Bird Doo Head
Well-Known Member
Hi Everyone.
I've got a very un-important question about a valve that has been on my mind since I bought my house 25 years ago. I just happened to remember it as I just hit my head on the valve while bending over to unplug my computer! It is just a mystery that I think about sometimes.
The valve has a hand wheel about 10 inches in diameter. It is stamped "Smith" (Hence the guess that it is for plumbing). It exits my North basement wall at a 45 degree angle, about 4 feet from the floor.
I would suppose it ends under my (concrete) driveway, so I can't dig to look.
My main drain line, under the basement floor, runs along the North wall, about 3 feet from the wall. The last item is a building trap and a tie-in for the weep tiles (it is a very old house). According to stuff written in the floor, the basement was added under the existing house in 1952 & 1953. I assume that is when this valve was installed.
My guess is that the valve is for the main drain line. But, my drain is 3 feet inside the wall and this valve aims out. (Of course, the line could turn. I've only had to open the floor 5 feet from this valve.) I wonder if it has something to do with storm and weep drains? My house is the only one on the block without a sump pump and my basement is dry. (When the floor was open I did see weep tiles in a criss cross pattern, at least for the part I had open. A plumber once told me my weep tiles and footing drains tie in to the sanitary, as was the practice in the day.)
I've snaked my main every 2 years (roots) and don't feel anything goofy with the snake at the point, like a valve seat.
Do any of you have a guess what it is? Once, years ago, I tried gently turning it until my guardian angle smacked me on the head and told me I was crazy messing with it!
Could it be for the main building drain? Is it possibly an old valve on a heating oil tank? (I'm not sure this house ever had oil. I think it went from coal to gas.)
Thanks for your input! I'm stumped!
Paul
I've got a very un-important question about a valve that has been on my mind since I bought my house 25 years ago. I just happened to remember it as I just hit my head on the valve while bending over to unplug my computer! It is just a mystery that I think about sometimes.
The valve has a hand wheel about 10 inches in diameter. It is stamped "Smith" (Hence the guess that it is for plumbing). It exits my North basement wall at a 45 degree angle, about 4 feet from the floor.
I would suppose it ends under my (concrete) driveway, so I can't dig to look.
My main drain line, under the basement floor, runs along the North wall, about 3 feet from the wall. The last item is a building trap and a tie-in for the weep tiles (it is a very old house). According to stuff written in the floor, the basement was added under the existing house in 1952 & 1953. I assume that is when this valve was installed.
My guess is that the valve is for the main drain line. But, my drain is 3 feet inside the wall and this valve aims out. (Of course, the line could turn. I've only had to open the floor 5 feet from this valve.) I wonder if it has something to do with storm and weep drains? My house is the only one on the block without a sump pump and my basement is dry. (When the floor was open I did see weep tiles in a criss cross pattern, at least for the part I had open. A plumber once told me my weep tiles and footing drains tie in to the sanitary, as was the practice in the day.)
I've snaked my main every 2 years (roots) and don't feel anything goofy with the snake at the point, like a valve seat.
Do any of you have a guess what it is? Once, years ago, I tried gently turning it until my guardian angle smacked me on the head and told me I was crazy messing with it!
Could it be for the main building drain? Is it possibly an old valve on a heating oil tank? (I'm not sure this house ever had oil. I think it went from coal to gas.)
Thanks for your input! I'm stumped!
Paul