Getting rid of an outhouse toilet

[Stubblestache]

Hi all, would love your input.

I have an outhouse that has a toilet in it that I want to get rid of. Just a toilet, so no sink. The toilet still works but we haven't used it in 2+ years of living here. I took a pee in it when we moved in just because I'd never used an outhouse before.

So how would you go about removing it?

My initial thoughts would be to do the following in order:

 1. Find the stopcock for the toilet to stop water flow.
 2. Drain the cistern and bowl
 3. Remove all the ceramic, so cistern, toilet bowl etc.
 4. With the (no doubt stinky) main soil pipe left, I was going to cut that down to be level with the surrounding ground.
 5. Plug the soil pipe with an expandable plug I've seen you can buy, about half a foot or so deep
 6. Fill the gap above the plug with cement.
 7. Crack open a beer for a job well done.


What do we reckon?

Thanks in advance.

[Papa bear]

Your outhouse is plumbed?  Is it tied into a sewer line or a line for a septic system?  Do you get freezes during the winter? 

My concerns are completely around the plumbing.  If you are in a cold winter climate, I would be burying that supply line under the frost free line and capping it.  If you are tied into sewer or septic, I would cut off the waste line at or near ground level and add a clean out. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Stubblestache]

It is linked to the mainline sewer - ie. the same line that all the wastewater from my house (and presumably my neighbours houses) goes to.  Aside from being in a shed in my yard, it is to all intents and purposes, plumbed in the same way my indoor WCs are.

We do not get freezes in the winter.

What do you mean by "add a clean out" please?

Cheers

[rothwem]

Man, this sounds like the ultimate peaceful pooping location.  I've got no idea why you're getting rid of it!

[Papa bear]

You put on a fitting with a threaded end and cap that can be unscrewed to clean out the sewer pipe in case of back up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Fishindude]

I don't see any big flaws with your plan.

[BudgetSlasher]

If what you refer tin #5 is what is called a "test plug" I would not use that as a permanent solution. Something like what Papa Bear suggested is probably the ideal solution, otherwise I would use a glued on cap.

In #6 why are you filling the gap above with cement? A buried pipe does not need cement over it (I'm willing to best the rest of the line is not set in cement). If it has something to do with the outhouse ... well I've never met an outhouse with a cement floor (but I've never met one with running water either), but I would think you would need to tie it into the existing floor a little more than just dumping some cement it.

You don't say what you are going to do about the supply line?

[affordablehousing]

I would NEVER get rid of a potential sewer connection. What if you want to build an ADU there some day? You'd save yourself a huge amount of digging leaving the flange intact in case you want to build a bathroom there.

[Stubblestache]

If what you refer tin #5 is what is called a "test plug" I would not use that as a permanent solution. Something like what Papa Bear suggested is probably the ideal solution, otherwise I would use a glued on cap.

In #6 why are you filling the gap above with cement? A buried pipe does not need cement over it (I'm willing to best the rest of the line is not set in cement). If it has something to do with the outhouse ... well I've never met an outhouse with a cement floor (but I've never met one with running water either), but I would think you would need to tie it into the existing floor a little more than just dumping some cement it.

You don't say what you are going to do about the supply line?

Maybe it's a transatlantic lost in translation cos I'm in the UK but by outhouse I basically just mean a brick shed with a fully running toilet in it.

The floor of the shed is cement. I was thinking that pouring cement into the hole on top of the plug would seal it permanently, especially compared to just having a rubber plug which feels a bit temporary and destructible.

Re the supply line, this was one of my concerns. If I just block off the bit of the pipe that goes into the outhouse toilet, do you know if that will effect any of the other lines? In theory I dont see that it should because it won't be any different to what exists now. We do not use the toilet so we do not flush it, so the water doesn't go anywhere. If I was the use my cement idea, I figured it would be the same in practice as what exists now except the end of the line for the water would be a closer to the ground rather than in the cistern....

I am fully aware that this might be incredibly incorrect, and if anyone knows how or why I am wrong I'd love to hear it!

[Stubblestache]

I would NEVER get rid of a potential sewer connection. What if you want to build an ADU there some day? You'd save yourself a huge amount of digging leaving the flange intact in case you want to build a bathroom there.

Had to google ADU, but this is a tiny shed at the bottom of a small yard. There is no possibility of it ever being anything more than a small outhouse.

[Papa bear]

When I hear outhouse, I think take a shit in a hole, just so happens to be a wood box around it.

I would still plumb a clean out for it.  That way you can use it down the road for:

Another fancy brick British shithouse
A fancy outbuilding
Spot to clean out your main sewer line when it gets clogged with roots, condoms, wipes, tampons, etc.
A place to dump an RV or trailer grey and black water line.

But you do you. I wouldn’t bury it.  I would, however, bury that supply line. I wouldn’t chance it having that freeze at some point.  Dig down a foot or so, cut the supply, cap it.  I don’t know what your supply is, but use a permanent fitting. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dicey]

I would NEVER get rid of a potential sewer connection. What if you want to build an ADU there some day? You'd save yourself a huge amount of digging leaving the flange intact in case you want to build a bathroom there.

Yep. Took the words right outta my mouth. A shed with a plumbed toilet is a whole different thing than an "outhouse". Re-think this plan.

[lthenderson]

All this reminds me of the saying for someone who is stoutly built. We would say they are built like a brick shithouse.

I'm with PapaBear on this one. I would glue a cap over the waste line so that it could be potentially used in the future. It doesn't have to be above ground. I know people who do similar things and then plant say some flowers on top so that in the future they can find it again if needed. Are the supply lines coming from your house? If so, I would probably cut them inside the house and cap them there so if by chance somebody digs in the wrong spot in the future, they won't create a swimming pool in your backyard before it is noticed. I don't like leaving water lines going to nothing buried under the ground for the next person to own the plot to discover.