Garage Utility Sink: A Practical Selection & Installation Guide

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Can You put a Utility Sink in the Garage?

You are sure to get your hands dirty whenever you work on anything in the garage. It could be a paint job or just changing the tires.

So how do you clean up without having to walk back into the house to your kitchen sink? Don’t you wish, you had a garage utility sink?

Garage utility sink installation is a relatively simple DIY project, if you have some experience in plumbing.

A portable sink that does not require any plumbing is also an option.

Installation of a garage utility sink will simply change your life. You will be amazed at the number of ways you can use it.

Benefits of a Garage Utility Sink

The garage utility sink will let you clean up before entering the house. The obvious benefit is your home remains clean. 

Here is a list of a few occasions when you will find the garage utility sink really handy.

• Car Wash Cleanup: Rinse rags or buckets after cleaning your car.
• Gardening Tools: Wash off soil from tools and pots after gardening.
• Pet Care: Bathe small pets or rinse their accessories easily.
• Dirty Laundry: Pre-treat muddy or stained clothes before washing.
• Paint Cleanup: Clean brushes, rollers, and paint trays after projects.
• DIY Projects: Rinse tools or hands after crafting or repairs.
• Garage Floor Cleaning: Fill mop buckets or wash grime off surfaces.
• Chemical Mixing: Safely mix or dilute cleaning or pool chemicals.
• Outdoor Gear: Clean sports or camping equipment efficiently.
• Seasonal Decor: Rinse off holiday decorations before storing them.

Honestly, once you have a garage utility sink, you will wonder how you managed without one all this time.

What Type of Garage Utility Sink Do You Need?

Yes, that is the first and possibly the most important question that you need to ask. Obviously, the type you need depends on what you are going to use it for, most of the time.

Anyway, the choices you have are:

1. Freestanding Utility Sinks

Pros:

• Easy to install without requiring wall support.
• Offers ample space beneath for storage or easy plumbing access.

Cons:

• Requires dedicated floor space, which may be limited in smaller garages.
• May not align seamlessly with modern or finished garage aesthetics.

Best For: Homeowners who prioritize functionality and ease of installation over style.

TRINITY THA-0307 Freestanding Single Bowl Utility Sink for Garage

2. Wall-Mounted Utility Sinks

Pros:

• Saves valuable floor space, making it ideal for compact garages.
• Provides a sleek, modern appearance.

Cons:

• Requires a sturdy wall for support, increasing installation complexity.
• Has limited weight capacity compared to freestanding models.

Best For: Garages with limited space and sturdy walls.

3. Drop-In Utility Sinks

Pros:

• Designed to fit into countertops, offering a cohesive, integrated look.
• Combines workspace and washing station functionality.

Cons:

• Requires a counter, which can significantly increase installation costs.
• Offers less flexibility in placement due to countertop dependency.

Best For: Finished garages with countertops or built-in workstations.

4. Portable Utility Sinks

Pros:

• Lightweight and mobile, allowing placement wherever needed.
• Easy setup with minimal plumbing requirements.

Cons:

• Typically less durable and has limited capacity for heavy-duty tasks.
• May not provide professional-grade water flow or drainage.

Best For: Occasional users or those needing flexibility in sink placement.

5. Stainless Steel Utility Sinks

Pros:

• Durable, rust-resistant, and easy to clean, ideal for heavy-duty use.
• Handles tough tasks like washing greasy tools or scrubbing large items.

Cons:

• Higher price point compared to other materials.
• The industrial look may not suit all garage styles.

Best For: Heavy-duty users requiring durability and low-maintenance solutions. Get a large one if you want to wash your pet!

Stainless Steel Large Utility Sink Single Bowl

Is Stainless Steel Good for a Garage Utility Sink?

When choosing the material for the garage utility sink, keep in mind that you want something that is

• Rust Proof
• Corrosion Resistant
• Stain & Scratch Resistant
• Unbreakable
• Lightweight

Impact Resistant Polypropylene will tick all the boxes and yet be easy on the pocket. Stainless Steel is a great option, but a lot pricier.

Porcelain used to be popular (and still is when it comes to bathroom fixtures), but quite unnecessary in the garage, in my opinion.

Factors to Consider Before Buying a Garage Utility Sink

Material:

Choose a sink made of robust materials like stainless steel or polypropylene to withstand frequent use and wear.

Size & Capacity:

Evaluate your needs to ensure the sink is spacious enough for tasks without overcrowding the garage.

What Sizes Do Garage Utility Sinks Come In?

You do not need a large garage utility sink to clean your hands before entering the house. A small hand-washing sink will serve your needs pretty well. The sink dimensions in this case could be as small as 12″(L) X 12″(W) X 6″(D).

Stainless Steel Hand Sink with Side Splash

On the other hand, if you are going to be using your garage utility sink for washing your dogs or for cleaning the garden rake, then you need something considerably bigger. Go as big as 41″(L) X 26″(W) X 16″(D).

Mustee 28CF Big Utilatub Combo Utility Tub

Installation Requirements:

Assess the plumbing setup and structural support in your garage. Wall-mounted sinks need strong walls, while drop-in sinks require countertops.

Utility sinks and laundry faucets share plumbing needs but differ in design. Buying a faucet separately lets you customize it to your needs.

For garage use, opt for a faucet with a swivel spout, a long sprayer hose, and adjustable spray settings for tasks like cleaning muddy shoes or rinsing pets.

Purpose:

Match the sink type to your primary needs, whether it’s light cleaning, washing large items, or handling heavy-duty work.

Style & Aesthetics:

Consider whether the sink complements your garage’s design, especially if it’s a finished or multifunctional space.

Budget:

Account for installation, plumbing, and additional requirements like countertops, alongside the sink’s purchase price.

How to Install Water Pipes to the Sink?

Not all garages are the same. People add on extensions based on their specific needs. I am sure your garage is a bit unique too!

Here are some scenarios and tips on how to install water lines to the Garage Utility Sink in each case.

Laundry Room in Garage

Some homeowners have chosen to have their laundry room either in the garage or adjoining the garage. This idea is not without its merits. 

Should you be considering this thought then check out my blog post How to Make an Enclosed Laundry Room in a Garage for some ideas.

You may then add the utility sink in the laundry room in the garage, alongside the washer. This would be killing two birds with one stone.

Mudroom in Garage

Other homeowners, almost always, use the garage entry door to the house rather than the front door. So much so that they have set up a mudroom right there in their garage. 

What do you think? Were you to do this, you would not need a separate garage utility sink. Just incorporate it in the mudroom in the garage.

Not convinced? Why not check out my post Why Add Mudroom Entry From The Garage? 7 Really Great Reasons.

Bathroom in Garage

Should you decide to put a bathroom in your garage, you could put the utility sink within the bathroom.

The idea of a bathroom is a pretty good one, especially for a detached garage with a workshop, gym, or yoga space. It is so much more convenient to take a shower, after a workout, without having to go all the way to the house.

Where Should You Put the Utility Sink?

Having a laundry room, mudroom, or bathroom in the garage is helpful as the plumbing and space are already there. But they are not a prerequisites.

Do not have existing plumbing to or drainage out of the garage? No worries! You can install water lines to the sink.

In that case, it would be helpful, if the location of the sink is such that it is near:

• The wall adjoining the house
• The garage entry door to the house
• A kitchen, laundry room, mudroom, or bathroom that has a water supply
• A drain

How Do You Plumb a Sink into a Garage?

If you are not too sure of your DIY skills in the plumbing area, then get a good plumber to do it for you. It will cost some, but, trust me, the results will be worth it!

But if you want to do it yourself, that’s great too. It’s not too difficult when you have some skills, the right tools, and the required supplies.

Running a water line from your home to an attached garage or a carport attached to the garage is a bit easier as you just need to drill a hole through the adjoining wall and run the pipeline through it.

The work is a bit more tedious if you are running a water line to a detached garage.

Most houses will have a water outlet outside the house for the garden hose. Use that if possible. Cut into the pipeline and install a Tee.

You will need to bury the pipe going to the garage. So that’s the extra bit of work & cost.

TIP: Use PEX pipes. They expand and are unlikely to burst even if they freeze.

The Process

Start off by making sure that the main water line is shut off before you start any plumbing work. Also, open all the taps so that all remaining water in the house pipes is drained. You do not want your house flooded.

You need to tap into the existing cold and hot water lines in the house by installing a Tee. Here it is important to install a ball valve on the section leading out to the garage.

This way you can shut off the water supply to the utility sink in the garage from within the house.

Run the PEX water pipes from within the house to the garage through a hole in the drywall.  The pipes should be run to a point close to where you intend to locate the sink. 

At this point, the PEX pipe should be joined with copper tubing which then connects to the sink faucet. The hot water and cold water tubes should have control valves to control the water flow.

As a safety measure, fit check valves at the joints. The check valves are one-way valves. Water will always flow from the house to the sink and never the other way around.

It is also a good idea to screw on large, clear, or white plastic sheets on the garage wall behind the utility sink. That way your drywall will never get wet from water splashes from the utility sink.

Will the Water Lines to the Garage Utility Sink Freeze in Winter?

Yes, they will if your garage is not climate-controlled and the temperature drops to below freezing.

You have 3 options:

1. Climate-control your Garage. I know you are not going to spend a ton of money just to protect the plumbing of the garage sink. But a climate-controlled garage has a host of benefits. Free-flowing water in the garage utility sink just happens to be another one of them. Get full details by reading my post How To Make Sure Of Best Climate Control For Your Garage.
2. Insulate the cold water pipeline.
3. Switch off the water supply when the outside temperature dips below freezing.

How to Set up the Drain for the Garage Utility Sink?

This is a rather simple job as you can get all the supplies from Home Depot or any other hardware store.

You need a Tailpiece that attaches to the utility sink drain hole. Most importantly you need a P-Trap. This comes as a Kit. The function of the P-Trap is to ensure that smelly sewer gasses do not waft into your garage. 

In a way, it’s like a one-way valve. Drain water can go to the sewer but sewer gasses can’t come back in.

All you need to do is connect the Tailpiece to the P-Trap using a Tailpiece Extension and connect the end of the P-Trap to the pipe leading to the drain.

All plumbing is PVC so if any cutting is required that is quite easy. Be sure to use PVC Cement and Teflon Tape on the threads to ensure all joints are sealed and there won’t be any leakage or dripping.

Can You Install a Garage Utility Sink Without Plumbing?

What if you do not want to go through all this trouble, but you still want a garage utility sink? At least to wash your grimy hands after being on the workshop bench for a while.

In that case, you can buy a portable sink, the type you would use at a camping site.

YITAHOME Portable Sink with 24L Recovery Tank

FAQ

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and useful.