Is this a stink pipe? What to do?

wynter_b

Complete drain newbie here!  Purchased a Victorian terrace a few months back and wondering what this pipe is, and if it can be removed. My guess is that it’s a stink pipe given it’s proximity to the drain manhole. The manhole covers our drains and also the neighbouring house. 

Long term plan will be the expensive option of moving everything out of the way for an extension. But short term is there any way it can be removed as it’s pretty unsightly. 

TIA

TELLIT01

If it is the soil pipe / stink pipe I would think the appearance would be the least of your worries if we get hot weather.

FreeBear

wynter_b said: But short term is there any way it can be removed as it’s pretty unsightly. 

Yes, you can remove it, but it is unwise to do so. A better alternative would be to extend the pipe upwards and put a bird cage on the top. That would help to vent any smells above head height. Just don't terminate it too close to any windows that open.

wynter_b

FreeBear said:

wynter_b said: But short term is there any way it can be removed as it’s pretty unsightly. 

Yes, you can remove it, but it is unwise to do so. A better alternative would be to extend the pipe upwards and put a bird cage on the top. That would help to vent any smells above head height. Just don't terminate it too close to any windows that open.

Thanks! Sounds like a good temporary plan then, presumably it can have some angles in the pipe (rather than pure vertical) to get it up past the outbuilding and onto the side of the main building where I could take it to the roof height?  

wynter_b

TELLIT01 said:

If it is the soil pipe / stink pipe I would think the appearance would be the least of your worries if we get hot weather.

that is definately a concern 🤢 but it’s pretty hot currently and no smell issues (yet). 

grumbler

I think, if extended upwards, it can be smaller diameter.

FreeBear

A few bends will be OK. It doesn't pass high volumes of air or liquids, so you don't need anything special.

stuart45

wynter_b said:

TELLIT01 said:

If it is the soil pipe / stink pipe I would think the appearance would be the least of your worries if we get hot weather.

that is definately a concern 🤢 but it’s pretty hot currently and no smell issues (yet). 

It should have a Mica flap valve which only allows air in, but you find that a lot of them are seized up by now.