Identifying mystery PVC pipe size

[kbuhagiar]

Identifying mystery PVC pipe (or well shaft) size

Hello folks,

I have a question about a section of PVC-like pipe located in the yard behind my garage. It appears to be a wellhead, as it protrudes out about 2 feet from the ground and is surrounded by a 12" square poured concrete base/pad. The pipe is open to the atmosphere and I would like to cap it...and so enters the mystery. The outside diameter of the pipe is 3.25", which does not seem to conform to any commercially available pipe size. A 3" cap is too big (actual O.D. of 3" PVC or ABS is around 3.5") and the next size down (2.5") is too small.

The pipe itself appears to be PVC or something similar, and is a very dark gray or black in color (not sure because of fading).

Are there special sizes used for well shafts? And where can I find a cap for a 3.25" OD pipe?

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Cobbler]

https://www.heritageplastics.com/pvc-water-plumbing-pipe-east/d2949-3-25-od-dwv/

 

[PassnThru]

Are you wanting to permanently seal it off or provide weather protection?

 

[The Cobbler]

maybe you get a rubber 3" cap and tighten it down to fit

 

[rkevins]

what is the ID, have you tried to find a plug the kind you tighten a wing nut to expand it. are you sure it is not some kind of a vent?

 

[manwithtools]

Sounds like a vent for radioactive gases or methane, you may not wan to cap this

 

[manwithtools]

Seriously, 3.25" OD sounds like DWV - Drain Waste Vent. Should be available at any plumbing supply store, maybe even the box stores. It's also know as Schedule 30 in some circles.

 

[Will Allen]

Sounds like a vent for radioactive gases or methane, you may not wan to cap this

I would certainly want to know why it is there before capping it.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

3.25" OD is 3" ID PVC DWV. No mystery there.

Tommy

 

[kbuhagiar]

I would certainly want to know why it is there before capping it.

Well, here's the deal. I've lived with that pipe on my property as long as I've owned the house (38 years). There's nothing anywhere in my deed which mentions any sort of easement for it. About twenty years ago I had our city (South San Francisco) public works department come out to attempt to identify it; they have no records of it. They did some dye testing and found nothing in any adjacent storm drains or sewers. They concluded that it was probably an abandoned well head, though they couldn't say with any certainty.

We will be putting the house up for sale next month and I thought it would be a good idea to cap it. Maybe I'll just leave it uncapped for the next owners to worry about.

 

[BlindViper]

Sounds like a perfect opportunity to light a road flare and drop it in. Wait 10 or 15 seconds and see how deep it is.

 

[PassnThru]

We will be putting the house up for sale next month and I thought it would be a good idea to cap it. Maybe I'll just leave it uncapped for the next owners to worry about.

So basically you're worried about the questions about what it is that you honestly can't answer and a large amount of you're hiding something aren't you from someone looking for any reason at all to drive the price down.
Gotcha. Don't blame ya.

 

[sweetk30]

Plumber with snake cam . Then cap it . Then you know 100% whats there for the sale and no hidden stuff . Cost could save you thousands later on a comeback after the sale .

 

[kbuhagiar]

So basically you're worried about the questions about what it is that you honestly can't answer and a large amount of you're hiding something aren't you from someone looking for any reason at all to drive the price down.
Gotcha. Don't blame ya.

Something like that...

 

[landlord30]

The real question is how do you live with it for 38 years and not have the curiosity during that time to figure it out?

 

[Will Allen]

The real question is how do you live with it for 38 years and not have the curiosity during that time to figure it out?

I've run into a lot of weird stuff on old homes over the years. A lot of it is unexplainable.

 

[PassnThru]

The real question is how do you live with it for 38 years and not have the curiosity during that time to figure it out?

If you read the entire thread about twenty years ago he had the city come out to identify it and they couldn't.
So forgive him for the preceding 18 years if that's acceptable to you.

 

[yatg]

Sounds like a perfect opportunity to light a road flare and drop it in. Wait 10 or 15 seconds and see how deep it is.

Not a smart idea in that area. You probably don't remember the huge PG&E gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno.

 

[Is this thing on]

Plumbers snake with camera, video. Cheap insurance. knowing what it is before the sale.

 

[Joemctag]

Guess it’s just me, but I couldn’t live there 38 days without something to cover it.
Knowing that it’s a trap for birds and small animals and that anything that falls in is gone forever. Or, if it is a vent, something could block it.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

How does capping it help to explain what it is?

Honestly if you find out for sure that it isn't needed then it could just be removed.

 

[Docbentley]

Well, here's the deal. I've lived with that pipe on my property as long as I've owned the house (38 years). There's nothing anywhere in my deed which mentions any sort of easement for it. About twenty years ago I had our city (South San Francisco) public works department come out to attempt to identify it; they have no records of it. They did some dye testing and found nothing in any adjacent storm drains or sewers. They concluded that it was probably an abandoned well head, though they couldn't say with any certainty.

We will be putting the house up for sale next month and I thought it would be a good idea to cap it.

Maybe I'll just leave it uncapped for the next owners to worry about.

Just cut it off below ground and cover with dirt and grass. It obviously hasn't bothered you for 38 years, city knows nothing of it.

 

[03ranger]

Since you will be selling your house, why not enlist the real estate agent in helping to address the issue with the pipe. They can recommend what course of action and who should be involved. California real estate transactions usually will have you sign a disclosure statement about your property when selling, do it right so there is no issues down the road.

Hiding the pipe and covering with dirt only invites legal issues down the road and you know how the legal system works in California.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Since you will be selling your house, why not enlist the real estate agent in helping to address the issue with the pipe. They can recommend what course of action and who should be involved. California real estate transactions usually will have you sign a disclosure statement about your property when selling, do it right so there is no issues down the road.

Going forward I am going to consult with my real estate agent and see how he wants to handle this.

Thanks to all for the input!

 

[kbuhagiar]

Since you will be selling your house, why not enlist the real estate agent in helping to address the issue with the pipe. They can recommend what course of action and who should be involved. California real estate transactions usually will have you sign a disclosure statement about your property when selling, do it right so there is no issues down the road.

Going forward I am going to consult with my real estate agent and see how he wants to handle this.

Thanks to all for the input!

 

[BORING HOP YARD]

Have you ever tried to see how deep it is?
If its a wellhead it could lead to expense to decommission.
In Oregon they are very picky on how to do it, they don't want anything getting into the water table.

 

[rburke65]

A photo would be real helpful if that’s possible.

 

[Jay H 237]

I'd be atleast tempted to tie a nut or washer on the end of a heavy string and slowly drop it down to see if it stops at some point. Maybe just get an idea of depth.

 

[kbuhagiar]

A photo would be real helpful if that’s possible.

Pictures:

 

[sz0k30]

I'd be at least tempted to tie a nut or washer on the end of a heavy string and slowly drop it down to see if it stops at some point. Maybe just get an idea of depth.

Best idea.

 

[kbuhagiar]

I'd be atleast tempted to tie a nut or washer on the end of a heavy string and slowly drop it down to see if it stops at some point. Maybe just get an idea of depth.

I remember when the city Public Works came out (and BTW my wife corrected me, it was more like 30 years ago, circa 1990), they used their version of a sewer-cam to inspect it. Not sure how many feet of cable was attached to the camera, but they said it was a straight drop, never hit any obstruction and ran out of cable before they reached the end. As I mentioned earlier, they also dropped a marker dye into it, and then inspected every drain and sewer opening within a block of our house on all sides, and found no trace of it.
There is a natural spring which runs deep under this part of town, and this area was all agricultural and farming before it was developed in 1948, so the well idea would make sense.

 

[Will Allen]

There is a natural spring which runs deep under this part of town, and this area was all agricultural and farming before it was developed in 1948, so the well idea would make sense.

You would think something that old would be a metal pipe, not pvc. But I am just guessing.

I live in the city but when I bought this place years ago there was a well here. The City made the previous owner cut the head off and fill the pipe with concrete before they would sign off on it.

 

[sweetk30]

local guy here had to pay CRAZY money to clean up a old fuel oil / used oil tank inground his dads old car dealer ship left in the ground after he passed and the kid sold it off .

so cross all your tee's and dot hem I's and be protected .

 

[Busted Knucles]

Shovel and a hacksaw repair job. Why do people make such big issues out of nothing? Its been there 38 years and nothing has changed?

 

[BillK]

Shovel and a hacksaw repair job. Why do people make such big issues out of nothing? Its been there 38 years and nothing has changed?

Because in this day and age you have to do it properly or risk losing a lot. If he cuts it off and buries it, then in two years it blows up, when the new owner starts checking and finds out that the city had been out there and therefore the present owner knew about it . . . . . . I wont go any further.

I think he is doing the right thing asking his selling agent about it.

 

[03ranger]

Just for grins, you may want to rent a Drain Camera. HD has them for rent and they will reach out to 200 ft. The pricing for rental is approx. $140 for four hrs and $200 for 8 hrs. It might be cheaper then hiring a plumber.

 

[kbuhagiar]

Just for grins, you may want to rent a Drain Camera. HD has them for rent and they will reach out to 200 ft. The pricing for rental is approx. $140 for four hrs and $200 for 8 hrs. It might be cheaper then hiring a plumber.

See post #31 - already done.

 

[SimS]

See post #31 - already done.

Maybe 30 years ago they had less than a 200 ft camera(?)

Since this seems to be DWV pipe, did the house ever have a septic system? Maybe the pipe is the remains of some sort of clean out or vent attempt.

OTOH that concrete pad around the pipe does makes you think well head.

Standing by for the "Rest of the Story"

SimS

 

[Dragfluid]

On the old "Superman" TV show, there was an episode of a real deep well drilled and little bald headed men came out of it.

Put up a trail cam.

 

[bas157]

air vent for buried bomb shelter, now zombie shelter...probably not though