Foundation level "drain" - InspectionNews

David Edens · #1 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 11:41 AM

Have a question in regards to what looks like a (one) pipe fitted hole of about 4" in diameter that I have seen at foundation/grade level on several houses with a crawlspace. Is this where a DWV pipe was possibly supposed to go, but was laid out wrong in the configuation? It does have the DWV going out somewhere else. Or is this some sort of drain hook-up? Any help would be appreicated!

Rick Hurst · #2 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 11:50 AM

It sounds like your seeing a sewer cleanout pipe.

David Edens · #3 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 11:54 AM

Well, on a couple of occasions, I have seen this where there is no pipe present, just the hole at foundation/grade level--as if a DWV pipe was supposed to go there.

Jerry Peck · #4 (**permalink**) 09-27-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Edens

Well, on a couple of occasions, I have seen this where there is no pipe present, just the hole at foundation/grade level--as if a DWV pipe was supposed to go there.

Probably was.

Any time a plumbing pipe goes through a foundation wall or footing, it is required to be sleeved with a sleeve two sizes larger than the pipe to go through the foundation wall.

If the sleeve is in the wrong location, they leave it (it's cast into the concrete and you have to either break it out or leave it there) and make a new hole for at the new location. Of course, though, they usually forget about the "two sizes larger" thing, especially when relocating it.

David Edens · #5 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 08:24 AM

That's it guys, thanks!

John Goad · #6 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 08:37 AM

If it's in the corner it's probably the positive drain for the crawl area.

John Goad · #7 (**permalink**) 09-28-2007, 08:42 AM

I may have mis-understood your post, the positive drain for the crawl area I am referring to would be in a corner at the "footing", sorry.