Any ideas what this is?

[Edu-IT]

There's this pipe outside my house. I've no idea what it is for?

 

[tmcd35]

Overflow? What's on the other side of the wall?

[Domino]

It's an emergency entrance for Italian plumbers. Ensure there's plenty of mushrooms on the other side.

[Seb1780]

It is waste water piping and could be

 

1 - Redundent waste from a since removed sink / bath / shower etc

2 - Condensate line from a condensing combination boiler

3 - Emergency overflow from condensing combination boiler (although these should be in Cu)

 

Without knowing what's on the other side of the wall these are just wild guesses:-

[Garacesh]

The wall's just pulling up its skirt to show you a bit o' leg.

Appreciate the effort it puts in to looking beautiful for you, damnit!

 

Sheesh.. Some people..

[Grey-gear]

Overflow for you kitchen sink maybe

[eyetea]

Entrance for the borrowers?

[witch]

It is waste water piping and could be

 

1 - Redundant waste from a since removed sink / bath / shower etc

We have something very similar to this outside the kitchen where there used to be a sink on the other side of the wall

[Disaster]

Exhaust pipe.

[Mcshammer_dj]

Could be a prop holding that Wall up disguised to look like a waste pipe to avoid causing alarm

[caffrey]

looks like copper pipe with end feed fittings - I'd say its for a header tank or old toilet cistern overfow

[Mcshammer_dj]

could do with a lick or paint, and that decking looks a little uneven.

 

What you have there is a summer job

[strawberry]

It's a plastic elephant trunk to scare off stupid / blind mice.

[plexer]

Duh you're all wrong it's a tooth fairy entrance portal.

 

Ben

[tmcd35]

What's wrong with you people? It's clearly a Futurama style transportation tube for The Borrowers!

[Mcshammer_dj]

To the tune of UB40 "Rat in the Kitchen" all sing together

 

There's this pipe outside my house. I've no idea what it is for?

 

There's this pipe outside my house. I've no idea what it is for?

 

I'm gonna check that Pipe thats what I'm gonna do

 

I'm gonna check that Pipe thats what I'm gonna do

[Edu-IT]

could do with a lick or paint, and that decking looks a little uneven.

 

What you have there is a summer job

The decking isn't uneven.

 

Thank you for the sensible suggestions on what this could be. There's nothing the other side of the wall, just a plug socket.

 

There is a hot water tank upstairs. Could it be from this, with pipes concealed in the wall?

[LukeC]

Any signs that the room has changed uses?

[Edu-IT]

No. Pretty confident of that.

[Seb1780]

There is a hot water tank upstairs. Could it be from this, with pipes concealed in the wall?

 

What diameter is it? And what material?

 

Copper pipes of 15, 22 or even 28mm diameter would suggest water under pressure. Plastic pipes of 40 to 48 mm diameter are for waste water with no pressure.

 

You don't often find these pipes hidden in walls except for short runs to shower mixers and wall mounted taps; and then it's mainly the smaller copper pipes.

 

If the diameter of the pipe is small enough you can try attaching a hose and blowing into it. If there is back pressure it would suggest it is connected to something somewhere, if you can blow freely it would suggest the pipe is open at the other end too and can problably be removed. Possibly!

[plexer]

Depending on the age of the property even copper in that situation is most likely to be an overflow in fact even the waste on connections on my bathroom sink and bath are copper.

 

It could be that there used to be something on the other side and it was cut off on the inside and plastered over it'd be unlikely to be a complete run buried in the wall give it a yank if you're feeling brave I reckon it'll come right out.

 

Ben

[seawolf]

Sure the house isn't just lifting a leg to take a whizz?

[laserblazer]

Get a pipe inspection camera or a ferret with a Gopro.

[Edu-IT]

House is about 12 years old. I guess I'll just give it a fresh coat of paint and leave it. No point throwing money at getting camera kit etc if its causing me no problems.

[creese]

House is about 12 years old. I guess I'll just give it a fresh coat of paint and leave it. No point throwing money at getting camera kit etc if its causing me no problems.

 

It is a sink waste, or similar, possibly an overflow. If there is nothing inside at the same height and distance from a window or door, it is redundant. Is it plastic/uPVC? It should simply pull out or twist out, you will then need to fill the gap with something.

Edited July 19, 2014 by creese