Drain pipe in the garage but not connected to anything.

[anynam]

Hello
I am purchasing a house and in the middle of the garage there is a drain hole, with a cracked drain pipe underneath. I found it odd because it's not something I have encountered before.

The sellers have told the estate agent that the drain pipe isn't connected to anything and will be removed bwfore we purchase the house.

However, the drain pipe is underneath the concrete floor, so I am not sure how they will remove the drain pipe without digging up the garage.

Does anyone have any opinions of what this is and what's it's used for, and if it poses any potential future problems?
Thanks

 

[jj4091]

Is the garage attached. In the 40's toilets were sometimes installed in garages.

 

[anynam]

Hi,
The garage is detached from the house.

 

[jj4091]

Probably not a toilet then but perhaps there in case the garage flooded or to drain after floor washing. Who knows.

 

[noseall]

Hello
I am purchasing a house and in the middle of the garage there is a drain hole, with a cracked drain pipe underneath. I found it odd because it's not something I have encountered before.

The sellers have told the estate agent that the drain pipe isn't connected to anything and will be removed bwfore we purchase the house.

However, the drain pipe is underneath the concrete floor, so I am not sure how they will remove the drain pipe without digging up the garage.

Does anyone have any opinions of what this is and what's it's used for, and if it poses any potential future problems?
Thanks

As long as it is capped off carefully, I don't see an issue.

 

[JohnD]

The sellers have told the estate agent that the drain pipe isn't connected to anything

But is that true?

 

[HERTS P&D]

I would say it is just blocked, tell the home owner to leave it as it is. When you move it try and clean it out, it could be a gully if the garage ever got flooded, it must go somewhere.

Andy

 

[JohnD]

I've known larger old houses with a WC for the gardener or the groom to use outside the house. But there is a water supply pipe nearby. Is it a 4 inch socket in the floor? Is it near the house drains, or a manhole cover?

 

[anynam]

The estate agent has checked with the seller (probate property) and this is a drain that is connected to the mains. The previous owner used the garage as a workshop and, I guess, needed the drain.

The garage has a sink as well.

Very open question, does anyone think this is going to cause me problems or is this something that needs to be checked out by a plumber or drains specialist?

Thanks

 

[Alec_t]

If you don't intend using the drain I don't see it as a problem.

 

[JohnD]

this is a drain that is connected to the mains.

Then depending on the condition, you might or might not get odours, leaks and rats coming out of it. It is common for old clay pipes to be cracked in the ground. If it is blocked up you won't be able to poke a camera down it. There might be a nearby manhole where you can see what's going on.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Could be a Rodding Eye, any drains nearby you know of?

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

It looks like it's a drain with a U-bend. If so then the water in the bottom of that bend is all that's between your garage and stinky sewer air. If it's not used then inevitably it will evaporate, leaving your garage as your town's newest sewer vent.

It needs sealing off if disused. Ideally by tracing the pipe to where it enters a chamber and capping off at the chamber inlet, then filling the pipe from the garage with concrete.

If you can't work out where it goes then the botchy alternative is to put a (strong) bag in it as a liner then fill the bag with concrete. Risky, as the concrete may burst out of the bag and cause lots of issues downstream.

 

[blup]

The estate agent has checked with the seller (probate property) and this is a drain that is connected to the mains. The previous owner used the garage as a workshop and, I guess, needed the drain.

The garage has a sink as well.

Very open question, does anyone think this is going to cause me problems or is this something that needs to be checked out by a plumber or drains specialist?

Thanks

My only concern would be if it was used in connection with car maintenance and petrol or oil drained to it.