Many homeowners, especially those with septic systems like me, have vent pipes in their yards. Those pipes look ugly, but luckily, there are several ways to hide vent pipes in your yard.
Vent pipes can be covered with various yard decorations available in stores made especially for that purpose. Some homeowners build rock formations or place other ornamental items around them to conceal them. Landscaping and planting around the visible septic system objects is another good option.
While hiding vent pipes, certain rules must be followed. Pipes have a purpose, and you must not cover them entirely and obstruct the vent. Here are some hiding ideas you can use as an inspiration for your vent pipe concealment.
What exactly are vent pipes?
Vent pipes are a part of any sewage system, and they are used to vent out the gases which could otherwise develop within the system. I have a mound septic system instead of a conventional septic system, and I also have vent pipes in my yard.
Accumulating gases can cause air-blocks or even worse problems. To avoid this, the most important thing to remember is not to close the top of the vent pipes completely. Vent pipes vertically positioned in yards are harder to disguise than drainage pipes that can be covered with some grass and flowers. Some people are lucky and have a roof vent, while others have a yard vent like me.
Since yard vents are not aesthetically pleasing, most homeowners like me search for ways to hide them or make them less visible.
As you can see in the picture above, we have more than vent pipes to worry about. In fact, we have a total of nine objects we’d like to conceal. Because of that, our approach may have to be more complex than most. More on that below.
How to Hide a Vent Pipe?
There are various options for vent pipe hiding. Some are very cheap and easy to do, some are more expensive while others require time and patience. After considering all the possibilities, you’ll need to decide which one is suitable for your yard. The vent pipes near our new outdoor deck; so we had to take that into consideration.
Paint
Spray painting your vent pipe to match the surrounding is an inexpensive option and may be just what you need. If there is grass, you can use green. That may also be the first step if you plan to conceal the vent pipes using some other natural items.
Depending on how artsy you are, you may buy different vivid paint sprays and make an art piece. It may go well with a modern house. Make sure that the spray paint you buy is suitable for the pipe material.
Vent Pipe Covers
Fake tree trunks, fake rock columns, functional birdbaths, and similar objects placed over the vent pipe to hide it are trendy. Make sure that what you use allows the vent to work. Without air holes, the septic tank gas can’t go out and may cause problems.
Although it does not cover the vent entirely, you can also wrap it with bamboo branches or similar items. You may want to paint the pipe to match the bamboo color, essentially camouflaging the pipe for better results.
Decorations in Front of it
If you want to hide it quickly and effectively for people passing, it is a good option to put something in front of the pipe. That is also a good option if a pipe is in a corner, and no one will look behind.
You can buy a fountain, or decorative items such as animal sculptures, and position them in the desired place. Those items should be larger than the pipe itself. This option will not work if the pipe is visible from all sides.
Decorations Around it
Landscaping solutions
To hide a vent pipe, you can set different plants around it. This option works very well with short pipes near the ground. Tall pipes are harder to conceal with plants. Use evergreen plants to hide a pipe year-round.
It may seem like a good idea to plant a bush, and the pipe will be well hidden inside when it grows. But it’s likely to cause problems as the strong and long roots may damage the pipe and impact the septic tank.
Depending on the yard size, you may plant bigger plants around but at a certain distance. That will hide it, but it will take away a lot of usable space.
When choosing plants, choose those that require minimum maintenance and no excessive watering. Wet soil can freeze in winter and damage the vent pipe. If you are planting any trees in the yard, they should be at least 25-30 feet30 feet~10m away.
Nautical Poles
My wife was walking one morning in the nearby community, where we are currently renting a house and noticed that they had nautical poles in a particular area of their landscape.
She was chatting with a neighbor about how much she liked those poles, and to her surprise, the neighbor said, Do you want them? We are trying to get rid of them because we want to change the look of the area, she said.
My wife said yes right away, we wanted to have them for our new home in Lewes, DE.
At the time, we didn’t know what to do with the nautical poles. We just liked them.
Later on, my wife came out with the idea of using them to make a design around the septic system items. I said items because we have nine things we were trying to conceal while keeping the septic system working correctly and accessible.
We have three vent pipes, four access lids or hatches, one pump control panel with a water alarm, and a big green box. I still don’t know what the purpose of that box is.
So, our solution needed to be comprehensive. We also had to be careful not to impact our sprinkler system.
We placed the nautical poles around the septic tank area, planted Morning Light and Dwarf Fountain grasses, and covered the bed with mulch. The items are still visible, but with time the grass will grow taller and should make it less noticeable.
As you come out with an idea of the vent pipes in your yard, make sure it goes well with a future garden path if you are considering building one.
Final Thoughts
There are many options to choose from when it comes to hiding or disguising ugly objects in your yard, but don’t forget that it is your home, and you are entitled to your taste. Don’t let anyone tell how your house should look like.
Remember that the goal is to make the area prettier, but whatever you do, make sure not to damage the septic tank or any of the septic system’s tools.
Summary Video
I have created a quick summary video for this section. If you like this video, consider subscribing to the House Notebook Youtube Channel.
Related Posts:
Why do septic field vent pipes need to rise above ground level?
Stop rodents from establishing homes in leach pipes?
Stop rain/snow and runoff from entering pipes?
Anything else?
Thanks
I thought the primary purpose was to allow gases to escape the system. But I am not sure. Maybe someone who knows more about septic systems can answer this question. Thank you for stopping by.
They also serve as cleanouts
Good point! and thank you for your comment. There is an important specific pipe that we shouldn’t hide too much –It’s often called the sewer clean out pipe. This is the picture of the one on our house.
This video notes that the “Sewer Clean Out Pipe” is the most important pipe in your home. And yet, most people don’t know what these white, freestanding pipes in our yards really do. Although the video is mainly about city sewage, it also applies to septic systems. It’s a very informative video.