We recently bought a new house. Our big white ABS pipe that sticks out of the ground at the front of our house is an air pipe to the septic tank (I think). This pipe sticks up from the ground easily 3 feet. Most other properties in the neighbourhood either don't have one or have a smaller one. Is there anything I can do to get rid of that pipe? Can I make it smaller ? I guess just cutting it in half with a hacksaw would be the easiest thing to do. Any other recommendation as to what I can do to get rid of that large white pipe or reduce it in size? Thank you.
It could be a cleanout that was left high for some reason, or a vent. I'd find out what it is, why it's so high, then proceed. They are usually cut off at ground level, and a "Jim Cap" put on them. A rubber cover that has two stainless steel hose clamps. You want to leave it low enough so you can mow over it.
No it is an air vent I've confirmed. Does it have to be 3 feet off the ground by code or something ??? Can I cut it in half and make it much smaller. Its currently in the shape of a candy cane. None of the pieces are glued together, I can pull the 3 pieces apart.
Ah. Yes, vent. If you are really concerned about any Code issues, a call to the County should clarify the requirements. The height could be an issue if you get deep snow there, or possible flooding during rains.
Otherwise, just cut it down, as you said. You could even reduce the diameter which will make the return bend ("U") a lot smaller. It can always be restored to original if need be. Your call...
Now that you make me think about it, where I've seen vents out in the septic field they've always been higher than the trap at the house leading to the field.
Don't konw about your situation, but I see a possible similarity with a n'hood I walk through a couple times a week. The n'hood I'm thinking of has city sewers, but it is about 10 years old and each front yard has a 4 inch white plastic pipe vertical in the yard. Some are even with the ground and not really visible because of the grass. But others are up to 6 inches (not 3 feet) high, and look really ugly. I think for many of the owners it is their first house, and they don't have nerve enough to do anything. If I lived there, I'd figure they cut the pipes without knowing where they woudl go or how high the dirt would be, and I'd cut the pipe off as low as the lowest one in the n'hood.
In your case I'd do what you're doing, ask what it is for, but if it is for an air vent, I don't know why it has to be anywhere near as high, or as big a diameter. Or why it would have to hook over, when one could cut V's or U's in the end edge of the pipe and then attach a cap a little bigger than the pipe, and it would vent through those. I am not a plumber.
But I'd also ask the builder, or the builder's plumber.
I don't know why it should go higher than the traps in the house, unless one was trying to avoid siphoning water through the septic from the pipes in the house, which I don't think could ever happen anyhow.
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