Our 1950s house has two basement windows with light wells. In both, there is a short pipe at the bottom that I thought was meant to drain the water when it rains. After realizing that it doesn't seem to work in practice, I dug outside/under one of the light wells to see what it looked like. My conclusion was that the pipes don't lead anywhere and thus don't drain any water. Under the cast concrete bottom of the light well was just an extra block of concrete, but no hole.
I personally think this seems like a very strange construction. Anyone recognize this?
I personally think this seems like a very strange construction. Anyone recognize this?
Not that I can find anyway. However, there is a concrete block directly under where I thought the pipe would come out. And not a drop of water runs through, even though the water is standing all the way up in the pipe. On the underside, it is dry.
The pipe is thoroughly cleaned from above, and it's clear that the pipe has no opening downward.
I have a plan for how to address the issue, but I'm very puzzled about what the design was supposed to be... Or perhaps it's simply a mistake in the construction - could it be that it wasn't tight enough during the casting and the concrete leaked out and blocked the pipe?
I have a plan for how to address the issue, but I'm very puzzled about what the design was supposed to be... Or perhaps it's simply a mistake in the construction - could it be that it wasn't tight enough during the casting and the concrete leaked out and blocked the pipe?
Drill a new hole or two, if possible at an outward angle, otherwise dig, lay hoses/pipes to the downspouts if you want to remove it completely from the house.
Exactly. Then I probably don't prioritize laying pipes - the construction has "worked" for 60 years just on evaporation and soaking water into the concrete - so one hole should go a long way. But I should probably try to throw in some stones in the pit to improve drainage, now that I've dug anyway. 
it is a drinking well for all the paddor who love to live in light wells.
We had the same in the parental home and it was always clogged.
We had the same in the parental home and it was always clogged.