Mystery backyard drain thing

L

ldogg53

500+ Posts
so I'm in the process of buying a house built in 1960.... I was in the backyard of it the last time over there and noticed something in the yard.. it was a metal thing in the middle of the backyard, so I kicked it.... and much to my surprise it was covering a hole about 2' wide by 3' deep... and sticking into this hole is a 4" diameter concrete pipe about 9 inches from the surface.... there was no fresh water in the hole or pipe, nor any evidence that it might be functional still...

does anyone have any thoughts what this might be? I am thinking it is a couple things... either it's the overflow for the washing machine drain (the pipe seems to be angled towards the utlity room)..... OR.. .it might be a drain for rain water in the backyard to run it out to the street??

any thoughts on what this might be?? anyone have something similar in their house?

I want to just fill it up when I finally take possession of the house, but am afraid I might **** something up if it is still functional..
 
Stick your arm in there to make sure there isnt something living there.

Id imagine its a drain out to the street. Are there any drains on the curbs?
 
DML..
yeah,.,.that does sound funny.. but when you're inspecting a house to see if you want to buy it you do those things!
 
Lucas....that does not sound like an area drain, as catch basins, at least those in use these days, are not made os concrete, but, it might be if it is of the same, or similiar age of the house. Have you seen a copy of your plot plan, with your utility easements, etc.? It might be noted on there what it is. Hard to say without looking at it, but, when I am developing new neighborhoods, we often run into abandoned utility mechanisms.
 
You probably ought to ask whoever inspected your house to tell you what it is. While they may not know the answer, they ought not to clear your house if they don't know what it is. I'd do this in writing and I'd ask the previous owner in writing as well.
 
The 4" pipe is probably the sewer clean out.

Your sanitary sewer line probably runs through an easement at the back of the lot and this is a way to snake the line of any blockage between the house and the line. They're done with PVC now and I've seen them in cast iron in older homes. I've never seen concrete, but that's probably what it is.
 
I would guess drainage, with the 9in riased pipe to hopefully allow sediment to settle in the hole rather than the pipe?

Though if this IS the case it might raise some red flags for me to doubly inspect the foundation along the back side of the yard. I would Ask the homeowner (tape the conversation as always) what the hell it is.
 
OK... so I was back over at the house on Saturday... upon further inspection of the hole and the street I'm convinced it was drainage for the yard... the pipe is actually closer to the surface than I had originally described, and there is the same 4" concrete pipe going out to the street next to the driveway..

the pipe at the street is collapsed however and doesn't look functional one bit... so I'm thinking it would be safe to fill this hole up... anyone see any reason not to?

also.. the homeowner is a dumbass... it is a female that bought it 12 years ago when she was single, so I guess she didn't think to inquire about it.... she also doesn't have a survey of the lot so I'm having to get one done... for the past few years she's been leasing the house out which is probably why I'm getting such a deal on it...
 
I would not fill it in unless you are SURE it is not functioning. Putting a hose in it might answer your question, but disturbing existing drainage could very well lead to differential movement. Could you really have that much drainage go through the yard?
 
Nick..
good point.. I'll jam a hose in there before I sledge hammer the thing... but in looking at it by the street there is likely no way it is still working.. better safe than sorry though!
 
Trust me, you do NOT want to destroy the drain until you are absolutely positive your property will drain effectively without it in a torrent. It may seem fine and dandy normally, but that drain was put there for a reason at some point.

I think the garden hose is a good test for starters, but I think you really should have it checked out period by a qualified landscaper/landscape architect. If it is needed, you will want to have it unclogged at a minimum. Trust me, you may only need that thing once every 10 years, but unless you want to pay $1000-10000 (or more) and have a water claim on your house when that big rain comes, you want to make sure that drain is working as needed.

I know this from unfortunate experience.
frown.gif
 
It is probably just a trap drain. It fills with water and the excess drains. I had something like this in an old rent house, except mine was big enough to accomodate a giant plastic trash can.

I agree with Nick that you should fill it with water and see what happens before you take it out.
 
DON"T DO ANYTHING TO IT!!!!!

First off there is no rush, secondly you might just make yourself one monster frigging headache.

The house is in Houston which means if your lot just happens to be the low spot relative to your naighbors your lot is "the lake."

The pipe may be collapsed but still somewhat functioning enough to aleviate full scale backyard and house flooding. Wait until you move in and get the eventual monsoon.
 
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