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Building a Home Plumbing Basements

Using basement toilet without running water

3 years ago

I'm in the process of restoring a house in Upstate NY. Currently it has no running water, as many pipes and the pressure tank need to be replaced, and I am waiting till after the winter frost to have this work done.

My question is, can I use the basement toilet and force flush it with a bucket of water? The house is on a septic system, which has been inspected and is functional (though the tank will eventually need to be replaced too). The basement bathroom is closest to the septic, about 10 feet away from the septic clean-out pipe. I thought this would potentially be the easiest toilet to use without proper running water yet.

Sorry for this very basic question. I am trying to see if I can use this toilet when I am up checking on the house.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
3 years ago
Yes. While you're at it make sure all the traps are filled with water. Often they will start drying out and allow gases to escape.
bryanthegrower thanked Jeffrey R. Grenz, General Contractor
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
3 years ago
If the septic system is above the basement toilet level, there may be a pump that lifts the sewage up to the septic system level. You may want to check with a local septic cleaning service that is familiar with your home.
bryanthegrower thanked Mark Bischak, Architect
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your flapper is leaking water into the bowl. once the tank gets low enough, the valve opens and refills it. then the process starts over again. turn off the shut off valve, add some food coloring tot eh water in teh tank. wait an hour, if the bowl water starts to turn colors, then the flapper is bad or getting a bad seal. if you use those toilet cleaner "mints" that go in the tank, remove them and toss them in teh garbage. they are bad about causing flapper issues.
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Probably just needs adjustment. Follow the manufacturers "Adjustment" procedures. Sounds like they maybe overfilling, water running out the overflow. Happy New Year!
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An 18 inch auger drill bit allows you to drill in the middle of a stud despite an angled entry from the rest of the drywall. A 3 inch strip of drywall is enough to run receptacles around a room. For vertical work you can cut about 6 inches below the wall ceiling joint, drill through the top plat, and then fish from the opening ion the ceiling. Worst can you open the ceiling 5 inches from the wall and work from there. Inside corners take more time to repair than flat work, so avoid damaging them.
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Wha my kind of cost to expect for running water for basement bathroom?
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Comments (2)
Around here you can figure $1000/fixture for rough-in as part of the plumbing bid. As a later add-on I would expect it to be more. Significantly less if the waste and vent lines are already done and it's only for supply lines, unless the walls are already closed up. So, as always, it depends.
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ulisdone
3 years ago
And if it is an old toilet, may take 5+ gallons of water per flush.
0
bryanthegrower thanked ulisdone
worthy
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
The water for our cottage was from a surface line into the adjacent lake. Rather than drill through a few feet of ice in the winter and use a heated water line, we reverted to the original privy. It had the benefit of deterring unwanted house guests.
0
bryanthegrower thanked worthy

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