Hole in middle of basement with fluid??

MikeyC

Me and my wife had a inspection done on a house we are buying...The inspector found a hole in middle of basement floor 2inches wide with looks like fluid in it...he had no idea what it was....Now that basement has no signs of mold or flooding...This house is 2 miles away from ocean bay and fire hydrant is right in front of house

This is worrying us and we dontknow what is it, does anyone have any ideas?

MikeyC

Looks like its a tank of some sort any ideads anyone?

MikeyC

Question what tanks could be underground underneath my concrete basment..2 inch wide hole looks like fluid in it...not oil ...but looks like water..any ideas

PLEASE HELP

bob22

Mikey,
COuld be a floor drain. If you are only 2 miles from ocean what is the water table in your area? Are you at sea level or up on a hill? I think you might need a new inspector or have the one you have explain what his findings mean since you're so concerned about his report. Don't rush into buying a house; buy with your head and not your heart.

MikeyC

yea ur prob right its a nice house were waiting to hear from seller what it is....but its a little 2inch wide hole no screen over it, look like water was in it?

Thurman

MikeyC- -this is two items that your inspector has given you vague information on about the inspection of this house. The fungus/probably mold problem and now this unknown hole in the basement floor. Does the inspector not know how to pull any plans/prints submitted to the local planning commission when they built the house? IF these were filed the mysterious hole should be on there with a reasonable explanation as to it's origins and usage. Actually, I would have the inspector back out for a long talk as to what his exact duties to me, as a potential home buyer, should be. I don't know him, have not met him, but do not like him so far. My 2¢ worth sir, David

MikeyC

your right i will def get some pictures up of this stuff tonight

gma2rjc

Did you try pouring water in it to see if it drains?

Is there an odor coming from the hole?

If it smells like bleach, that means there is probably an odor there usually, but the owner or their agent poured the bleach in to cover it up.

We have a 2" hole in our basement floor too. If we pour water in it, it drains into the sump pump.

Good luck figuring it out!

That's good advice from Bob 22 about buying with your head and not with your heart.

Red Squirrel

I'm no expert, but almost sounds like it's a washout, though, it should probably have a cap if it is. May just be a normal drain in case something leaks like a HW heater or washer hose breaks, etc.

If not it may just be a drain, I believe most houses have at least one area in the basement where there is a drain, which normally leads to the sump pump/sump. In my current house there are several of these. There is the actual sump pump which is covered up completely by cabinets (not very smart) then there's a small water drain, for in case something leaks (HW heater used to be around there, so probably for that) then there's a big circle one about 1 foot diameter with a blank cover on it which also has water in it. In my new house that I have not moved in yet I have a washout hole with a cap, and a sump which is big square hole about 1 foot each side where weeping tiles exit to, and there's small holes on the cover to act as a drain, HW heater is near too, so again, it's probably in case it leaks.

JDC

That hole in the floor.....is it a pipe or does it look like concrete? Is the hole pretty well round or does it look like someone busted it out with a hammer? I'd say its most likely a floor drain and if it is then you need a new home inspector. Floor drains have a trap that holds water to seal out sewer gases. Where are all these home inspection "experts" coming from anyway? Hell maybe I should get out of plumbing and start doing home inspections. How long do they have to go to school to learn to do inspections? Lets see....I had to go for 5 years just for plumbing. I know electricians go for 4-5 years....hmmm....

Of course it MAY just be a hole in the concrete and the water table is high. The <ahem> expert inspector should be able to tell you what it is or have a source to find out.

MikeyC

Looks like a hole that leads to a tank...thats was filled!!

Scuba_Dave

A clothes hanger pushed down the hole would quickly tell if it has a trap

MikeyC

Hows that?

Scuba_Dave

You stick a clothes hanger/wire down the hole
If it hits a trap then there is a trap installed
If it keeps going down then no trap

MikeyC

im sorry kinda lost whats a trap?