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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Western Montana
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    Default What are these vents for?

    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?

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  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
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    Western Montana
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    261

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    oops, sent the message before attaching photo. See pic

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  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO
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    1,217

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    I think you can rule out a radon mitigation system (unless it was installed in violation of several protocols).

    "Baseball is like church. Many attend but few understand." Leo Durocher
    Bruce Breedlove
    www.avaloninspection.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Spring Hill (Nashville), TN
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    5,851

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Subsurface drain system gone awry?

    Scott Patterson, ACI
    Spring Hill, TN
    www.traceinspections.com

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Fletcher, NC
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    28,032

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Rain catchers?

    Jerry Peck
    Construction/Litigation/Code Consultant - Retired
    www.AskCodeMan.com

  6. #6
    Jon Randolph's Avatar
    Jon Randolph Guest

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Umbrella / Drink holders???


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Rockwall Texas
    Posts
    4,521

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    SWAG

    Possible exhaust vents for a meth lab in the basement.


  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Connecticut
    Posts
    1,828

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    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?


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Corpus Christi, TX
    Posts
    615

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Dog urinals?

    The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    - Paul Fix

  10. #10
    Bob Stark's Avatar
    Bob Stark Guest

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Exhaust pipes for a crash-landed UFO ?


  11. #11
    Richard Rushing's Avatar
    Richard Rushing Guest

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    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


  12. #12
    Matthew Bartels's Avatar
    Matthew Bartels Guest

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Maybe a french drain for a patio area?


  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Corpus Christi, TX
    Posts
    615

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    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.

    The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    - Paul Fix

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Corpus Christi, TX
    Posts
    615

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    Attachment was too large for first message.

    Attached Files Attached Files
    The only reason some people get lost in thought is because it's unfamiliar territory.
    - Paul Fix

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Knoxville, TN
    Posts
    2,560

    Default Re: What are these vents for?

    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


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