this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
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Can I remove this pipe coming out of my lawn? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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We moved in to our house a couple years ago and were not told too much about a pipe that sticks out of our backyard.

We are on a septic system and this pipe is sticking out from our leech field. The other houses on our block all have similar setups yet none (that I know) have a pipe coming up like ours.

It was suggested to me that this may be safe to remove, or at least remove, cover the whole for a few weeks, and as long as there's no issues, then remove.

It's not attached to anything and I can pretty easily pull it out and put it back in, although I've tended not to touch it much.

Pipe: https://imgur.com/a/yrd6pYN Hole in the ground: https://imgur.com/a/NMXurUH

Can anyone provide any insight here please?

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[–] [email protected] 66 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My professional advice is to knock it over with a lawnmower, Then let the grass grow up around it for a few weeks until you forget it's there. Shortly thereafter, accidentally run over the pipe with the lawnmower in order to destroy at least one blade. When the lawnmower is finally fixed after several months, go mow the lawn again, which has grown to a ridiculous hight at this point. You can then forget the pipe ever existed, it's gone forever.

I've done this with several large metal objects, works well 😅

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I had a blade on my riding mower snap one time, apparently it was damaged from hitting something solid at some point. The racket from that was impressive. It sounded like the mower was completely coming apart, so I was actually relieved when I saw the broken blade. Of course, then I couldn't finish mowing, because I had to wait to get new blades.

[–] [email protected] 45 points 1 year ago

I think it's supposed to be a vent for the leech field. See https://septicpatrol.com/does-a-leach-field-need-to-be-vented/

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'd take a trip to the local septic permitting agency and see if I could get copies of the permit and approved septic system design/as-built site plans. The inspector will probably be able to tell you if you need it or not.

It might be a vent for the leach field although that's not common where I'm from. I guess it could also be a marker for a distribution box or some other system component.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Getting the city involved will end up being very expensive.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not necessarily. Getting copies and talking to someone at the counter usually doesn't cost anything.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Bringing problems to their attention becomes expensive, that's my point. Now you have to deal with the "official" way to fix it, as opposed to the way you can afford.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Sure, that can happen if there actually is a problem. But, I'm failing to see a problem here that could become expensive. This person has a functional septic system and they're trying to find out what this pipe is and whether it's important for the function of their system. Getting plans and talking to city/county staff is pretty routine for stuff like this.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 1 year ago

technically it's your lawn, you can do whatever you'd like to it.

the real question is should you

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

It’s not attached to anything and I can pretty easily pull it out and put it back in, although I’ve tended not to touch it much.

Back in to what? Does it attach to something or did you literally just pull it out of the ground?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You pulled it out? You are now the King of England!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The joke one liners vs actual discussion really did transfer from Reddit didn't they 😬😬

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It just goes back into the ground about 1.5 feet until it bumps into something.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 1 year ago

You should have a professional come look at it, that's kinda concerning: Gas could be building up, that's what those pipes are there to vent.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’d just like to know the story behind your outrageously hilarious username…

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

One day I made a joke about a fart having an accent, then I thought, "Heh, that'd make a pretty good username."

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Just rejoice in your free pre-installed bird-feeder holder!

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

How far into the earth is it going?

If you're pulling it out and putting it back in any appreciable distance, it's probably already plugged. Also if it comes out without unscrewing it might just be a marker. What does the in ground end of the pipe look like? Is it threaded? It could be someone is just having a laugh...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It goes about 1.5 feet down through dirt until it bumps into something and stops. No screwing or threads or anything, just a PVC pipe.

The pipe itself is not clogged, not sure about whatever is beneath it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

If it’s only 1.5 feet then get a shovel and start digging. Get a gander for yourself what it’s connecting to. Sounds like it’s not connected to anything.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you contract for maintenance? Talk to them.

If you don’t, and someone has been out, maybe you got their name, or company?

Reaching out to someone who’s worked on the system could save you a bundle in the long run.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

We don't, at least not yet, we haven't lived here long enough to have to have dealt with it. That is a good idea though, we can see who the neighbors use.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, there’s two types of septic system, aerobic (uses oxygen in the breakdown process) and anaerobic (doesn’t use oxygen).

The pipe is likely a vent, but for gas to get in, or gases to get out, is the question.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

My assumption would be it’s for airation. I’ve seen pipes like that before and have no idea why they are so high off the ground.

I know someone who has a septic tank with an airation appliance. It’s basically a dog house with AC power and an airator on a timer that you can hear periodically turn on. Perhaps that’s an alternative. I would figure an electronic appliance would more effectively air out the septic.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Whatever you do, don't get the city involved. That won't end well.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah this is solid advice