[Pajamas]

I took possession of this house during the winter at which point I assumed this closed valve controlled one of the outdoor yard supplies. Now that it is summer I have learned it does not. It is the only unlabelled valve and opening it does not give the impression of any water flow.

I'm trying to track down the plumber who can hopefully shed some light, but does anyone here have any clue what it might be for? I cannot find any water source in the house that is dry. Of note, the piping is of small diameter, and it is buried behind the drywall instead of mounted on top as the rest of the water piping is.

 

[jmon]

It may have been for a whole house water treatment softener or purification, etc. at one time??


Looks like it's been closed off and by-passed. Just a guess.

 

[dj3]

It's most likely water softener ready plumbing.

 

[Pajamas]

It may have been for a whole house water treatment softener or purification, etc. at one time??
Good guess - but it's actually only a two year old home and we don't have hard water.

Looks like it's been closed off and by-passed. Just a guess.

It's most likely water softener ready plumbing.

I think you both may be correct. It's actually only a two year old home so it came like this from the builder. We don't have hard water here, but rough in for water purification might make sense. But the bypass/branch confuses me...

 

[rfehr613]

Is that expansion tank supported? You don't want the weight of that thing stressing those copper joints.

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[Pajamas]

Is that expansion tank supported? You don't want the weight of that thing stressing those copper joints.

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Thanks for the tip! I was unaware of this issue.

 

[bruceb3]

He said it was small diameter. Could it go to the humidifier or icemaker? Just a thought.

 

[bruceb3]

When the diaphram on an expansion tank fails, the tank doubles in weight. A support that could handle 5 lbs. suddenly has to handle 10 or 12 lbs.

 

[Pajamas]

He said it was small diameter. Could it go to the humidifier or icemaker? Just a thought.

Good guess - but the humidifier has its own line that I have traced, and we have no icemaker or similar appliance..

When the diaphram on an expansion tank fails, the tank doubles in weight. A support that could handle 5 lbs. suddenly has to handle 10 or 12 lbs.

Excellent point. I didn't even think of it that way. This is a 4.4 gallon tank that accepts 2.5 gallons. 9lb dry, up to 33lb full of water, perhaps more if the water bladder expands further under failure.

 

[Pajamas]

For those interested, the mystery has been solved: this valve opens to the trap primers on the basement floor drains.