Mystery drain cover query

[Gavacac]

I have a strange drain cover that looks like a spout in my front garden. See pics. I've always thought it looks like something from the tellytubbies. Its a couple of feet from the main manhole at the entrance to my property. I don't know what it's for but I assume it's some kind of vent.

I need to widen my driveway a bit and this thing will get in the way. I thought I could replace it with a flat cast iron drain cover so it's strong enough to drive over. Been to city plumbing and Travis Perkins but they didn't have a clue.

The pipe it goes into is a 4 inch pipe.

Any suggestions on what I can replace it with?

Thanks in advance.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I would say vent or maybe crude gully if the ground floods ?

looks like an old rainwater connector hence the tabs for fixing to your house

 

[centralheatking]

I have a strange drain cover that looks like a spout in my front garden. See pics. I've always thought it looks like something from the tellytubbies. Its a couple of feet from the main manhole at the entrance to my property. I don't know what it's for but I assume it's some kind of vent.

I need to widen my driveway a bit and this thing will get in the way. I thought I could replace it with a flat cast iron drain cover so it's strong enough to drive over. Been to city plumbing and Travis Perkins but they didn't have a clue.

The pipe it goes into is a 4 inch pipe.

Any suggestions on what I can replace it with?

Thanks in advance.

Stick a hose in it at full pressure for ages like all day and see what happens. If it goes somewhere you will find out and if it does not it will back up...its easy centralheatking it looks like a septic tank vent ..others might chip in...thats what PF is about ....chk

 

[Gavacac]

It connects to the mains drains. My query is more about what type of cover o cam put over it.

 

[snowhead]

Before foul drains had stacks with vents, the 1st manhole from the street had a trap on its exit.
What you have is a vent for the manhole which would probably originally have been fitted and fixed higher up a wall or fence.
If you have a vented stack fixed to the house, you don't need the "Tellytubby".

The end of the pipe leading to it should be visible in the manhole, buy an expanding bung and seal it off in the manhole, then break up the unwanted pipe.

As CHK above, use water to find the other end.

 

[Chuck]

I don't know what it's for but I assume it's some kind of vent.

The fitting looks to me like an air vent that has lost its grill and flap. See, for example:

Cellar, Soil & Waste Vent - Cast Iron Air Brick Company

Cast iron cellar, soil and waste vent exclusively from the Cast Iron Air Brick Company. Authentic British made interior or exterior vent supplying either cellar or basement ventilation or for ventilating sewar and WC waste pipes. Item code CELL4 suitable for installation in new builds...

www.castironairbricks.co.uk

You need to establish what the purpose of the pipe is first. My guess is that either goes to a soakaway to take runoff from the drive, or it's an air inlet for the sewer. It may even be a botch that serves both purposes, which explains why someone has taken the grill off.

I always start with simple tests first. In this case take the cover off the 'main manhole' and pour a bucket of water down the mystery pipe to see if they are joined. If you know the previous owners of the house, ask them if they know what it is.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Tbh I would be tempted to just replace it like for like eg chucks link

Or paint your one and find a piece of mesh eg b andq

 

[Gavacac]

Thanks for the information. It sounds like this is a fresh air intake to the drainage system.

I found the following thread. Move/Remove Sewer Vent - MoneySavingExpert.com Forums - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3667673

I'm thinking I will contact the water company and see if they know anything about it and then either block it up or move it.

Unless blocking it up would cause any problems elsewhere in the system????