Darkroom Plumbing, below grade

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Mark in Maine - 27 Aug 2003 14:44 GMT

I am being evicted from my current darkroom, and am building a new
darkroom in our basement to replace my current space.

All is going well, but I have a question regarding plumbing which I
was wondering if anybody could help me with:

We are on a septic system, (I do not dispose of fix down the drain,
that goes into buckets from which it is taken in for silver recovery),
and the basement where the new darkroom will be is below the level of
the inlet to the tank. I would like to take the drain from my sink,
and have it go into a sealed bucket with a sump pump in it, and pump
the water (there will be no solids), up about 10 ft to a laundry sink
that is in my wifes studio above where the darkroom will be. The
water will then flow down the drain of the laundry sink and into the
septic tank -

Does anybody see any problems with this? Is there a better way?

Thanks

Mark

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WB3FUP \(Mike Hall\) - 27 Aug 2003 16:22 GMT

Get a check valve for the system. You will never empty the darkroom drain
below the point that it exits, so anything above that level needs to be
checked so that it cannot return though the pump into the sink. It is not
a problem, my darkroom is below grade and I have been pumping water out of
it for nearly 30 years now. A washing machine drain tube (1/2" PVC) was
located more or less above the darkroom sink. I cut it and added a T for
my darkroom drain.

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73 es cul

wb3fup
a Salty Bear

> I am being evicted from my current darkroom, and am building a new
> darkroom in our basement to replace my current space.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Mark

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Mike King - 27 Aug 2003 17:07 GMT

Building codes vary so I would consult with a plumber-note-NOT repeat NOT
the City building inspector. Plenty of time for that after your
consultation when you file for a building permit.

Not much different in application that the sort of setup required for a
washing machine in similar circumstances though the washer would use a lot
more water.
--
darkroommike

----------

> I am being evicted from my current darkroom, and am building a new
> darkroom in our basement to replace my current space.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Mark

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Tom Thackrey - 27 Aug 2003 17:07 GMT

> I am being evicted from my current darkroom, and am building a new
> darkroom in our basement to replace my current space.
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Does anybody see any problems with this? Is there a better way?

Don't seal the bucket, otherwise when the pump runs you will have a suction
on your darkroom sink drains. I used a 30 gallon plastic bucket and a 1/4 hp
sump pump. My rise is about 6' and it works well. The only problem I have is
a little algae once in a while which I cure with a couple of grains of
bromine (from the hot tub).

One other thing, get a voltage regulator for your enlarger or put the pump
on an isolated circuit. When the pump starts there's a significant voltage
drop.

Signature

Tom Thackrey
www.creative-light.com

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Pieter Litchfield - 29 Aug 2003 23:09 GMT

I have the exact same problem. I found a below grade "laundry sink pump" at
Home Depot which is a sealed bucket with pump and float that is simply
attached to the sink drain and pumps up to (in my case) a connection into
the septic tank line. Of course it requires a check valve and a vent for
the bucket. Wok well, not very expensive.

> I am being evicted from my current darkroom, and am building a new
> darkroom in our basement to replace my current space.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>
> Mark

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