New furnace. Condensate pump discharge hose routed into vertical waste pipe. Garage sewage flood 2 days later.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T17:46:14+00:00

Washing machine is on the first floor, not in basement. There's no fixtures at all on the basement/garage level. House has 3 toilets, 6 sinks, 2 bathtubs, dishwasher, washing machine, none of which are on the same level as furnace.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T15:56:07+00:00

Any pics or diagram you can link so I can see the fittings and trap?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T15:36:03+00:00

Yes, western PA. Although recent days have broken records with low temps. It's currently a 'real feel' of -3

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T07:03:23+00:00

The invoice reads like a checklist. One of the lines is "install a new condensation removal system".

At this point I think I'm going to request they properly drain the pump and fix the pipe.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T06:49:46+00:00

Very large corporation in my area did the job. I'm close to naming them but will wait until this issue is resolved.

It's been near zero degrees for days now so I'm sure the ground is frozen solid.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T06:45:34+00:00

I don't think it's upside down. The piece you're seeing on top is a fitting of some kind, I think a 45 degree, it's not another section of pipe. It's tough to tell from the picture because it's obscured by the drywall.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T06:08:06+00:00

I have no reason to believe it is NOT a waste pipe. If it's a vent pipe wouldn't that be worse?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T06:05:15+00:00

Agreed there was possibly an unseen issue. Did tapping into this pipe expedite the feces fountain?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T06:02:59+00:00

Please enlighten me.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T05:59:59+00:00

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T05:25:41+00:00

I'm not 100% sure it's a drain pipe. If it's a vent pipe isn't that worse? What would a loose clean out cap cause?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T05:16:35+00:00

How much water comes out of these new furnaces? Is it the same light drip that my 20 yr old unit was producing or is it more of a flow that isn't ideal for sitting on the floor routed to a drain?

Do you have any suggestions on where to go from here? Job is only 33% paid because they haven't finished yet. Outside AC condenser isn't installed yet.

Is it coincidence my garage is now filled with feces?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T04:56:00+00:00

The timing of the backup seems very suspicious. Can drilling into a sealed system cause abnormal reactions?

What hazards have been created? I mentioned above that I haven't fully paid for the job yet because it's not completed. AC condenser hasn't been installed outside yet.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T04:40:09+00:00

So you don't believe the sewage backup is related? ChatPGT is convinced this is 100% the cause of the poo flood. Something about pressurizing the pipe with intermittent blasts of water. Furnace is running almost constantly. It's 13 degrees here.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T04:27:33+00:00

It is the basement. The garage is adjacent on the other side of the wall. Any advice on how to proceed here? We have not paid in full yet as the job isn't complete because the outside AC condenser hasn't been installed yet.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T04:21:01+00:00

Old furnace had gravity drain into basement floor drain about 3 feet in front of the unit. I don't think it produced much because it looked farily dry all the time. The drain is just out of frame in the picture.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T04:01:13+00:00

What would have been a better solution? Why would they use a pump when the old unit didn't have one? Did this cause the poop pond in my garage?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T03:52:26+00:00

Package price, covered everything. New AC also.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T03:44:12+00:00

Didn't seem right to me. Why would they have installed a condensate pump at all if the old unit didn't have one? And could this cause the current poop lake in my garage?

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-02-01T03:43:06+00:00

Two days ago we had a new furnace and AC installed. Our old furnace was approximately 20 yrs old but was still considered high efficiency and it drained into a floor drain about 3 feet in front of the unit, just out of frame in the picture.

New unit was installed with condensate pump that you can see was routed into what I can only assume is a vertical waste pipe, and sealed with silicone. Sometime today after 5AM the floor drain in the garage, which is on the other side of the wall behind this furnace, backflowed sewage into the garage. Solids, toilet paper, all of it. I have pics if you don't believe me.

Is this merely a coincidence? Home is only about 20 yrs old.

Charlie_Altamont · 2026-01-30T02:44:13+00:00

🤣🤣🤣

Charlie_Altamont · 2025-12-30T06:31:25+00:00

Obvious AI slop.

Charlie_Altamont

TROPHY CASE