Please help me identify!

[hsobcz]

Hi! Just moved and noticed that I have two open pipes coming up from the ground just outside the house. One is completely open and I discovered another one plugged with a softball and covered with dirt/mulch. Any idea what this would be for? Should I leave the one plugged?

Thanks for the help!

 

[hsobcz]

 

[justin_dewan90]

If they were left open, they are probably dead lines. Wether the soft ball was put in for a reason or not. Meaning a kid probably put it in there. Especially since they mulched over it. Picture of the line with the softball would be helpful to identify. But I'd still be willing to bet they are dead. Since nothing is coming up, no smell from them or any other thing you could think of coming out.

 

[justin_dewan90]

Actually, is that toilet paper around that pipe?

 

[hsobcz]

Actually, is that toilet paper around that pipe?

Not toilet paper! Not sure what it is though. This is a pic of the other pipe...

 

[justin_dewan90]

Best thing I can tell you to do. Do you have a basement or crawl space? Either way define where those lines are outside and go into basement/crawl space. Find said line, if possible. Then go from there. If they don't go to anything inside. Don't worry about it. If they do, trace it and see where it goes. Again, go from there. Nothing is fixed or definitive with plumbing until you find the source.

Could be outside gutter drains. Again, not sure.

 

[Diehard]

Could it be old storm water pipes from roof gutter down spouts that do not exist any longer.
Not unusual in certain cities and towns.
In cities, some have storm water collection systems and in many towns they may have dry wells for storm water.

 

[hsobcz]

Thanks for the advice!