How to identify unknown plumbing parts in a building
Unfamiliar plumbing components near a main drain or water line are difficult to recognize without professional blueprints, leaving buyers and owners unsure if an installation is a standard backflow valve or a failing system that requires immediate replacement. This uncertainty stalls property purchases and prevents safe maintenance decisions until an expert can visually inspect the setup.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Asking online forums or communities for identification based on descriptions and markings
- 2Asking online forums for identification and advice
- 3Inspecting fittings, clamps, and pipe colors to guess the material type
- 4Replacing the entire shower valve plumbing assembly instead of just the exterior trim
- 5pull the cartridge out
- 6consulting online forums to identify the brand model
- 7researching online
- 8asking community forums for identification
- 9asking online communities or plumbers to identify the fixture
- 10debating whether to call the city or property management
- 11Replacing the entire valve instead of just the cartridge
- 12Visiting a hardware store to look for matching parts
- 13Asking on forums like Reddit
- 14Checking patent information
- 15Using Google Lens to try to find a visual match
- 16Contacting major manufacturers like House of Rohl and Moen to check if they made it
- 17Waiting for the plumber to match the cartridge by eye
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“does anyone know what this thing is? shut off valve seems believable, if inconvenient--both in operation and proximity to the joist.”source ↗
“if I knew this thing's name, it would be a lot easier to research. just trying to swap out a very old dryer for a slightly less old dryer, but nothing can ever be simple, naturally.”source ↗
“Can anyone help me identify this component of my buildings plumbing?”source ↗
“I think it might be some kind of backflow valve but am unsure and looking to see if anyone can help identify it.”source ↗
“Considering buying a 1985 house with a main water line coming in under the basement slab that looks odd.”source ↗
“Anyone know what is going on? Should I plan on replacing this sooner than later if I buy the house?”source ↗
“These two things are on the sidewalk, directly outside my condo building. Every once in a while, it overflows w liquid and sometimes it looks like soggy toilet paper too. I don’t know if it’s just in my head, but I swear i smell piss today.”source ↗
“Is this an overflow for residential plumbing? Should I call someone when it leaks like this?”source ↗
“Having trouble finding info about it online.”source ↗
“having trouble identifying the parts and replacements. My initial research suggests this is a pfister valve, but I am not certain.”source ↗
“Can anyone identify the hardware here, and let me know if I can replace this any specific trim kits?”source ↗
“First time homebuyer in need of help. Google gemjni gives too many different answers and Home Depot gives none.Need to find trim that will fit over this existing valve.”source ↗
“It's right on the curb in front of our building. Do I call the city? I honestly have no idea.”source ↗
“Could anyone possibly tell me what cartridge this is that needs replaced?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 5What is this random dripping exterior pipe on my house?
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- 10How to figure out confusing plumbing and water flow directions
- 5Where to find discontinued plumbing adapters and rare fittings
- 17How to identify a random car part that fell off
- 4Mystery part fell out during car repair — what is it?