Yeah, tracing old pipes in these places can be a real puzzle. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve opened up a wall and found copper lines that just end in midair—sometimes still pressurized, sometimes bone dry. Drives me nuts when previous owners don’t bother to cap or label things properly. You’re right about the vent pipes too... once found one that vented straight into a closet. Not sure what they were thinking there, but hey, keeps things interesting. Stick with it—figuring out the boiler system is half the battle in these old houses.
I hear you on the mystery pipes—had a place where I traced a hot water line that just disappeared into the floor, no sign of where it went. Ended up finding it in the crawlspace, capped off with duct tape. Not even a proper cap, just a wad of tape. Ever run into those old galvanized lines that look fine until you touch them and they crumble? That’s always fun.
The venting thing baffles me too. Once found a dryer vent that emptied into the attic, right next to some insulation. Makes you wonder if anyone ever thought about moisture or fire risk back then. When you’re dealing with boilers, do you map out everything as you go, or just fix what’s urgent and leave the rest for later? I’ve started drawing rough diagrams, but half the time I end up scratching my head anyway. These old houses definitely keep you guessing...
Those capped-off pipes with duct tape make me nervous every time. I get wanting to just “make it work,” but it’s wild how many shortcuts you find in these old places. I’m a big believer in mapping everything out, even if it takes longer—otherwise, you end up with hidden hazards or wasted energy. I’ve seen too many venting disasters, too. Dryer vents into attics are just asking for mold or worse. It’s tempting to just fix the urgent stuff, but honestly, I’d rather know what’s behind the walls before I sleep easy.
Mapping things out is definitely the way to go, even if it feels like overkill at first. I’ve opened up walls and found pipes capped with electrical tape, or worse, just stuffed with rags. Drives me nuts. If you’re dealing with old boiler plumbing, I always recommend tracing every line—label them as you go. It’s tedious, but you’ll thank yourself when you’re not chasing leaks or weird pressure drops later. And yeah, venting shortcuts are a nightmare. I once found a dryer vented into a crawlspace... the smell was unreal.
Title: Finally Figured Out My Boiler Plumbing—Anyone Else Find It Tricky?
Tracing every line is smart, but does anyone else feel like old plumbing is just a series of booby traps left by previous owners? I swear, every time I open up a wall, I half expect to find a time capsule or a squirrel’s winter stash. Pipes capped with electrical tape though... that’s a new one for me. I once found a hot water line “sealed” with a wine cork and duct tape. Not even a good wine, either.
Labeling is great, but have you ever tried to follow a pipe that just disappears into a wall and then pops up two rooms over, like it’s playing hide and seek? I’ve spent hours tracing lines with a flashlight and a lot of hope. Ever get that feeling where you’re pretty sure the house is just messing with you?
And venting—don’t get me started. Dryer vent into a crawlspace? That’s bold. I found a bathroom fan vented straight into an attic once. The insulation was basically a sponge by then. Why do people do this stuff? Is it laziness, or do they just want to keep future owners on their toes?
Curious—has anyone actually mapped out their whole system and had it make sense? Or is it always a patchwork of “what were they thinking” moments? Sometimes I wonder if the original builders just made it up as they went along.
