what is it, and why is it covered?

happybisaya · #1 Mar 22, 2006, 05:22 PM

For the past couple of years now of walking my dog around the neighborhood, I can't help but wonder what is this upside down U-shaped tube thing in everybody's yard. It is wrapped sometimes with what looks like a black garbage bag and some are wrapped with a thick tape. What is this thing?

RickJ · Mar 23, 2006, 02:15 AM

Gosh I can't picture it. Are you speaking of something like a croquet wicket?

You've got my curiosity for one. Can you snap a digital pic of a couple of them next time you're out - and post them here?

happybisaya · Mar 23, 2006, 05:34 AM

Yes, it looks like a croquet wicket and it is about 2 inches in diameter. What I think it is, is that maybe it is for water or gas. From the sidewalk I can see that it has a round thing on top that has a shape and size of a hockey puck. I live right around Fort Walton Beach FL, and I don't think it is to protect it from freezing temperature. Our water meter is inground and covered, so when the water reader comes to measure the water usage, all he has to do is open the cover and read. I am just curious as to why this pipe is above ground and covered.

RickJ · Mar 23, 2006, 05:38 AM

I'm thinking not to do with water since it's above ground - and not do with gas since gas lines need no weather protectants.

Are they covered with the plastic year round?

happybisaya · Mar 23, 2006, 05:51 AM

yes, it is covered year round. I think that before they wrap it with the garbage bag, the homeowner wrapped it with some thicker material, because as I look at the other wicket looking thing, they are skinnier and wrapped with a black foam-like tape.

kp2171 · Mar 23, 2006, 06:09 AM

we need a digital pic!

how can we all keep up with the joneses if we don't know the latest in yard deco? =)

happybisaya · Mar 31, 2006, 05:25 AM

Thank you for taking time to answer my question. I have been trying to take a picture but I am afraid somebody might call a police for trespassing. ha-ha. Yesterday,I took a different route when I walked my dog, and I saw those wicket shaped things on the yard and they are not covered. I think Fr_Chuck is right. But how come some people covered theirs, are they trying to protect it from freezing temperature?

RickJ · Mar 31, 2006, 06:12 AM

Happy, now you've got us all curious...now that the weather is gettin nicer, I hope you'll see one of the folk outside so you can just ask them.

fredg · Mar 31, 2006, 06:18 AM

Hi,
Just a like to add this:
These U-shaped tubes are probably from a "shallow well" system for lawn watering.
I was born and raised not too far from Ft. Walton Beach, FL. !!
At that time, Well water was only about 20 feet below the ground. Many homeowners use a separate well for sprinkling their lawns. Some of these tubes may be to eliminate oders from the Sulfur water. The water was so bad that my father had to replace "iron" water pipe about every 10 yrs.
The water also smells of Sulfur, so these could be "odor eliminators", before the lawn sprinklers are turned on. (eliminating the Sulfur smell from going all over the neighborhood, while spraying the lawns).



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