Considering a Utility Sink?

Having access to a sink when you need one is a great convenience. Most people are used to having sinks in their kitchen and bathrooms, but there are other locations where a sink can come in handy as well. Installing a utility sink in these areas can make tasks such as laundry and cleaning easier, while also keeping you from having to dump things like cleaning wastewater into your kitchen or bathroom sink.

Installing a utility sink in places like your laundry room, basement, or mudroom can be a great idea, especially if there aren’t any other sinks convenient to those locations. Depending on how your home is laid out, though, it might also be a significant undertaking. If you’re thinking about adding a utility sink, here are some things to keep in mind.

What Is a Utility Sink?

If you aren’t familiar with the term “utility sink”, you are still likely familiar with these sinks and the role that they fill. Most of the time, utility sinks are standalone deep basin sinks in areas such as a laundry room or basement. Some utility sinks may have a hose attachment or threaded faucet that a standard hose can be attached to, allowing them to fill buckets or other containers with water even if the container isn’t placed into the sink itself.

Most of the time, the purpose of a utility sink is cleaning related. Utility sinks in the laundry room may be used to wash off dirt, paint, and other materials before putting items in the washing machine. Utility sinks may also be used to fill mop buckets and other containers with soapy water for cleaning floors or even washing your car. Many such sinks also contain large drains to make it easy to empty these containers once you’re done (though it’s worth remembering that some chemicals and waste products shouldn’t go down the drain, whether it’s in a utility sink or not).

Utility Sink Installation

Installing a utility sink is similar to installing a kitchen or bathroom sink, with one notable difference: many houses aren’t set up with water lines that terminate at a utility sink’s location until the sink is installed. That means that a little more work may be required to run the plumbing and install the valves necessary to hook up a utility sink where you want one. Some areas like the laundry room may already have water lines nearby, but others such as the basement or garage could require a little more work. You’ll also need to consider drainage, as the water in your sink is going to have to have a way to leave as well.

Once you’ve got all the plumbing issues sorted, you’ll need to secure the sink basin and connect the water lines and drainage. Some utility sinks have a single faucet, while others have two faucets or a faucet and a hose attachment; you’ll need to make sure that these are hooked up properly if you want to make full use of them. After everything is connected and the basin is secure, all that’s left is to turn on the water and make sure that the sink functions correctly.