A sewer cleanout is an access point that enables plumbers to inspect, repair and maintain your sewer system. Because of this easy access point, certain repairs can be made without the need to make extensive excavations of your basement, garage or yard. If you are not familiar with your sewer cleanout and don’t know what it is for, then take this opportunity to learn how useful it can be.
What Is Your Sewer Cleanout Used For?
The primary reason your home has a sewer cleanout is so there is an easy access point for plumbers to clear blockages, send down a video camera to inspect the sewer line, and perform repairs without damaging the property or requiring extensive excavation.
At the surface, your sewer cleanout is typically a 3-, 4-, or 6-inch diameter pipe that connects directly to the main sewer line coming from your home. In newer homes, it’s generally made from ABS plastic. In older homes, it will probably be made from brass or cast iron.
Where your cleanout emerges from the wall, floor or ground, it will be covered with a removable threaded cap that can be taken off for access to the main sewer line. This cap usually has a distinctive square in the middle that can be used to remove and replace it more easily.
Locating Your Sewer Cleanout
If you don’t know where your sewer cleanout is, you should take a moment and locate it. If there is no sewer cleanout, it’s important that you know this. Future sewer blockages or collapsed pipes may be far more difficult to diagnose and repair if there isn’t one. You may want to decide right now to save yourself future expense by having a sewer cleanout installed.
If you do have a sewer cleanout, its location can vary depending on factors such as the age of the home and local building practices. Here’s how to find your sewer cleanout:
Outdoor Cleanouts
- Walk around the perimeter of your house, close to the foundation.
- Look for a 3-to-4-inch capped pipe with a square or round head. It may be located outside a bathroom. It is usually white metal or plastic. In newer homes or newer installations, this is normally what you’re looking for.
- An older home sewer cleanout installation may appear as a capped metal pipe or flat metal or rubber lid set into the ground.
- In warmer climates, the cleanout is often buried outside near the foundation or along the property line. A buried cleanout can create problems if a new homeowner does not know where it is. If you can’t easily find the cleanout, you may want to have a new one installed that is more accessible.
- If you have not found it next to the house, trace a path from your home to the municipal sewer line or septic tank. The cleanout may be found on this path.
Note: Some larger homes may have more than one cleanout.
Indoor Cleanouts
In colder climates, cleanouts are often located indoors. Check in bathrooms, utility rooms, basements or garage floors. You should look for a pipe with a removable cap located where multiple drain pipes meet. Or it might be installed on an individual drainpipe.
If you’ve looked everywhere and can’t find your cleanout, consider consulting a professional plumber or contacting the previous homeowner for information.
The Importance of Your Sewer Cleanout
When emergencies happen—or even when routine maintenance is needed—your sewer cleanout will play an important role.
- Blockage prevention: It provides easy access for cleaning your sewer lines. Regular cleaning helps prevent debris buildup and makes it easier to eliminate roots invading a sewer lateral.
- Easier maintenance: With a sewer cleanout, plumbers can easily access the main sewer line to perform routine maintenance, inspections, and repairs. Video cameras can be sent down the sewer line starting at the cleanout, saving time and effort in locating, diagnosing and resolving issues.
- Reducing repair costs: When problems come up, both diagnosis and repair can be faster when the cleanout is accessible. Without it, diagnostics and repairs may be hit or miss until the real problem is located.
- Emergency access point: When a plumbing emergency comes up, cleanouts provide swift access for plumbers to address serious plumbing issues promptly. This fast access may be able to prevent sewage from backing up into the home, which can cause significant damage and pose health risks.
What to Do if You Don’t Have a Sewer Cleanout
Older homes may not have a sewer cleanout. If it doesn’t, you are very likely to save yourself money in the long run by having one installed.
However, if you don’t have one and you run into a situation where there seems to be a clog in your drain, you can try some do-it-yourself drain cleaning. If the clog is minor, this might save you a call to the plumber. Try this:
Pour a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar in each of your home’s drains. Start with a half-cup to a cup of baking soda, followed by a half-cup to a cup of white vinegar. This mixture will start fizzing. Plug the drain and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then pour in very hot water. The pressure created by the fizzing mixture could create enough pressure to clear minor clogs.
The best course of action is to install a cleanout. Do it before you need it, if possible. Or, if you have a problem that requires a cleanout, do it then and save yourself money on future plumbing visits.
How Plumbers Use Cleanouts to Unclog Sewer Lines
When a plumber uses a sewer cleanout to address a clog, they typically follow these steps:
- They remove the cleanout cap carefully, as pressure may have built up behind it.
- A plumbing snake or auger is inserted into the cleanout opening.
- They then guide the snake through the pipe until it reaches the blockage.
- The motor on the snake will rotate the tip of the snake to break up the clog or retrieve it.
- Once the clog is broken up or the blockage has been removed, it’s smart to then send down a video camera to inspect the line, ensure that it is fully clear and detect any damage.
The Problem of Not Having a Sewer Cleanout
Homes without sewer cleanouts make it challenging for plumbers to maintain and repair household plumbing and sewer lines. If there is no cleanout, plumbers will have to access your sewer line some other way. What are their choices?
- Removing a toilet to access the line
- Hoisting heavy equipment onto the roof to access a vent stack
- Digging up the yard
These methods are far more time-consuming and expensive. Heavy equipment on the roof can damage the roof and, of course, digging up the yard takes extra time and may require fences or landscaping to be moved.
Installing a New Sewer Cleanout for Your Home
If your home doesn’t have a sewer cleanout, installing one is a wise investment. Here’s what you should know before having this done:
- Professional installation: While some experienced DIYers might tackle this project, it’s generally best to hire a professional plumber. They have the expertise to locate the best spot for the cleanout and ensure that it’s installed correctly.
- Location: The cleanout should be installed at a point that provides easy access to the main sewer line. This is typically near where the home’s plumbing exits the foundation.
- Permits: In many areas, you’ll need a permit to install a sewer cleanout. A professional plumber can acquire the permit you need.
- Cost: The cost of installing a sewer cleanout can vary widely depending on factors like your location, the complexity of the installation, and whether any excavation is required. However, the long-term savings in maintenance and repair costs often outweigh your initial investment.
- Benefits: Once installed, a sewer cleanout provides easier access for routine maintenance, quicker resolution of plumbing emergencies, and potentially lower costs for future plumbing services.
Proper Maintenance of Your Sewer Cleanout
Once you have a sewer cleanout, it’s important to maintain it properly. You can do this by checking it regularly to ensure that the cap is secure and not cracked. Keep it accessible by not hiding it with landscaping or covering it with dirt.
Don’t bother opening it yourself as this can permit sewage and all kinds of bacteria to come pouring out. But do schedule routine inspections and maintenance through that cleanout to keep your sewer lines flowing smoothly.
In Albuquerque, Rocketman Plumbing Techs Are at Your Service
When you have a clog, slow or backed-up drain or other plumbing problem, Rocketman Plumbing is ready to help. Whenever you have a plumbing emergency, call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We send technicians out with all the equipment they need for most service calls so we can get your water back on or your drains flowing smoothly. Call us at 505-243-1227. For nearly thirty years, we’ve been keeping Albuquerque plumbing working great!