Iron pipe from sump pump to attic
#1
07-24-16, 09:06 AM
Iron pipe from sump pump to attic
Hello,
I'm hoping someone can help me identify this pipe in a house we recently purchased.
It's an iron pipe (~1-1/2" I think) that runs from one of the sump/seepage pits in the basement up into the attic. It appears to enter the side of the pit just below the floor. Goes up the basement wall and into the exterior wall. It comes back out of the wall near the ceiling of the main floor, above the kitchen cabinets. Then disappears into the attic. I haven't been up in the attic yet to see if I can find it as it's been so hot. I recently discovered water on the counter, running down the cabinets under the pipe. So I might have to go into the attic anyways...
House is in the western Chicago suburbs. Built in the 50's.
Thanks!
I'm hoping someone can help me identify this pipe in a house we recently purchased.
It's an iron pipe (~1-1/2" I think) that runs from one of the sump/seepage pits in the basement up into the attic. It appears to enter the side of the pit just below the floor. Goes up the basement wall and into the exterior wall. It comes back out of the wall near the ceiling of the main floor, above the kitchen cabinets. Then disappears into the attic. I haven't been up in the attic yet to see if I can find it as it's been so hot. I recently discovered water on the counter, running down the cabinets under the pipe. So I might have to go into the attic anyways...
House is in the western Chicago suburbs. Built in the 50's.
Thanks!
#2
07-24-16, 09:20 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
It would appear that it's a vent line. You should find it goes thru the roof and is vented outside.
It would appear that it's a vent line. You should find it goes thru the roof and is vented outside.
#4
07-31-16, 12:17 PM
There is in fact another vent through the roof on the back of the house (west). I'm not sure how I missed it before.....
Anyways, whenever we get a really hard rain, I've noticed water on the kitchen counter under where the pipe runs into the ceiling above the cabinets. It seems to be running along the outside of the elbow, drips down onto the edge of the cabinet and runs down the side of the cabinet to the counter.
The pipe is steel all the way up. After it goes into the ceiling, it expands from 2" or so to 5" through the roof. It looks like when they replaced the roof (last year, before we bought the house) they put some kind of boot on it that wrapped up around the outside of the pipe and folded over the top. It looks quite rusted and corroded inside. I wonder if their might be pinholes rusted through, allowing water to run to the outside of the pipe where it necks down? The flashing around the pipe looks ok from what I can tell.
I haven't gone up to try to scope it out in the attic yet, been hoping for a cooler day. Is there anyway to try to seal the inside of the rusted pipe? Is it permissible to put a vent cap or elbow on the top of the pipe, like a Versa Cap? Worth throwing a permaboot on it while I'm screwing around? The main stack is in the northeast corner of the house and appears to also be an iron pipe (6") but it doesn't appear nearly as rusted inside but I'm wondering if there's anything I should consider doing with that too so it doesn't get like the sump vent.
Thanks again!
Anyways, whenever we get a really hard rain, I've noticed water on the kitchen counter under where the pipe runs into the ceiling above the cabinets. It seems to be running along the outside of the elbow, drips down onto the edge of the cabinet and runs down the side of the cabinet to the counter.
The pipe is steel all the way up. After it goes into the ceiling, it expands from 2" or so to 5" through the roof. It looks like when they replaced the roof (last year, before we bought the house) they put some kind of boot on it that wrapped up around the outside of the pipe and folded over the top. It looks quite rusted and corroded inside. I wonder if their might be pinholes rusted through, allowing water to run to the outside of the pipe where it necks down? The flashing around the pipe looks ok from what I can tell.
I haven't gone up to try to scope it out in the attic yet, been hoping for a cooler day. Is there anyway to try to seal the inside of the rusted pipe? Is it permissible to put a vent cap or elbow on the top of the pipe, like a Versa Cap? Worth throwing a permaboot on it while I'm screwing around? The main stack is in the northeast corner of the house and appears to also be an iron pipe (6") but it doesn't appear nearly as rusted inside but I'm wondering if there's anything I should consider doing with that too so it doesn't get like the sump vent.
Thanks again!
Last edited by brad81987; 07-31-16 at 12:47 PM.
#5
07-31-16, 05:54 PM
Most of the time leaks like you're seeing from a vent pipe are caused by the boot and flashing on the roof. As in a roof problem more than a plumbing problem.
Granted, galvanized pipe is known for its tendency to rust out, so that's a real possibility as well. Once you get up in the attic, look closely at the pipe. You should start seeing drip and rust stains where it's leaking. Whether it's from the roof flashing, or from some connection on the pipe.
Granted, galvanized pipe is known for its tendency to rust out, so that's a real possibility as well. Once you get up in the attic, look closely at the pipe. You should start seeing drip and rust stains where it's leaking. Whether it's from the roof flashing, or from some connection on the pipe.
