrant It is just convenient to get water there or rinse your hands. There may be different regulations in different states or areas. If you have water in your shop and it gets cold you will need to heat that area or completely drain it. It is nice but I don't really find myself using alot of water in there. __________________ Dave 1968 Custom Chevy with turbo charged 5.3 gen III 4l80e swap 1967-71 GMC 3/4 ton long step 4x4 (not sure what year exactly?) "A good friend will bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "that was frekin awesome". "If it doesn't fit force it...If it breaks then it needed to be replaced anyway!"

01-20-2014, 11:25 AM	#3
faribran Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: AL Posts: 1,828	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? i just spent this weekend putting in a new septic system at my "barn". the only reason is i am adding on where the old septic tank was. like Custom said above.... what goes into the septic tank is pretty much like what goes into my house system... i have a small bath room (commode and sink).. let me tell you, it is nice to not have to RUSH up to my house to use the John. i have missed it during the recent down time... i dont put grease or oil down my sink. __________________ "

01-20-2014, 02:16 PM	#4
63burban4x4 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: US Posts: 446	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? As a licensed septic installer for over 25 years, (& a MA Title V Septic inspector since the inception of that law,) I can tell you that grease is the enemy of any septic system, it gradually creates an impermeable slick where the drainage or leaching field meets the surrounding soil. That said, it is quite true that ordinary hand washing, will doubtless put less grease into the system than your kitchen sink and dishwasher do, and it would take many, many, years for that to affect the leaching. The bacterial activity in the tank does break down and consume some of the grease that enters the tank. You sure wouldn't want, however, to be washing any additional grease down the drain, like rinsing parts or such, which does seem obvious. (and NO floor drains) If you were to connect to an already existing field, which had some grease buildup already from age, this could hasten the demise of the system. If you expected to put an abnormal amount of grease down it, you could install a grease trap before the septic tank, such as restaurants have, but this would be pretty extreme. For a shop with a toilet and a hand washing sink, just being careful would certainly suffice. Local or state laws may dictate if this is allowed, if there is already a system on the site, as well as setbacks from water supplies (yours and any neighboring) Just my 2 cents.

01-20-2014, 07:19 PM	#5
LockDoc The Older Generation Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montezuma, Iowa Posts: 25,815	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? - The thing to remember about a septic system is to not flush ANYTHING that will not dissolve, period! LockDoc __________________ Leon Locksmith, Specializing In Antique Trucks, Automobiles, & Motorcycles (My Dually Pickup Project Thread) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=829820 -

01-20-2014, 08:24 PM	#6
71swb4x4 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Brookings, SD Posts: 10,497	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? So Leon, are you telling me that Matchbox cars shouldn't be flushed? __________________ Some people are like slinkies, they aren't good for anything, but you can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

01-21-2014, 01:45 AM	#9
Nima Blue 67 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Western WA Posts: 1,179	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? Thanks guys. __________________ 1953 GMC 3/4 ton: current project 1967 C20: 5.3 voretc with T5 conversion, 4 wheel 8 lug disc brake 1972 Nova: my 4 door sport sedan! 5.3 voretc + T5 conversion. drivable project, FUN!! 1979 Camaro Z28: 5.3 vortec conversion with build TH350: drivable project, Fun to drive 1992 Camaro RS convertible (Z28 clone): 5.3 conversion with build T5: on going project 2005 Silverado 2500, 4x4 Duramax, original owner

01-21-2014, 04:01 AM	#10
studda Registered User Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: St. Clair Mo Posts: 283	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? Oil is lighter than water so it will float to the top of your septic tank and be dispersed through your leach field and exit the system through the ground (leach field). Last edited by studda; 01-21-2014 at 04:07 AM.

01-27-2014, 08:21 PM	#12
_Ogre Registered User Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Motown Posts: 7,680	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? i've been on well and septic for 32 years at 2 different houses. in my first home shop i used a plastic 55 gal barrel with a lot of holes drilled into it and a truck load of gravel around it in a hole for my septic tank. i only drained my sink into it. in this shop i just have the pipe run thru the wall behind my sink. other than grease on my hands, i would never flush any grease or oil down a drain. any where. imo... floor drains in a garage are a waste of time and effort unless you have a dedicated wash bay. even then washing oil or grease into a drain is just wrong. __________________ cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature shop air compressor timer

02-10-2014, 12:37 AM	#13
68anthony Registered User Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Mesa az Posts: 66	Re: Is your shop connected to septic system? I have septic for my house and my detached garage. They are two separate systems though. Mainly was hands and flush toilet in the garage. I live in AZ so in the summer if I don't use the sink or toilet much the water evaporates out of the P trap and can make things smell. Works great though much better than having to go inside the house all the time.



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