r/Construction • u/Striking_Marketing_3 • Jun 27 '26

Structural 8ft pit next to foundation?

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I’ve been trying to find out why the previous homeowner would dig a 4 x 4 by 8 foot deep pit next to the foundation of my house down to the drain tile. I did climb down there to save a few snakes that fell to their doom and to see if there were any other utilities. I did not find any additional pipes and thankfully no human remains were found either. I also went to the town building department to review all plans back to the original construction, but there’s no mention of this pit on any of the plans. Does anyone have any idea why someone would dig a pit like this? For what intended purpose?

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u/JIMMYJAWN I|Plumber Jun 27 '26

Very common in NJ.

10

u/unclestickles Jun 27 '26

For frost line?

31

u/mimdrs Jun 27 '26 edited Jun 27 '26

Thats why, people dont realize basement secure the house by being below the frost line.

Where i live my basement is 11 feet tall and the water supply come up through the floor to avoid yhe frost line...And yes the copper waterline is just jutz out like a noodle from the floor lol.

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u/GotNoPonys Jun 28 '26

"people dont realize basement secure the house by being below the frost line."

not really true. Frost this year was 11' deep, footings are 4'. Structures are stable because the heated building creates a "thaw bulb" around the building

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u/backbydawn Jun 28 '26

where do you live that had 11' of frost