Outdoor Plumbing

Plan Ahead

Incorporating a water element into your backyard isn't easy-whether it's a shower, spa, swimming pool, or outdoor kitchen. Plumbing for a water element makes building a deck or patio more difficult, but the results are worth it. Work with a design professional to plan the location of your utilities. (Make certain your plan meets local codes.) Even if you won't add an amenity, such as an outdoor kitchen, until later in the project, rough in the utilities during site-prep work.

Control plumbing costs by situating an outdoor bath or kitchen close to a hot water line in an outside wall of your home-it's less expensive than installing new underground lines. A plumber can tap into your existing water supply and drain lines for your deck or patio project.

Running water and drain connections underground avoids clutter and prevents damage to your home and outdoor room. But keep in mind that the connections must be easily accessible for maintenance.

Fountains, ponds, pools, and other water features rarely require a water supply line to feed water. However, you may wish to have a plumber run a supply line you can shut off and drain during the winter as a convenience for refilling.

Living where the ground freezes also complicates a water system plan. For instance, if your outdoor kitchen is detached from the house, the pipes need to run underground in a trench 12 inches below the frost line.

To construct a full supply and drain system for water, hire a plumber. If you want only a prep sink in your outdoor kitchen, however, go for a low-tech approach by supplying it with water from a garden hose. Such a sink requires only a few standard pipe fittings, such as a hose connection on the cooking center.

Place a portable reservoir for gray water (a specialized 5-gallon container) inside the cooking-center base so you can clean produce, rinse plates, or wash your hands. If you avoid using harsh cleaners or chemicals, you can empty the wastewater onto plants.

If you install a shower on or near the deck, you need a drain to catch runoff. You may have to tie into your home's sewer line. Or install a French drain-a pipe buried below ground and set in gravel.