What Kind of Plug Can I Use On This Weird Pipe?

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Matt Christensen

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to the forum. I'm a homeowner with a plumbing issue that I'm a little confused about.

I have this strange pipe in my basement (pics attached) that leaked during our last big rainstorm (I live in Ohio). The pipe is located in the wall behind my boiler/furnace, but isn't really attached to anything. Water just started dripping out.

I'm wondering if there's some sort of expandable plug, or foam, or something I can use to close the opening. As I said, the pipe doesn't seem to be connected to anything. It's just sort of there.

Would anyone have any suggestions? I'd be grateful.

Thank you!
-matt from Ohio

PS - The width of the pipe collar (the hex) is about four inches.
 

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That looks like half of a union. If you can take the fitting off, you could just get a threaded cap and put it on and be done. The bigger question is, where is the water coming from and where’s the other end of the pipe? It’s never good to have any water that you don’t know why it’s there. If you cap that line it will eventually fill with water, then the excess water will have to go somewhere else. (And that’s not good)
 
Thanks very much for the reply! I have no idea where it leads to - I'll have to look around. Like I said, this most recent rainstorm is the only time I've ever seen this issue. Does that give any clues regarding what it could be?
 
Hard to say. Do you ever get moisture on your basement floor other than that? I would walk around your house and see if there are any pipes similar to that that are stubbed out. It could be an old relief line that was abandoned. It would bug me too much that I would have to know.
 
The bigger question is, where is the water coming from and where’s the other end of the pipe?

Perhaps there was once a sump pump at that location and that is the line it used to move water out of the basement? If that is the case the other end might be in some sort of drain field, and the leak suggests that with enough rain the water in that area rises enough to get into the pipe. That would not be good if you ever get a torrential rain.

If this is a tract home you might ask your neighbors in the same development if they have something similar in their basements. There were some other items projecting from that wall which didn't seem to be attached to anything in the picture.
 
Can't tell what size it is in the picture but it could have been an old water or gas line that was bad and the hard rain going
into the ground is getting into the pipe and running out the opening. Best thing to do is like said above, cap it off.
 
Lacking other information: I am going to wager that this is an abandoned fill pipe for an oil tank. I am guessing that he tank was removed when the oil fired heater was changed over to a gas fired heater, and that the fill pipe was left in place. There is a good chance you will find the other end on the outside wall of the house. As for the water, the old fill pipe has since rusted, or it is not caped, and is allowing ground water or rain enter the open ended pipe.
 
I agree with RenewDave that it appears to be half of a union fitting, with a ground joint. It is NOT a fuel oil fill line because that fitting would not be used for oil, and there would also be a vent line next to it. I doubt that it is a sump pump discharge line because it is rather small for that. The existing fitting is useless without its partner. As recommended, unscrew it from the pipe and thread on a galvanized cap. Use heat or penetrating oil if the fitting needs help getting off.
 
Seeing as you have a new boiler recently installed (assuming You are the one who had it installed) either do as suggested: remove the half union and buy appropriate size galvanized pipe cap install with pipe dope. Or. Call the plumber who did the boiler install and ask them why they left open pipes, and if I see it correctly a wooden plug in a PVC pipe.

It would seem that there was a heat pump previously installed. Someone did a quick ‘cut and snip’ when removing.

Do you know if there is an outside pump well or other previously used sump outside?
 
I agree that it looks like half a union which you should be able to replace with a cap or plug, but if all else fails you should be able to stick an expansion plug in the opening. It might even be less work and risk than trying to take apart an old corroded joint.
lowpressuretplug.jpg
 

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