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View Full Version : What are these vents for?



Terry Beck
05-10-2007, 07:14 AM
Inspected a 1999 house, 1-story over a finished walk-out basement (on a moderate slope), no significant elevation behind the house. Found three PVC pipes sticking up out of the ground at an angle, all close together on the downhill side of the house. These would appear to be pointing down below the basement slab; no ideal how deep they go. The soil in this area is generally stable. Radon is high in about 20% of the homes in the region, but this would obviously not be a standard radon mitigation method (and why 3 pipes?). Anyone want to venture a guess?

Terry Beck
05-10-2007, 07:17 AM
oops, sent the message before attaching photo. See pic

Bruce Breedlove
05-10-2007, 01:15 PM
I think you can rule out a radon mitigation system (unless it was installed in violation of several protocols).

Scott Patterson
05-10-2007, 01:47 PM
Subsurface drain system gone awry?

Jerry Peck
05-10-2007, 03:37 PM
Rain catchers?

Jon Randolph
05-10-2007, 07:35 PM
Umbrella / Drink holders???

Rick Hurst
05-10-2007, 07:44 PM
SWAG

Possible exhaust vents for a meth lab in the basement.

wayne soper
05-10-2007, 07:48 PM
Those are Mexican Mortars. I've seen them before. Just outside GB's ranch. HAHA.
Do you think they would actually vent the footing drains? What else would these pipes lead to?

Thom Walker
05-10-2007, 11:15 PM
Dog urinals?

Bob Stark
05-11-2007, 03:54 AM
Exhaust pipes for a crash-landed UFO ?

Richard Rushing
05-11-2007, 06:30 AM
I think some bubba is trying to create enough replacement air for the basement so they can sleep, or even stay, in the same roof they installed a gas appliance.

I do believe the 'dog urinal' was closer to being accurate...

Rich

Matthew Bartels
05-11-2007, 07:38 AM
Maybe a french drain for a patio area?

Thom Walker
05-14-2007, 05:07 AM
Terry,

I sent the picture to an architect friend. George Clower with BHP here in CC TX. He sent me the attached, along with a final sentence of "I have no idea what the vent caps are for."
Maybe the guys pumping the grout didn't have too much confidence and thought they'd leave the pipes above ground and uncapped in case they needed to come back.

I thing George is wrong. I'm staying with dog urinals. :D

Thom Walker
05-14-2007, 05:40 AM
Attachment was too large for first message.

Jack Feldmann
05-21-2007, 04:09 AM
Terry,
Did the house have a septic system? Those could be vents for an aerobic septic system, though it would be pretty odd being that close to the house.

Did anyone ask the seller?
JF