Thread: Can anyone tell me what this is.

Here is a picture from a recent inspection this was noticed under a kitchen cabinet. There were no issues in water supplies to any of the sinks or dishwasher. But I also did not know what it was intended for. It was written up for a evaluation because the line was cut.

Was there a faucet outside under that area? One that didn't work?

Bad rough in? recirc line? owner changed kitchen layout?

I guess an abandoned main water shut-off.

They using copper for gas in MD?

That is what is called a dead-end in plumbing lingo (irrespective that the line is cut after the valve).

It is a defect and health hazard if there is water upstream of the valve stagnant in the pipe.

Possibly a water filter, instant hot at sink, or a refrigerator water/ice cube maker line, possibly a hot water source for adjacent powder room toilet mixing valve (hot & cold to prevent sweating at the toilet tank in the summer).

Re: Can anyone tell me what this is.
Was there a faucet outside under that area? One that didn't work?

That is what has me stumped, all water supplies for kitchen and bathrooms functioned with no problems.

Originally Posted by Alan C Grubb

Re: Can anyone tell me what this is.
Was there a faucet outside under that area? One that didn't work?

That is what has me stumped, all water supplies for kitchen and bathrooms functioned with no problems.

Age of home? location? Water Supply? Water Softener?

Back in the day was common if local water treatment system, to have an extra single faucet at the kitchen sink (for plant watering) that was un-softened water, likewise untreated "unsoftened" water was sent to the hose bibs outside. More recently, was common to have unsoftened water cold faucet at the kitchen sink for cooking, etc.; esp. if one in the household needed to watch salts intake (blood pressure issues, kidney issues, or just plain health-consious).

If there is a hose bib on the other side of the wall may have been an interior shut-off (to be drained before the freeze set in) from before the days of "freeze proof" hosebibs - usually found under the kitchen sink cabinet if on outside wall (also why the Mrs. kept the sink cabinet doors open on the coldest of days & nights - to let the heat circulate around the pipes on the outside wall).

Just a thought - later owners may have swaped out the kitchen sink, or didn't need the outlet, etc..

Bottom line, if the upstream side is under pressure, its a plumbing dead end and a health issue/plumbing defect.

Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr.

Age of home? location?
If there is a hose bib on the other side of the wall may have been an interior shut-off (to be drained before the freeze set in)

That would be my guess.

Originally Posted by H.G. Watson, Sr.

Bottom line, if the upstream side is under pressure, its a plumbing dead end and a health issue/plumbing defect.

If that's the case, the simple repair would be to reconnect/reinstall the hose bib.

I see these frequently, and they are for outside hose faucets. The valve is to turn the faucet off in the winter, before the days of freeze resistant faucets. I would assume the faucet was removed, possibly because the line froze.

What's on the other side of the wall?
Is it an exterior wall? If so, it could be an old spigot.

Bizzare! Let's know if you findout what is was...

If there were two lines, I would say that it might be for a bath tub. Some plumbers here install a looped shut off for the supply to a bath tub.