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Mystery Pipe in Basement

Discussion in 'Homeowners Corner' started by rharse, Jul 28, 2007.

  1. rharse

    rharse New Member

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    OK, let's see if anyone can help me here. I am finishing my basement and came across a PVC pipe in the ceiling of the basement. The pipe is just about smack-dab in the middle of the basement. The pipe is capped off with a rubber cap fasten with a pipe clamp. I had originally thought that it was a pipe that lead to the attic and allowed running some additional coax for satellite TV or something. Today I slowly unscrewed the pipe clamp, gently pulled back the rubber cap and was surprised to find that the pipe was full of water (I only let a small amount drip out). My guess is that it is coming from our guest bathroom on the second floor.

    My questions are:
    1) Anyone else have this pipe and know what it's for?
    2) If this is an errant drain, what does it drain?
    3) If this is an errant drain, how could it pass code originally since rubber will oxidize, harden and eventually crack letting all that water (from who knows where) drain into the basement.

    I will call Van Metre so they can help me but I thought someone out there might know also. My belief is that this was supposed to be a drain and it was easier to just cap it and leave it (given my track record with VM quality, that's reasonable).

    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. rharse

    rharse New Member

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    So, we all these type of people, right? Those people that think about a question, ask it, and then say "screw it, I'm going to open that pipe and see what happens." Well, I just did and was doused with water. There was about a gallon in the pipe and it did not smell and was clear. I had the misfortune of "having" to taste it and there was no taste either. I was able to get some fish tape up the pipe and the pipe had a blockage at 10'2" which is the distance the second floor floor (give or take an inch or two). Based on some framing pictures I have of another Parkdale where the pipe is NOT present, I can only think that this 2-1/2 inch pipe was originally the drain line for one of the second floor bathroom sinks but the drain line was changed. I'm leaving the pipe open and we'll see what happens. I'm still stumped why this was left capped and full of water. Typical VM.
     
  3. Lee

    Lee Permanent Vacation

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    OK I can't stand it anymore. Just what is this mystery pipe?? Do you know yet?? Could it be a plumber joke on the homeowner???? :) Does Norm have any ideas???:)

    Lee j
     
  4. kahlua1

    kahlua1 New Member

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    We had a mystery pipe in our basement ceiling above the rough-in for the bathroom, but ours was not capped. It ended up being some type of pipe to vent from bathroom plumbing once the bathroom was finished (I think)? We were told it goes up and out thru the attic/roof.
    Not sure why yours would be capped and have water in it unless it leaked in thru the roof vent from rain? or maybe yours is something totally different?
    It is not the overflow for your washing machine pan is it?
    Good Luck.
     
  5. Tech Head

    Tech Head New Member

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    Pictures?
     
  6. gunzour

    gunzour "Living on the Edge"

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    Put a bucket under it, then pour a cup of water into various water fixtures in your home, to see if the water is flowing through this pipe. That should tell you if it is a drain pipe. If none of your fixtures drain to it, then it is probably a vent pipe. Presumably the capped end you are seeing is just a cleanout.
     
  7. JJB

    JJB Active Member

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    What he said...it is most likely a vent pipe and you are seeing a cleanout
     
  8. Mazinger

    Mazinger New Member

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    2-1/2" inch?

    Are you sure it's not a 2" inch?

    My guess is it's a vent for a future bathroom. Is it over where a bathroom would be? Did you have stub outs installed for a future bathroom?
     
  9. rharse

    rharse New Member

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    The pipe is 2" but is no where near the roughed in (or stub outs) bathroom. I doubt it's a vent of any sort since it is at the lowest part of anything it might be connected to. I did speak with VM today and they are going to send over someone to look.

    I'll let you know later.

    P.S. Lee - Norm's not sure but he hasn't seen it. Believe it or not, he won't make the trip from NH to help me on this one!
     
  10. gryphon

    gryphon Banned User

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  11. rharse

    rharse New Member

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    VM actually responded much more quickly than I expected and sent a plumber out here this morning. So, here's the verdict: it may be a vent pipe for the basement bathroom (probably not since that already has a vent line very near the bathroom) or the wet bar area (although it's about 15 feet from the wet bar area). In any case, it does not look like it's required since I'll be using an air admittance valve. So, I'm capping it with a PVC cap and calling it good.

    Please see my other thread about to be published on radon venting, especially if you have a Parkdale.
     

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