sump and no floor drain

I'm buying a 10 year old home in Fitchburg, WI (Madison area). The basement is exposed with a walkout, so it's not completely below grade like some basements. There is a room in the basement with a utility sink, water softener, water heater and furnace. This room has a covered sump, but no pump. The room has no floor drain, and we're not sure if one exists in the basement. The furnace has a drain tube going into into the sump, so it appears that the sump is being used for drainage instead of a floor drain.

My Realtor thinks that a water heater with no floor drain is a code violation, but I can't find any support for this on the internet. In the WI statutes it states that a floor drain is not necessary with a water heater as long as there is an "approved receptor" (whatever that means). They also state that a floor drain is required only when the basement is entirely below grade, which is not the case here. The plumbing was approved during the initial inspection 10 years ago, so either it's ok to not have a floor drain, or there is a floor drain hidden somewhere under the carpet.

Can somebody please tell me if a floor drain is required by code in this instance, or if it's acceptable to not have one? I'd hate to tear up the carpet or force the seller to install a floor drain unless absolutely necessary. Thanks very much in advance!

On the T&P valve (usually on the top of the water heater), where does the pipe go? Does it just go to the floor?

I think you're okay. Lots of places are built with a sump, and they only install a pump if the place actually has moisture issues. Since there should be no long-term discharge from the WH T&P, there shouldn't be an issue with constant source of moisture. If you did add a drain, you'd then need to add a trap primer, since it would otherwise dry out and vent sewer gasses...not something you want to do unless really necessary.

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I cannot tell from the photo of the utility room, and I don't yet have possession of the house. With other water heaters that I've had, the T&P valve is connected to a vertical discharge tube that terminates about a foot from the floor, so I would imagine the same here.

There is no requirement for a floor drain in a residence in WI. Many homes have no plumbing below the floor.

If someone does not like the furnace install, they can put in a condensate pump that can pump the condensate to a drain somewhere else.

Thanks to all for your comments, I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

since you said walk out basement I assume it is finished. there could be one.... have fun finding it. Could be carpeted over. My friends ended up being under his washer. his sump pump pit was under the landing in the middle of the steps drywalled in. maybe you can get plans for you house from the permit people. the plans for my house show a floor drain in my basement.

if you aren't sure about if something is up to code your local plumbing inspector might be able to tell you. The one out here is very helpful.

I have to recant on my previous post. There IS a WI code requirement for a floor drain on a floor that is entirely below grade. Given that there are a large number of homes in WI which have no floor drains and no plumbing below the basement floor, it is apparently not widely enforced.

If you think there is a likelyhood of the basement being flooded, I would install a sump pump and not worry much more about it.