Toilet in a shop

550Doug · Feb 4, 2023

Just wondering how you'd handle putting a toilet in a shop. Is a septic bed necessary or do you go outhouse style? Maybe a composting unit can work. Thoughts?

grandpa Love · Feb 4, 2023

We got a handicap/ bed side
toilet for our shop .... Wife can
use it and not have to run to the
house. Just has a bucket that slides under it...... #1
only! Lol

Mark Poss · Feb 4, 2023

You could just put a septic tank outside. If youre not using it much just have the tank pumped once a year. All depends on where youre at and codes
and inspections

paul · Feb 4, 2023

My state gets pretty involved in what you need to make that work.

So its going to depend....

Paul

NDIHC · Feb 4, 2023

I have an outhouse a few steps from the
shop. Built in the 30s by WPA and was the
only bathroom on the farm until we added
running water to the house in the later
70s. Moved to it's current location about
10 years ago.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Feb 4, 2023

For 30+ years I used an old tin building for a shop with no bathroom but fortunately the house was close. When I started plans for a new building that was one of the first things included in the layout. It's really nice when it is cold or raining to not have to leave the building.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Feb 4, 2023

I forgot to add that I installed a septic tank with 100 ft. of of drain line for the bathroom.

Steve@Advance · Feb 4, 2023

A lot depends on your location, as in the septic regulations, and how many
people will be using it.

Almost everywhere now requires a permit for a septic system, no matter how
remote, or how small a system. It can be tempting to disregard the rules,
but when the property is sold, it gets discovered and can cause financial
problems correcting it.

The advantage of a septic or aerobic system, it can handle the toilet
along with hand washing, shower, whatever other needs that may arise. The
cons, it can be very expensive depending on the requirements.

If it's just you in the shop, a composting toilet might be the easiest
solution. Cons are the initial cost (which would still be much less than
the septic system), and they do need to be emptied.

Hobo,NC · Feb 4, 2023

I tapped on to the house septic tank, worst case I would have put a steel drum in the ground with 100ft of drain line.

The first shop I built (1982) I used a 55 gal drum with 25ft of drain line as far as I know its still functional. I ran my sink water on another set up, I dug a large hole put a 5 gal bucket in it and filled around it with stone with no drain line.

Its not that hard you just got to do it.

Jaden · Feb 4, 2023

I just Tee'd into the existing line to the house septic tank. Works fine. Besides the toilet, I have a laundry sink to wash items in. I added a small (6 gallon) water heater for the
sink.

flying belgian · Feb 4, 2023

I put a bathroom in my barn and use the old silo pit for a tank. Have it pumped out as needed which has only been twice in 33 years.

Johnhof · Feb 4, 2023

If there is no easy way to tap an existing house line I would use a pumped tank. My gun club with 3000 members uses a tank pumped as needed. You may never
need it pumped.

smileykeith · Feb 4, 2023

Have a composting for the last 8 yrs and love it

37 chief · Feb 4, 2023

I have a toilet plumbed into the main sewer line a couple hundred feet from my shop in a little bathroom area people living in a trailer put in, they left, but the toilet is still there. After my prostate cancer radiation treatment, if every time I
needed to take leak, and walk to the toilet, I would wear out a pair of shoes. I head outside my shop and look for something to hide behind. Stan

Hoofer B · Feb 5, 2023

I added on to my ship last year. Prior, I did not have any
water at t he r shop so I had a ports John. It cost me
about a grand a year for it. Now I have water and
added a toilet and urinalysis. I also have a shower room
for the drivers. Bill

Hoofer B · Feb 5, 2023

Urinal

showcrop · Feb 5, 2023

HaHa!

showcrop · Feb 5, 2023

Mostly what you can do depends on your state and local laws and your current system.

My shop was built just before we moved in, then a new septic around ten years later. The septic line to the tank runs right behind the shop so I had a Wye put in it and then put a hole in the foundation. The corner 4 ft by 4 foot was left dirt for the plumbing. It has been waiting these last 30+ years to get to the top of the list to do the interior work. maybe this year.

Richard G. · Feb 5, 2023

I put one in my shop several years ago.
Regular toilet and a sewage pump that pumps up the hill to my septic tank.
Bought the pump and tank at Home Depot for about $450.
After the 3rd flush, the pump runs for 10 seconds.
Pumps through a 2 inch PVC pipe.
Works great and Miss V loves it.
Her sewing room is on the back of my shop.
Richard in NW SC

Butch(OH) · Feb 5, 2023

Id say it very much depends on how much
it's going to be used, how regulated your
area is and as someone else said of you
plan to sell the place anytime in
predictable future. The new plastic septic
tanks are pretty reasonable for a small
one and if it has no outlet and must be
pumped out then the install cost is pretty
low. This makes it a legal installation
where I live for the least upfront cost.
However if its going to be used by more
than one person on an occasional basis it
ok would nit be my first choice.

Toilet in a shop

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