Can I cut or cover a sewer cleanout pipe in front of my house?

Question

I have a PVC pipe sticking up in front of my house, in a flower-bed area. It's 20 inches high and 5 inches in diameter. As I understand, it is a sewer clean-out pipe.

It's rather unsightly and I've been wondering whether I can cover it or cut it to a shorter length.

Obviously I don't want to prohibit access, but I've been thinking a hollow-bottomed bird bath might be ideal to put over it.

What should I do with this thing?

TomG · Accepted Answer

You will need PVC cement and primer, and a female pipe adapter (available at your local or big-box hardware store; measure your existing plug -- it looks like 4" in the photo). Dig out around the pipe to get enough room to saw it off near ground level (any sharp hand saw will work). De-burr the edge with a piece of course sandpaper or a file, and follow the instructions on the cement and primer to glue the adapter on. Give it some time to set, replace the plug and backfill. As @Scott mentions, measure where it is so that years from now when you need it, you will be able to find it. If the sewer line runs through your basment, mark the location on or near where the pipe exists the house.

Correct answer by TomG on December 25, 2020

Scott Bruns · Answer

Cut it off, even with the ground or below ground level.

Take some measurements from the corners of your house so you know where it is when you need it.

aphoria · Answer

Paint it brown, green, or even camouflage. Then, plant some taller decorative grasses around it.

Eric · Answer

You could just leave it alone... I got fined $1500, and had to dig it up and replace it... for cutting mine down below 42 inches.

gurby · Answer

Many hardware stores and Nurseries have covers specifically for this purpose that can be ordered or purchased. I had a $30 plastic dragon covering mine, but after it got stolen I went with a less noticeable man-made stone one.

Answered by gurby on December 25, 2020

Andrew Bowers · Answer

Assuming that it's not that high in order to meet code or something, you could dig out around it, down to the pipe it's connected to, shorten the pipe so that the plug is below ground level (or even with it) and then get a plastic tub with a cover (I'm not sure of the technical term for it, but like what your water meter sits in) and put that around it, then it's below ground but has a nice cover over it so that you know where it's at. If it needs to be above ground level (but not as high as it currently is) you could do the same thing just have the cover extend above grade. Something like this only round http://www.essentialhardware.com/national-diversified-113bc-standard-valve-box-with-cover-223251.html

Answered by Andrew Bowers on December 25, 2020

Jeff Jewitt · Answer

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NDS-6-in-Plastic-Round-Box-with-Overlapping-ICV-Cover-107BC/100377386
Use this. You can buy it at home depot!

Lauren Dougherty Rowe · Answer

Plant non-invasive Karl Forrester reed grass around it - leave it up all winter, trim it down in March, and enjoy the nearly year-round screening effect.

Can I cut or cover a sewer cleanout pipe in front of my house?

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