Mystery soil stack

[Tim Johnson]

Hello everyone. I joined this forum because I was hoping someone could help me figure something out, otherwise I'll just open up some walls. A soil stack goes from out the roof and seems to terminate in the outcropping in my kitchen shown in the picture. There's absolutely nothing in the basement below it and no water fixtures in line with it. It runs between closet walls on the second floor. Any ideas about this?? Thanks all!

 

[Tim Johnson]

Also the kitchen wall below the outcropping was cracked and bulging where a repair had been made so it seems there may be a possible leak below it. No water leak apparent from the basement.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[hj]

You give us nothing to base even a wild guess on as to what it is. However, it is open at the top, then rain water is going into it and it is either filling the pipe or coming out the bottom.

 

[Reach4]

What is your objective? Are you asking if you could just eliminate that roof vent? It is very unlikely that a roof vent is not in use for the plumbing system.

Try looking down the roof vent and see what you can see. I suspect you will see some kind of bend. You can insert a snake to feel how far it goes.

At night, shine a bright flashlight. In the sun, reflect the sun down the vent with a mirror.

I am not a plumber.

 

[Smooky]

Are you sure it is a vent and not a chimney?

 

[Tim Johnson]

I wish I had more info to offer but I have nothing. All water fixtures have their respective stack. I can't imagine they'd use iron pipe for a kitchen vent fan and all the way to the roof. House built in 1926.

 

[Reach4]

I can't imagine they'd use iron pipe for a kitchen vent fan and all the way to the roof. House built in 1926.

Did you understand "chimney"? That is the thing that carries the smoke from the coal stove.

 

[Tim Johnson]

I didn't think about a chimney till you mentioned coal stove. That's probably it. If so, should I just cap the vent above the roof and what would be the best product?