What is this dripping pipe at the bottom of the soil stack?

[PlumboutofNecessity]

At the bottom of the soil stack right before it goes horizontal, there is a 3/4" copper pipe screwed into it that is angled downward. Whenever any water is draining from upstairs (toilet, sink, shower, etc.), a steady stream of water pours out of this thing and goes underneath the plastic matting that covers the crawlspace. Essentially, this leaves a nasty exposed area that has a constant gathering of weird little flies.

This thing has evidently been here for years. The home inspector had no comment about it when I bought the house.

Does anyone know what the purpose of this thing is? Is this something that I can just cap and not worry about?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Reach4]

The mystery pipe is less than 3 ft long and is open on the end? My first thought was that somebody put it in as a condensation drain or a sump pump drain. Your description seems to imply that it is short and open, however.

Sounds like something somebody put in to hide a clogged sewer.

Septic tank or city sewer? I would get your septic tank pumped or your city sewer cleaned out... plus repair that piping to get rid of that.

I would not expect a home inspector to find something like that. I am not a plumber or other pro.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[PlumboutofNecessity]

The mystery pipe is less than 3 ft long and is open on the end? My first thought was that somebody put it in as a condensation drain or a sump pump drain. Your description seems to imply that it is short and open, however.

Sounds like something somebody put in to hide a clogged sewer.

Septic tank or city sewer? I would get your septic tank pumped or your city sewer cleaned out... plus repair that piping to get rid of that.

I would not expect a home inspector to find something like that. I am not a plumber or other pro.

In the image, you can see it at the bottom. It sticks out of the stack a couple inches and then elbows down where it is open. City sewer. No issue with drainage (toilets/sinks upstairs seem fine). Toilets/sinks downstairs are also fine. But, as I said, whenever waste is flowing from above, a small trickle pours out of this spout.

Honestly, I'm quite disgusted with the home inspector. For reasons I cannot explain, I didn't go with what I have always preached; which is: "NEVER use an inspector that your real estate agent suggests."

 

[Reach4]

I would plug the hole if you can. There is no good reason to have something like that in place.

Watch your lowest drain for any signs of backup.

 

[James Henry]

Is it possibly a sump pump drain. Nevermind.

 

[Terry]

I don't think any of us have seen it done that way. If the pipe goes nowhere, I would plug it.

 

[Reach4]

As to how to plug, if there is no leak a the top of the copper, I might try to cut the pipe clean in a straight section lower, and use a SharkBite plug.

The cleaner way would seem to be to unscrew the copper, and screw in a plug. However that seems to me to be unlikely for that cast iron to have a proper thread in it.

 

[PlumboutofNecessity]

Everyone's feedback is greatly appreciated. I will cut it (not going to risk any threading issues by removing it) and SharkBite plug it.

I keep running into strange things like this that make no sense to me. Thanks again.