What is this?

[adamr7747]

...and can I remove it by hacksawing the pipe where it comes out of the ground?

Untitled

• adamr7747
• 14 Oct 2009
• 1

P.S. I've put this in "plumbing" as I'm guessing it's water-related - but I'm not sure!

 

[DP]

Could it be some kind of a pumping device?

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

I would have said an old rotary vane pump, possibly from a well. How old is the building?

 

[JohnD]

also used for baling out seepage from certain undergound chambers

you really ought to follow the pipe and see where it goes.

 

[doitall]

I would have said a pump from a well or underground tank, that was fed from the gutters, and then pumped up to the loft.

If you do some research the well may be marked on a map.

I agree you should try and trace the pipe, as there may be an unstable cover thats rotted away.

 

[muggles]

I'd be inclined to go with DP, and some advice now: don't just pitch in with the hacksaw, you could possibly have water in it and then you'll get a mess because you won't be able to stop the flow.

Remove the plug below the main unit and see what happens first

 

[bengasman]

Never put a saw into anything unless you are sure it is redundant.

 

[adamr7747]

Thanks for all the replies. The house is from about 1850. When I get a chance (probably not soon) I'll have a go at following the pipe to see what I can find.

Adam

 

[Agile]

Its not too clear but there seems to be a plug in the outlet as well as underneath.

Remove these first to ensure there is no water.

It would be interesting to follow the pipe back and see where it goes to.

My 1890s house had a chamber about 2m high and 1 m diameter used to store rainwater with a pump in the corner of the kitchen. Oddly there was only one chamber for every two houses!

Tony

 

[doitall]

The bottom fitting is a check valve

 

[kevplumb]

The bottom fitting is a check valve

tell me you have never had a wash under one of them after cleaning out the old coal stove for the h/w in the kitchen

 

[bluesea]

Yes i agree it is a semi rotary vane pump, we use them a lot onboard ships for pumping water and oils

 

[doitall]

The bottom fitting is a check valve

tell me you have never had a wash under one of them after cleaning out the old coal stove for the h/w in the kitchen

Sure have Mate.

Water out the well into a copper, (remember them) light the fire, then bucket the hot water into a tin bath in front of the fire, and then you all climb in one after the other, average 5-7 kids

And we did that every bloody day

 

[kevplumb]

monday washing day

jump in the poss tub after work yup i remember

bleedin younguns now god help them if the superduper combi goes off

 

[glasgowgas]

The bottom fitting is a check valve

tell me you have never had a wash under one of them after cleaning out the old coal stove for the h/w in the kitchen

Sure have Mate.

Water out the well into a copper, (remember them) light the fire, then bucket the hot water into a tin bath in front of the fire, and then you all climb in one after the other, average 5-7 kids

And we did that every bloody day

EVERY day? we could only afford tae heat the watter once a week!!