Possible trap primer line

[Chris Bernhardt]

I found this copper tubing in a garage protruding from the slab adjacent to the water heater. There is a floor drain a few feet away. No fuel oil residue or odor at the line. I think it's to prime the trap.

How do you write this up? Have a plumber reconnect the garage floor drain trap primer piping?

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Chris, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Chris Bernhardt

I found this copper tubing in a garage protruding from the slab adjacent to the water heater. There is a floor drain a few feet away. No fuel oil residue or odor at the line. I think it's to prime the trap.

How do you write this up? Have a plumber reconnect the garage floor drain trap primer piping?

Before I'd call that a trap primer, I'd figure out a way to squirt some water into it and see if the water comes out in the trap.

It sure looks exactly like an oil line.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[John Dirks Jr]

Could be an abandoned oil tank somewhere. Hunt really good for filler and vent caps.

[randynavarro]

Looks like pretty old concrete and stuff--1950-ish?

I wonder if trap primers were around back then?

[Chris Bernhardt]

Actually the house was 1973 ranch.

There was only one line. Typically here one line for an above ground tank and two for a buired tank. I could find no second line. Also the line was clean with no oil residue or odor.

Chris, Oregon

[Terence McCann]

I don't think that's a trap primer Chris. I've never seen a trap primer up here except for commercial HVAC applications where the trap is buried in a chase. Have you seen many in your neck of the woods?

[Chris Bernhardt]

Yes, usually in basements.

Chris, Oregon

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by Terence McCann

I don't think that's a trap primer Chris. I've never seen a trap primer up here except for commercial HVAC applications where the trap is buried in a chase. Have you seen many in your neck of the woods?

Trap primers are very common here, particulary in the basements of older homes. Most of them are disconnected. I've never seen one in a garage.

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[chicago]

Just a thought but is it possible it ran gas to the yard?

[Jim Katen]

Originally posted by chicago

Just a thought but is it possible it ran gas to the yard?

Good thought. Propane is often run in copper tubing. Might that once have been a propane water heater?

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[Terence McCann]

That's interesting that their prevalent in you area. The standing order around here, for many years, was just to pour some motor oil in the trap.

I never assume anymore