Hello,

I started exploring a corner section of my basement under a stair area (just bought the house...it was built in 1924...I live in the Midwest). According to the previous owner, this area has been regularly wet with some water coming in during rainy parts of the year (it is very damp now). After cleaning it out, I found two things that I wanted to ask about.

First, there is a fair-sized hole (about 1" in diameter) in the brick (cinderblock) around 8" from the floor. I thought that this might be a weep hole, but the size of the hole is so large that I'm thinking that it could be something else (just by eyeballing, I can see into the hollow area inside of the brick). The area around the hole is worn away, making it look like either it has been there for a while and water has eroded it or that someone worked pretty hard to put the hole there. Does this description match with being a weep hole? If not, I may patch it (there is no french drain or anything to direct the water), but wanted to check to see if anyone has seen this before or has advice.

Second, about 2 feet from the hole, right in the corner of the basement, there is a metal pipe coming directly through the concrete floor. Its around .75" inch in diameter and appears to have a series of holes drilled up the length of it. It extends around 18" from the floor and there is no cap on the top. The pipe looks relatively new (compared to the area around it), but the concrete around it is solid and doesn't appear to differ from the rest of the slab. Is this something that would be set up to release water that comes up from underneath the slab? Not sure what I'll do with these, but just want to try to get an idea about what I'm dealing with.

Thanks!

 

The hole in the wall is likely just an old hole that is no longer used. I have a 1939 house and it has things of this nature. I would plug the hole, if that is what you intend to do.

HTH