What is this hole in the basement floor??

[kamkon]

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Looking to put laminate flooring down in the basement. However, what appears to be a cut PVC pipe filled with putty is preventing a level floor. Anyone know what this is and whether it can be grinded down? This was discovered after removing carpet and the padding. There is already a water drain about 15 ft away from this hole in the furnace room. It is located at the front of the house. Any help appreciated. Thx for reading.

[Mike Lamb]

Could be another floor drain. Could be the builder stubbed out a drain for a future toilet. Is there a sewage pit nearby? Do you have a wider shot? I wouldn't cover it without knowing what it is.

[kurt]

If possible, put up an establishing pic showing us what the area looks like.

From the closeup, it looks like a toilet flange that's been capped with a little mortar.

[Garet]

Looks like lettering imprinted into the plug, but I can't make out what it says. Try another picture with a flashlight shining across the face to highlight the lettering.

What's the age of the house?

[Bill Kibbel]

It's not lettering. It's a boot print in putty.

Possibly a pre-installed penetration point in case a radon mitigation system is needed.

[kurt]

Yeah, boot print.

Hadn't thought of a radon prep.

[kamkon]

The centre of the hole is ~7"" from the wall. I've included pictures with a quarter next to the hole and 1 foot tape measure for scale. Carpet/underpad was covering this hole for the last 7 years. The previous owner (house is less than 12 years old) did not have toilet in this location. Water drain is about 15' away in furnace room. Hole is located at front of house in basement. Trying to determine whether its safe to remove putty and grind down pipe for laminate install (less than 5mm is probably all that is required for grinding). Thanks again for the help.

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[Steven Hockstein]

I think Bill is right. Passive radon vent was required by code in NJ 12 years ago (most likely was also required where you are). Did you do a radon test yet?

[David Meiland]

What's to stop you from digging out the putty and seeing if the pipe goes anywhere?

[kurt]

I think Kibbel got it; radon vent.

Yeah, dig out the putty, see what's going on.

[Neal Lewis]

I think Bill is right. Passive radon vent was required by code in NJ 12 years ago

Depending which Tier you're located in.

[Les]

I vote for foundation drain tile "t" connection. We see them quite often, but on water control systems. The distance from wall is a clue for me - too close for radon as it is too close to footing. This is an outside wall?

[Steven Hockstein]

I think Bill is right. Passive radon vent was required by code in NJ 12 years ago

Depending which Tier you're located in.

Neal- We require them in all of the houses we design. It is an insignificant cost to install the pipe at the time of construction compared to a retrofit. It also looks better than a pipe running along the side of a new house. Radon gas does not know where people have placed the Tiers. I have found radon level numbers above guideline thresholds in all Tiers.

[Les]

Steven,

How do you size the pipe? you design all houses with sand, gravel, drain and visquene? Does NJ have min cfm for fans? Not trying to be nutty here, just really am interested because of your skill set.

PS: If the radon attended public school it likely does not know where the tier border is!

[Steven Hockstein]

Steven,

How do you size the pipe? you design all houses with sand, gravel, drain and visquene? Does NJ have min cfm for fans? Not trying to be nutty here, just really am interested because of your skill set.

PS: If the radon attended public school it likely does not know where the tier border is!

Les,

I can't remember the last house we designed that did not have a basement.

The fan is not required as part of the passive radon system. Basically, the piping system is installed and ready to be activated. There is a provision for a fan but it is not installed unless needed.

Here is a link for you to read about NJ and Radon:

http://www.nj.gov/dep/rpp/radon/newcon.htm

There is a separate Radon Hazard Sub-Code as part of the building code in NJ.

To answer your question simply, the size of the basement determines the amount of vertical radon pipes that are required.

[Mark P]

In IL a passive radon system will be required in all new construction homes starting June 2013.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1461 ... wners.html

[allseason]

A radon system whether in use or partially installed has to be labeled so that no one installs drainage on it. Pull the putty and look in to see what's inside.

[kamkon]

Thanks everybody for all your help. I am inclined to vote for radon system myself. Will remove putty to try to confirm this. I have also sent the question and pics to builder for their answer - hopefully they reply.

[emalernee]

As it is at the front of the house, could it be a clean-out plug for the sanitary sewer.