What did I drill through?

[Bjurn25]

I just drilled a hole in the wall (it looks like concrete, but I think the workers who made a door there said it was something else actually) in the basement to attach the workbench there with an angle iron. The top hole felt like the wall was butter melting around the drill. But the lower hole 10cm further down met resistance after about 1 cm in. So I moved a little to the side instead, but the same thing happened there. So I continued drilling there even though it was tough, and about 5 cm into the wall it was like I broke through something with the drill. I checked the room on the other side of the wall and it wasn't there, the wall is thicker than that. Could I have drilled through a water pipe or what could it have been? Could there be some kind of boards in concrete-like walls?

 

[Jocke Best]

Sounds like hålsten, which are blocks with gaps in them.

https://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&client=ms-android-google&source=android-browser&q=hålsten

 

[Avemo]

I don't believe that there would be water pipes inside masonry basement walls. And if, against all odds, it was a water pipe you drilled into, it would have gotten wet. So you can be at ease on that front. Concrete hollow blocks are a type of masonry block that has cavities in them.

 

[Demmpa]

I don't believe there would be water pipes inside masonry basement walls. And if, against all odds, it was a water pipe you drilled into, it would have gotten wet. So you can be at ease. Concrete hollow block is a type of masonry block that has cavities in it.

We had water pipes in some of our basement walls, partly those built with concrete hollow blocks, partly those built with blåbetongblock.

 

[TypRätt]

You didn't have any drain pipe in that wall?

 

[Bjurn25]

I don't think there would be water pipes inside the masonry basement walls. And if by chance it was a water pipe you drilled into, it would have gotten wet. So you can be calm about that. Concrete hollow blocks are a type of masonry block that have cavities in them.

Yes, hollow blocks I think that's what they said. That's good, then I can relax. Thanks!

 

[Bjurn25]

You didn't have any drainpipe in that wall?

I don't know, but we have a door right next to it, so I think the sewage shouldn't be able to go there? How can I find out?

 

[mexitegel]

"Should" is a poor consolation, but what is in the room above, for example? Do sewage pipes go down somewhere else in the basement?

 

[Demmpa]

A little OT.

Real-life event.

I accidentally drilled into the drainpipe when I lived in the condominium while I was trying to replace the bath mixer from one that was mounted with one screw to one that required two screws. I put a little silicone in the hole, then the plug, silicone again, and screwed the mixer in place.
When I was renovating the bathroom two years later, the neighbor above us flushed water just when I had temporarily removed the mixer, and a small stream of water came out.
I called the vice manager who in turn called a plumber who came the next day, drilled a hole in the wall, and glued a piece of drainpipe over the hole.
The concrete around the hole was bone dry thanks to the silicone.

 

[Henningelvis]

I don't know, but we have a door right next to it, so I think then the drain shouldn't be able to go there? How can I find out?

You should be able to figure it out by considering how the place you drilled is located in relation to the kitchen and bathroom. But it seems strange to run drain pipes through the wall in the basement. Possibly if someone has built a box around a drain pipe. But the easiest way is probably to run water on the upper floor and listen in the hole.

 

[Bjurn25]

Should is a weak consolation, but what's in the room above, for example? Are there any drainage pipes going down somewhere else in the basement?

In the room above, we have the living room. However, I think the drainage goes out from the garage where I drilled, but under the floor. Though it's angled approximately where I drilled, I think if I consider it from the outside. What do I do now, in that case?

 

[Bjurn25]

You should be able to figure it out by thinking about how the place you drilled into is related to the kitchen and bathroom. But it seems strange to run sewage pipes inside the wall in the basement. Possibly if someone built a box around a sewage pipe. But the easiest thing is probably to run water upstairs and listen in the hole.

Okay, there is no bathroom or kitchen right above, the kitchen is closest but a little bit away. I will try to listen as you described. Should it sound like gurgling if that's the case?

 

[Bjurn25]

Now I have listened at the hole, and hear nothing from the hole, but I hear that the water is running in the room next door, and saw this. Is this a drainpipe?

 

[Henningelvis]

Now I've listened at the hole, and I hear nothing from the hole, but I hear the water running in the room next door, and saw this. Is this a sewer stack?

Yes. Is it a 1960s house?

 

[Bjurn25]

Yes. Is it a 1960s house?

Yes, that's correct! Was it done differently with the pipes back then?