Hello,

Here are the questions, followed by info.
Would it best to call a plumber to find out what this pipe is for sure?
Are there things that will tell us, as homer and marge homeowners, for sure if we really are on municipal sewer or if we have a septic sys or do we need to call the water co (will they really know or care)?

Have a 4" diameter PVC pipe coming straight up from the ground in our front yard. Goes down about 3ft then connects to another pipe. The top (ground-level) edge of the pipe is just above ground-level and barely visible - we just bought the house and neither us nor the inspector noticed!

House was built in 1956. House papers say we are on municipal sewer (not septic).

Have read many online articles, finding that it is either:
1. a clean-out pipe and can be capped off
2. a sewer air vent (not a sewer gas vent) and should be capped, but with a vented cover (this is what we've done for now)

Other info:
When a toilet is flushed, you can look down this pipe and see the toilet waste flowing through the pipe to which it is connected (we poured a cup of cold coffee in the toilet and flushed... :D).

Thank you!

Hi:

I'm quite sure that this will turn out to be a cleanout for the main drain line connecting to the MUNICIPAL SEWER.

When the coffee water passed by and you could see it I was sure this was a cleanout. It goes out front... a strong indicator that it is headed toward municipal sewer. Spetic systems primarily go out the back of building... ;)

To confirm this you should just need to call your local city/town hall and tell them what you are trying to do. They will have a number where they keep the records on this kind of stuff... ;)

The water department probably can't help much here... besides giving you the number to the records dept...

You may need to go to the deeds/records office and pull up all info. On your property to find the details... but it should be there.

For now, I would leave the drain capped as you have it, but once all is confirmed you will want to purchase a 4" cleanout and cap and cement it into place.

You would purchase 1-4" female adapter, 1-4" cap, small can of PVC cement, small can of PVC primer, and a small can PIPEDOPE (to seal threads on cap).

Let us know what you discover... OK?

MARK

PS... shame on the home inspector... :rolleyes:

I agree, it's a clean out and should be capped. Do not just weld on a PVC cap, install a union that will receive a screw in plug.

Many thanks to you both!! Will check everything out with the city and post the results.

Thanks... and I think Bob meant a female adapter...not a union... ;)

No question about it you have a open cleanout that needs to be capped with a female cleanout cover,(see image) Install the cover a bit under the ground level so your lawnmower doesn't cut it off. Good luck and thank you for rating my answer. Tom