Unknown cable

pennysweets

Not sure if this post is in the right area.

I'm in the process of laying a patio and digging up the garden I came across a light grey cable which is about 1.5 inches in diameter and runs along the whole area that's to be patioed. I can't find anywhere the cable comes into the house.

I have checked with the electrical company and they say it's not one of theirs.

Does anybody know what the cable is and who it belongs to?

Grateful for any feedback.

Thanks

Nilrem

Is it actually a cable and not a pipe or duct?
If you carefully expose some more of it, if it's a cable it'll usually have the cable type embossed or stamped every X inches (IIRC external grade cabling usually has it in raised lettering).

Can you post a picture?

1.5" diameter sounds a little large for most electrical cables (even armoured cable for a single house is usually about an inch or less), but does sound about right for some ducting types, or a sink waste pipe (which I wouldn't put it beyond someone to use as ducting for cabling to a shed or garage), it may even be a water pipe but it's the wrong colour (with the exception of some older waste pipes).

pennysweets

I will take a look for any stamps in the morning, but the cable comes in from the street.

stator

Virgin Media?
If you follow the direction of the cable to the street is there a small hinged lid/cover in the pavement in that area? They can be quite small. It might say CATV on it.

Norman_Castle

Could it be a sleeve for a cable? Does it sound hollow?

Robin9

Quite probably a duct for electric or possibly phone

pennysweets

stator wrote: »

Virgin Media?
If you follow the direction of the cable to the street is there a small hinged lid/cover in the pavement in that area? They can be quite small. It might say CATV on it.

Followed the cable but there's nothing on the street only water lid/cover.

A very small section of the cable is exposed and inside is grey/silver fibres.

Robin9

pennysweets wrote: »

A very small section of the cable is exposed and inside is grey/silver fibres.

That sounds like telephone - its in a duct to make it easier to replace if necessary.

pennysweets

Do I contact the telephone company? (My provider/openreach)?

Robin9

You can't contact Openreach yourself - you need to go through your supplier.

Is this duct actually in the way ?

pennysweets

Robin9 wrote: »

You can't contact Openreach yourself - you need to go through your supplier.

Is this duct actually in the way ?

It was buried under soil which has been dug exposing the cable/duct. A patio will be layed on top of the cable. Question is, if there's a fault with the cable in the future, will the whole patio have to be dug up?