When a plumber asks "do you know where your cleanout is?", here's what they mean, and why the answer can make a drain job faster and cheaper.
What is a sewer cleanout?
A cleanout is a capped pipe that opens straight into your main sewer line, the pipe that carries everything from your house to the city sewer. It gives a plumber a direct way into the main line to clear a clog, run a camera inspection or hydro jet the line, without pulling a toilet or going through a small drain inside.
Where to find it
Look for a round, capped pipe, usually about 3 to 4 inches across, sticking up a little from the ground or set flush in the dirt or concrete. Common spots:
- Outside, near the house, along the side or front where the sewer line leaves the house, often near a bathroom wall.
- Near the property line or sidewalk in some homes, where the line heads to the street.
- In the garage or a utility area in some layouts.
The cap is often plastic (white or black) with a square nub on top for a wrench. Some homes have a two-way cleanout: two pipes side by side, one pointing toward the house and one toward the street.
Can't find it? Gravel, landscaping or pavers often cover it over the years. A plumber can locate it, and if your home doesn't have one, can install one.
Why it matters
- Faster, simpler drain cleaning. With an open cleanout, the plumber goes straight into the main line.
- It decides some offers. Our $99 drain cleaning is for main-line cleaning with an accessible cleanout.
- A pressure release in a backup. If the main line is blocked, sewage rises at the lowest point. An open cleanout outside is better than a floor drain or tub inside.
If sewage is backing up
- Stop using water: no flushing, laundry or dishwasher.
- Don't open the cap yourself if the line is backed up. Sewage under pressure can spray out. Let the plumber do it.
- If sewage is coming up from a manhole or out into the street in Mesa, that's the city's main: call the City of Mesa at 480-644-2262. A backup inside your home or in your own line is a job for a plumber.
Take care of it
- Keep the cap on and tight. An open or broken cap lets in dirt, debris and pests, and lets out sewer gas.
- Don't bury it under landscaping, turf or concrete.
- Replace a cracked cap; it's a cheap part.
Slow drains or a backup? OX Plumbing handles drain cleaning and sewer line repair, and answers 24/7.