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Rank 2
July 26, 2024
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Old pipe in garage capped off and goes underground - is it safe to remove?

  • July 26, 2024
  • 18 replies
  • 1119 views

Hi I have a old pipe which is caped off it goes along the garage wall then outside the garage and into the ground it is not connected to anything next to it there is a red box which says oil ? Any help will be appreciated I have included pictures thanks 
 

 

Best answer by Mr R

Hi everyone thank you all for your advice just an update really I had my local network company come out and have a look at the pipe and they have confirmed that it is a old gas pipe and confirmed that it is a dead pipe and safe to remove thank you all again exceptional forum .

18 replies

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
July 26, 2024

Hey @Mr R

 

I had a quick look online and from what I can see it could lead to an underground oil storage tank - https://structuretech.com/fuel-oil-tanks-2/

 

Do you know if the property ever had oil as a fuel before??  

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Mr RAuthor
Rank 2
July 26, 2024

Hi sorry no I don’t ? Next to the pipe we’re it goes underground there is a red box that says oil I have included a picture any idea who I should contact and can it be removed thank  you 
 

 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
July 26, 2024

What is inside that red box?

I’d also suspecet that as said it may be an underground oli tank, and the red box may contain the filling valve for it that an oil tanker would hook up to.

However you haven’t established any connection between the yellow pipe and the red box, only that they are close together which may not mean anything.

The fact that the pipe in your garage is painted yellow could be a bit of a concern.
Yellow is usually/often an indication of a gas pipe.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Mr RAuthor
Rank 2
July 26, 2024

Hi that’s correct there is nothing there is just a piece of glass nothing on the other side ? 

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
July 26, 2024

Hey @Mr R,

 

Thanks for @Nukecad for jumping on and sharing your thoughts. 

 

If the case is that we’re correct and it does relate to a underground oil storage tank you’ll find more information at https://www.gov.uk/oil-storage-regulations-and-safety/home

 

 

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Mr RAuthor
Rank 2
July 26, 2024

Could it be an old redundant gas pipe ? 

Nukecad
Super User
Super User
July 26, 2024

I’d ignore the red box then and concentrate on the fact that the pipe may in fact be a live gas pipe that has been capped off.

You are obviously concerend about what the pipe may be as you have asked this question.

What material is that cap, metal or plastic?
It looks as if it’s not meant to be easily removed.

So if you are not entirely 100% sure that it is not a ‘live’ gas pipe then your safest option would be to contact the gas network company for your area and get them to come and check if it is a gas pipe that is still connected to the mains.
They will come out and remove the cap to check if it has been disconnected at the other end (where it connects to the gas main, under the road).

If there is no ‘live’ gas supply then they will tell you that it’s safe to remove.
If there is live gas then they will cap it off again and then will have to disconnect it before you can remove it. (Which may or may not involve a cost).

If you cut into a live gas pipe then you risk a gas explosion, I’m sure you have seen on the news what that can mean.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.
Mr RAuthor
Rank 2
July 26, 2024

Hi thanks for the information I will not be touching it just wondered what it was because it is not connected to anything and the gas pipes which are connected to the gas meter are well away from that pipe in question ? 

Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Community Manager
July 26, 2024

Hey both! 

 

I’d agree with @Nukecad that it’d be best to err on the side of caution just incase it could possibly still be a live gas pipe! You can find your local gas distributor here: https://www.energynetworks.org/customers/find-my-network-operator. It wouldn’t hurt to let them know that you have found a pipe on your property that leads underground that’s been capped off and you’re trying to establish it’s origin. You believe it to be a gas pipe based on observations of the colour but it’s also located away from your existing gas supply that you’re aware of. They could arrange to send out a certified engineer to take a look at it and give advice on whether it can be removed. 

 

 

Renewable energy jokes never get old.
Nukecad
Super User
Super User
July 26, 2024

Well without being able to check where it goes underground it’s pretty impossible to say what it is.

But as said if you think it may be gas then your gas network company can do a ‘live dead check’ which is usually free to have done.
They will normally have an online form to request a check.
You say that you do have a gas meter so your gas bill should tell you who the network company is in your area.

I said, Hey - Watts going on.