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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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poles/pipes in front yard?
Can anyone identify what these poles/pipes are?
We thought they were sprinklers, but they aren't. Sellers claim they don't know, home inspector didn't know...now, as closing approaches, I am worried they are signs of a buried oil tank. (Sellers replied "unknown" when asked if a storage tank was ever buried on the property - the one currently in use is outside the house, above ground in a storage container.)
Any thoughts? TIA 
ETA: Having problems inserting photo - I put it in my photo album.
larger image in album Image Attachment(s):
Message edited 5/31/2011 12:31:48 PM.
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Posted 5/31/11 12:15 PM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
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8ternity
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Member since 11/08 10586 total posts
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Formally NYPD-Wife
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
maybe there was a fence?
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| Posted 5/31/11 12:26 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
It's hard to tell from the photo. Are the pipes metal or plastic? It looks like 4 pipes total. Are there any other pipes?
Have you tried to wiggle them? Is there any movement at all?
Are they capped at the top, or are the pipes open?
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| Posted 5/31/11 12:31 PM |
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DMT
LIF Adult
Member since 6/05 2277 total posts
Name:
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
maybe radon detection pipe?
thought we do not have issues with radon in this area
something to do with the spinklers? does it have a sprinkler system?
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| Posted 5/31/11 12:44 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
All of the pipes are capped. The caps are lightly covered with black electrical tape. The pipes are metal and are about 1 inch wide. They rise no more than 1 foot from the mulch and they do not wiggle. Yes, the home has a sprinkler system but the sprinkler heads have a smaller width and don't stand as tall as these pipes.
This is all very new to us. Ugh, I can't believe we forgot to address this sooner. The homeowners have already moved...so we communicate through RE Agents.
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| Posted 5/31/11 12:53 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
Are there any pipes coming into the basement in that corner?
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| Posted 5/31/11 1:23 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
Posted by GoldenRod
Are there any pipes coming into the basement in that corner?
In that corner of the house is the sump pump.
I don't recall if there are any other pipes coming into the house over there.
The boiler is on that same side of the house but like 3-5 feet from the sum pump. (I don't have any photos of this interior area.)
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| Posted 5/31/11 2:03 PM |
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MockingJay
Ring out the old...
Member since 9/08 1312 total posts
Name:
Ring in the new!
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
it could be evidence of an UST or possibly a cesspool. What county is this? Nassau or Suffolk?
Nassau County, you can contact the Dept of Health and find out if there are any USTs onsite and if so, if they've been property abandoned. They can also direct you to the right place to find out about a potential cesspool issue.
That's a little worrisome that the inspector didn't know.
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| Posted 5/31/11 2:21 PM |
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bea559
LIF Toddler
Member since 11/10 457 total posts
Name:
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
Posted by Belongs2DanBuckley
it could be evidence of an UST or possibly a cesspool. What county is this? Nassau or Suffolk?
Nassau County, you can contact the Dept of Health and find out if there are any USTs onsite and if so, if they've been property abandoned. They can also direct you to the right place to find out about a potential cesspool issue.
That's a little worrisome that the inspector didn't know.
You said it...it definitely is worrisome that he didn't pick up on the pipes.
And DH and I never thought to ask, since the tank is situated neatly outside the house...
The house is in Suffolk County. I have contacted the town bldg dept for the property records/history.
All I am hoping that if it is a UST, that it was abandoned properly. If not...it's going to be quite a project for us first time homebuyers...but I won't jump off that cliff just yet.
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| Posted 5/31/11 2:35 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
Posted by amL220
Posted by Belongs2DanBuckley
it could be evidence of an UST or possibly a cesspool. What county is this? Nassau or Suffolk?
Nassau County, you can contact the Dept of Health and find out if there are any USTs onsite and if so, if they've been property abandoned. They can also direct you to the right place to find out about a potential cesspool issue.
That's a little worrisome that the inspector didn't know.
You said it...it definitely is worrisome that he didn't pick up on the pipes.
And DH and I never thought to ask, since the tank is situated neatly outside the house...
The house is in Suffolk County. I have contacted the town bldg dept for the property records/history.
All I am hoping that if it is a UST, that it was abandoned properly. If not...it's going to be quite a project for us first time homebuyers...but I won't jump off that cliff just yet.
I would get this matter straightened out before going through with closing. For sure. I would be very concerned it was an underground tank that was not properly abandoned, which if it is, YOU don't and cannot take that responsibility on.
Did you speak to your attorney about this? They should have guided you re this and the issues re underground tanks. Also...how long are the sellers in the home? Does the county have any records of where the oil tank was when the home was built? You need all this information before closing....in fact, you technically should have had it all to be sure it wasn't a tank or radon check vent pipe, before signing the contract. But even though you did still sign it, I would not close without doing ALL the research I can (and again, I believe you attorney should be guiding you on this) and I would NOT close until the sellers take care of the tank if it is one....I would call your attorney ASAP to see what your rights are being that you signed the contract after the inspection.
Message edited 5/31/2011 4:25:46 PM.
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| Posted 5/31/11 4:21 PM |
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MockingJay
Ring out the old...
Member since 9/08 1312 total posts
Name:
Ring in the new!
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Re: poles/pipes in front yard?
Posted by Goobster
Posted by amL220
Posted by Belongs2DanBuckley
it could be evidence of an UST or possibly a cesspool. What county is this? Nassau or Suffolk?
Nassau County, you can contact the Dept of Health and find out if there are any USTs onsite and if so, if they've been property abandoned. They can also direct you to the right place to find out about a potential cesspool issue.
That's a little worrisome that the inspector didn't know.
You said it...it definitely is worrisome that he didn't pick up on the pipes.
And DH and I never thought to ask, since the tank is situated neatly outside the house...
The house is in Suffolk County. I have contacted the town bldg dept for the property records/history.
All I am hoping that if it is a UST, that it was abandoned properly. If not...it's going to be quite a project for us first time homebuyers...but I won't jump off that cliff just yet.
I would get this matter straightened out before going through with closing. For sure. I would be very concerned it was an underground tank that was not properly abandoned, which if it is, YOU don't and cannot take that responsibility on.
Did you speak to your attorney about this? They should have guided you re this and the issues re underground tanks. Also...how long are the sellers in the home? Does the county have any records of where the oil tank was when the home was built? You need all this information before closing....in fact, you technically should have had it all to be sure it wasn't a tank or radon check vent pipe, before signing the contract. But even though you did still sign it, I would not close without doing ALL the research I can (and again, I believe you attorney should be guiding you on this) and I would NOT close until the sellers take care of the tank if it is one....I would call your attorney ASAP to see what your rights are being that you signed the contract after the inspection.
ITA- you really need to do some due diligence on this and I would email the image to your inspector and ask. If the tank is less than 1100 gallons, it wouldn't be reported through the NYS DEC, but if there was a spill on premises, it might. Its definitely worth looking into. If it does have something to do with an UST, then the tank was not properly abandoned. I'm not sure who Suffolk puts in charge of handling this, but call DEC petroleum bulk storage and ask and they can direct you to the proper authority. From there you can submit a FOIL (freedom of information law) request on any oil tanks registered on the property.
YOU HAVE TO DO THIS BEFORE YOU CLOSE! If there was a leak and it wasn't properly cleaned, not only are you held liable for excavating the tank, but you're also responsible for soil removal and remediation activities which can cost THOUSANDS of dollars.
If you need help, FM me. Good luck!
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| Posted 5/31/11 5:36 PM |
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