Mystery Copper Line

[FahrenheitFarmer]

Tried a quick search on the forum, but didn't find anything definitive.

The home I am purchasing looks to have a 2.5" PVC coming up from the floor (looks original to the pouring of the garage floor) with a 1-1.5" copper pipe sticking out of it. The pipe is closed off and it's not a hard copper pipe, but one of the more malleable ones. I'm assuming this is a water line, but can't tell for sure.

On the back side of the garage, there appears to be two other PVC pipes coming from the floor that look to be rough-in's for plumbing. Maybe some sort of planning for a sink?

I don't have pictures of them at the moment, but without them, can anyone speculate what they may be?

 

[gungatim]

probably a rough in for sink or something. what did the realtor say? or the home inspector?

 

[404]

Soft line for propane heater?

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

The realtor wasnt sure, and the home inspector actually hit me with 'when an attached and detached garage is on the property, we only inspect the attached garage'. The guy poked around and wasnt sure what it was for. I suspect it's a water line, however, I would have thought that they would have used more rigid copper piping for something like that.

If it helps, home was built in 1992. Probably not for propane.

 

[CNGsaves]

The 1" to 1 1/2" soft copper inside the plastic pipe sounds awful big for water. Also, you would think the water supply would be over where the rough-in for sink would be. My guess is improper LPG or NG line due to it's large size. Reason it's IMPROPER is that it comes up inside the building. LPG/NG needs to come up out of ground OUTSIDE the building and enter above grade. This ensures that any underground leak stays outside the building.

OP . . . need to start investigating on the "other end" at the house and see if there's any weird copper runs that go out towards garage.

Don't use that large copper for LPG/NG without first digging up outside and changing entrance into building.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Pictures?

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

I don't close on the house until end of the month. If i get an excuse to go take a photo of it, I will.

Looks like this (apologize for the small thumbnail) but with a soft copper line coming out of it about 2ft.

 

[venturesomerite]

Is there any place you can see the other end of the conduit? Perhaps an oil or gas line run (for a heater) that never came to fruition, but that wouldn't work if it is intact 1"+.

Pictures would definitely help.

 

[G_P]

Do you know who built the home? If the whole neighborhood was built at once, your neighbors probably can tell you or may even have the same exact odd copper pipe in their garages.
The builder should be able to tell you what it is for unless it was added later in the homes life.

 

[Keel]

how about radiant heat.. the plastic pipe might just be above the floor to keep the copper from getting crushed.. from rolling something into it..

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

I will try to go over and get a photo this weekend. Nothing on the other side of the property or house that looks like it is running over to the garage.

I do remember that the end of the pipe is flattened and sealed. Seems like an odd thing to do with a gas line, but reminded me oh the coils you wouldd see on a heat exchanger or for some type of refrigerant.

 

[soj]

Subscribed... just to see the mystery solved.
jp

 

[theoldwizard1]

I found something similar at my son's house. There was a 1/2" copper tube popping out of the concrete next to the drain and then going over the lip. The grate was notched to accommodate this.

My guess is was a A/C condensate drain.

Of course, now a days, condensate goes to a pump and then to a proper drain, not running across the floor.

 

[APEowner]

and the home inspector actually hit me with 'when an attached and detached garage is on the property, we only inspect the attached garage'.

I don't know but I'd be looking for a different home inspector.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

I don't know but I'd be looking for a different home inspector.

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

Sorry for the delay folks. I closed on the home on Friday (woo hoo!) and was able to get a photo. I also clarified with the executor of the estate that it is, in fact, a water line. Because I am a fool, the copper pipe itself is actually smaller than 1". Blame my bad judgement.

Interestingly enough, I now have a way to run this to the back corner of the garage that is equipped with everything I need to put in a commode and/or sink.

 

[soj]

Sorry for the delay folks. I closed on the home on Friday (woo hoo!) and was able to get a photo. I also clarified with the executor of the estate that it is, in fact, a water line. Because I am a fool, the copper pipe itself is actually smaller than 1". Blame my bad judgement.

Interestingly enough, I now have a way to run this to the back corner of the garage that is equipped with everything I need to put in a commode and/or sink.

Congratulations on your new home/shop purchase.

Now the new mystery is, why no copper line behind the toilet flange?
How far from the copper line to the toilet flange?

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

The copper line is about 25ft away from the toilet flange.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ Sounds like NOW is time to make trip to Menards and buy torch, copper line cutter, and solder and start learning to sweat copper joints !!!!

Be sure to add shutoffs and solution to blow out the lines if you ever have time that garage is not heated to prevent freezing of water lines. Good luck.

 

[My Old Tools]

^ ^ ^ Sounds like NOW is time to make trip to Menards and buy torch, copper line cutter, and solder and start learning to sweat copper joints !!!!

Be sure to add shutoffs and solution to blow out the lines if you ever have time that garage is not heated to prevent freezing of water lines. Good luck.

Soldering copper water lines is the easiest thing you will ever learn.

 

[FahrenheitFarmer]

I actually learned to braze when I was about 10 years old. However, I may wait until spring before getting that going.