Asked on Jun 30, 2018

I'll take, What is That? Alec, for $100, please?

Shuganne
by Shuganne
I have a 110 year old house. I want to dig out the dirt under the downspout to direct rain away from the house through an underground plastic drainage pipe. (This is in conjunction with my sidewalk project and the buried 220 electric line, if my user name looks familiar.) You can see the Whatever better in the 2nd picture; I included the first for perspective. It is green and looks like a reinforced garden hose, but the green suddenly stops. Inside it is a solid square steel I-Don't-Know-What which heads toward the house. I don't want to dig anymore because I don't have a Will or a wish to die. (The round "pot" directly below the downspout looks like tempered, or painted, clay, which considering the age of the house and an inexplicable cement area jutting out into the room, 10 ft by 10 ft and 4 ft high, might be a discontinued cistern system.) I really can't call the electric company to i.d. it, without incurring a fee, I don't think. Any thoughts? Guesses? Please?

Thank you, Hometalk Community!
  9 answers
  • Rob32328534 Rob32328534 on Jun 30, 2018

    Hi Shuganne, I'd call the electric company-- ask if they charge to come out because in my area, there is no charge and they will come out and mark the lines with chalk spray or little orange flags. Please be safe!

  • Rob32328534 Rob32328534 on Jun 30, 2018

    Your photos didn't show up but I still think the garden hose thing- description sounds like something wrapping electrical cables of some kind.

  • Shuganne Shuganne on Jun 30, 2018

    First of all, thank you for your concern! I did 2 weeks ago. Here it's 1-800-JULIE. ComEd said they didn't put it in so they're not going to mark where they think it is. That would make them legally liable if I dug where they said it wasn't and I found it: Zap. I'll call them on Monday and see if someone would just identify it.


    It's funny. I've seen/got in the way asking questions / when my house was built when I was a kid but I've never seen this thing before. Thanks for answering.

  • Rob32328534 Rob32328534 on Jun 30, 2018

    Ok just saw the photo! Definitely call the electric company!

  • Shuganne Shuganne on Jun 30, 2018

    Did this one come through?

  • Rob32328534 Rob32328534 on Jun 30, 2018

    Yes! Got it-- since the house is 100 years old, who knows what a previous owner might have rigged up.

  • Carol Thomas Carol Thomas on Jul 01, 2018

    What is a deathtrap..... Hahahaa I love your post! I don't have any idea to help you out, but thanks for making me smile!

  • Oliva Oliva on Jul 01, 2018

    The larger item is reminiscent of old "insulators", like you used to see atop telephone poles. The thinner pieces on the ground look like old wire that was encased in sheathing. Some older homes had copper ground wires for the electric that were barely buried beneath ground level. Can you take a higher resolution/larger photo? Did anything about old wiring show up on your home inspection report? Did you have new wiring installed after you bought the home and old wiring disconnected? Can you contact previous owners?

  • Cheryl Gillman Cheryl Gillman on Jul 23, 2018

    The green thing definitely looks like some type of cable, it would be worth either calling an electrician or your electric company to identify it before you go any further. It's definitely worth paying to have it checked with money than your life!