[wamaha]

Question for you folks:
We are going to start digging a pool on Monday, and are kicking around the idea of adding facilities (toilet and sink only) to our detached garage to keep the kiddos from running back and forth through the house (and to keep other "stuff" out of our pool!).

I am planning on having the plumber working with our pool builder handle this for us, but since I have NO idea what I am talking about, I thought I would throw this out there to see what kind of ball park I would/should expect, keep him honest type of thing.

As you are looking at the pic (attached), we were hoping to put the bathroom in the back left corner of the garage. The pool equipment will be just outside of the same area (figured this would make the most since, since there will be water and probably some sort of a drain back there (again, I have NO idea what I am talking about). The garage has a concrete floor, and the area is on the raised part of the garage, so I would guess there is ~8" (4" rise + 4" floor) on concrete that needs to be punched through.

Is this doable? Can you run sewer through the lines located @ or near a pump, or does it need its own line? Can we tie into the pool equipment to get fresh water?

If its doable...
Any guesstimates on plumbing only? I can get a cheap toilet and sink @ Home Depot, so this would be rough plumbing only.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

[smoothy]

A VERY important aspect you MUST consider if you haven't yet.

Does it ever get below the freezing point in winter where you live?

Water in the trap of the toilet WILL break it when it freezes. And I do mean trap... not just the tank. There are ways to protect it and the plumbing. But forgetting one time can be disastrous.

[wamaha]

A VERY important aspect you MUST consider.

Does it ever get below the freezing point in winter?

Water in the trap of the toilet WILL break it when it freezes. And I do mean trap....not just the tank.

VERY, VERY, VERY rare. I am in the Houston area, and in my 40 years, we have never had pipe freezing issues.

[massplumber2008]

Hi Wamaha...

You'll need to talk to your pool guy and the plumber here as each person does things differently and there really is no point in guessing.

For example, fresh water and a drain is not something you will usually see associated with a pool pump/filter system... not unless you guys agree to do it that way.

If you did do a drain for the pool/pool filter area it may just go over to a drywell (hole inground filled with gravel)... no need to tie into the sewer system in most towns... but again, that would need to be discussed in detail before work/bidding begins.

In terms of the plumbing, you will need to run a 3" minimum size drain pipe over to the garage and you should be able to WET VENT the toilet via the sink vent... discuss with plumber. Water will need to be supplied and a hot water heater, also.

Consider having the work installed in a way that it can be drained and winterized easily as Smoothy suggested just in case you decide to shut things down for the season, right?

Cost... no idea... too many factors to pretend to offer up a reasonable guess. If you are not 100% confident in your plumber just be sure to get 2 or 3 estimates on the work and then go with the estimate you feel best with... price and people you will be working with.

Good luck!

Mark

[ma0641]

Almost anything is possible. From what you have indicated, you will need a line to the sewer, a water line, probably not from the pool line since most places don't charge a sewer rate on pool water. Believe me, your $300 toilet and sink will pale with the plumbing estimate, many $$$$$. Is it doable? Yes. Is it costly, Yes. It might be cheaper to put a bath just outside the house where utilities are more readily available.