 | Low: Equipment Starts $50-$150+ |
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 | Medium: Starts $400-$650 Installed If Hookups Ready |
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 | High: Can Run $600-$1,400+ Installed With New Plumbing |
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| Also called a mud or laundry sink or a mud, utility or laundry tub (tubs are generally larger and deeper than sinks), a utility sink is a basic workhorse that provides a place to remove excess gardening dirt before entering the house; soak laundry items; wash large pans, jars, buckets or other oversized items; or rinse paintbrushes or other messy do-it-yourself, craft or hobby tools. A utility sink is usually located in a garage, mud room, laundry room or general utility room. | | |
| Typical costs: | - Costs for utility sinks vary based on size, depth and the quality of materials. A basic one-basin, no-frills utility sink of heavy-duty plastic or fiberglass runs about $50 -$150. One- or two-basin units of stainless steel or cast iron range from $150 -$900 or more and extremely durable commercial-grade utility sinks with options such as more than one set of faucets or a built-in cabinet can be $1,000 -$3,000 or more. There can be additional costs of $100 -$300 or more for materials if the hook-ups and vents are not already in place, depending on what's needed to tie into existing water, sewer and venting systems.
- The cost to have a plumber install a standard utility sink where basic hook-ups and vents are already in place runs about $200 -$500, assuming no extensive new piping or venting is required, but it can cost more if extensive work is needed.
- If the utility tub hookups are not already in place, materials and professional installation averages $500 -$800 but can be $900 -$1,300 or more, depending on what's required to properly hook up to existing plumbing and venting systems.
What should be included: | - Utility sinks generally have a deep rectangular basin compared to the more circular and shallower bathroom sinks. Many utility sinks have legs or a cabinet to make them stand-alone units, but they can also be mounted from the wall or floor. AskTheBuilder.com presents a video showing how to install a wall-mount bracket for a utility sink.
- Unless you're simply replacing an existing sink (with existing hook-ups), installation can be a fairly complicated plumbing project. DIYOrNot.com describes the replacement process. ThisOldHouse.com provides a video overview of a 4- to 6-hour challenging plumbing project with no existing hook-ups, and a Florida homeowner shares his do-it-yourself experience installing a basic utility sink onto already-roughed-in plumbing lines.
- Because sewer gas is hazardous to your health and can contain methane gas (which can explode), building codes require venting on all plumbing fixtures, including sinks. A certified plumber will be aware of these requirements, but do-it-yourselfers should check with the local planning department for specific requirements.
Shopping for utility sink: | - Major utility sink manufacturers include American Shower and Bath and Kohler.
- For a replacement sink (where hook-ups already exist) or a straight-forward installation that doesn't require extensive plumbing, you may be able to hire a handyman for $30 -$125 an hour, or around $100 -$500.
- Get several estimates, and ask for (and check) references. If hiring a plumber, check to see if they're licensed in your state and whether there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
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Article updated January 2009 |
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