Is this a vent?

Good Morning,

I found a 4" PVC Pipe sticking out of the ground underneath my deck. Is this a vent or some kind of access point? Should it have some kind of vented cap or 180 degree elbow on it? It just seems strange to have an open pipe sticking up but I have no idea how a septic mound works. The pipe is about 5' away from the basement wall. It extends 34" above the ground. If I turn the sink on, I can go out and hear running water so I know it is connect to the line going to the tank. I've never noticed a smell or anything strange in that area. I'm just curious what its for and why it would be wide open.

Thanks

It is the cleanout access for your building sewer. Cap it and create an access door through the deck. Someday you will be VERY glad you did.

plbgbiz said:

It is the cleanout access for your building sewer. Cap it and create an access door through the deck. Someday you will be VERY glad you did.

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There is a clean out located just inside of the building about 5' from the pipe that I found. Would it be normal to have two points that close together on the same line?

My other question, if it is another cleanout that was just not capped properly, does it need to be three feet above the ground or could I cap it at a lower point and not have to rework my deck?

Cap it lower if you want, just keep it accessible.

Cleanouts are like HP on boat motors. There is no penalty for having too much but it really sucks to not have enough.

the CO inside the building may be at a change of direction..

Thanks plbgbiz & frodo for the feedback. I'll stop by the hardware store and grab a cap on my way home today.

When or if your sewer line does backs up you probably you will probably not want to clean it from the inside clean out. That can be messy. If the one under the patio is accessible to haul equip under there than just cut it down and cap it. Another thing to look at is what elevation are the lowest fixtures inside the house in relation to the outside clean out. WHY? if you cap it and the sewer back up all the ay to your fixtures and that clean out is several feet below that, when you remove that cap, you better be quick or you will learn what a Plumbers baptism is.