Mystery leak
#1
02-04-23, 03:34 PM
Mystery leak
In my basement there is a slow drip (1 drop per minute) coming from a T-joint in a plumbing vent pipe. It is at a low spot in slope, so I assume there is a bit of standing water at that spot. I can fix the poor seal but I am wondering where the heck the water is coming from? It is not constant, and can be dry for days.
#2
02-04-23, 03:46 PM
Group Moderator
A vent pipe is open to the outside weather.
Could be rain water.
Could be condensation where the pipe passes thru a cold zone.
Could be rain water.
Could be condensation where the pipe passes thru a cold zone.
#3
02-04-23, 04:03 PM
You can put a rain cap on the vent pipe, but the vent system should be installed to ensure any rainwater gets directed to the system drain. You might want to check that the vent pipe is sloped correctly.
#4
02-04-23, 05:11 PM
Sounds like you have standing water in the drain pipe in the basement where this water level is affecting a vent pipe connected to the drain pipe. What appliance in the basement is this vent pipe venting and where is the appliance's trap vertically relative to the drain pipe
#5
02-04-23, 08:32 PM
Thanks all. Probably melting frozen condensation as it tends to drip only when we run hot water (shower, sinks...etc), and only showed up when the temps dropped below freezing. This is a new t-joint on an existing vent that was put in when our basement was recently finished. The existing vent comes out of our slab rough-in. We chose not to use the rough-in (badly placed) and built a new bathroom elsewhere but they tied the vent into the original rough-in vent. I think that low spot (and water) has been there since the house was built. The new joint was done badly and hence the drip.
#6
02-05-23, 04:24 PM
Too bad the low spot wasn't corrected when the tee was installed. I would call the installer to correct the leak and when he arrives ask him to correct the low spot since he would most likely have to cut the leaking tee out and install a new one.
