What Is A Sewer Cleanout And Where Can You Find It?

You may have never heard the words "sewer cleanout," but don’t worry – it doesn't mean you spring clean your sewer. Instead, it refers to a type of cleanout drain, also called a plumbing cleanout.

Sewer cleanouts can prevent a lot of headaches for a plumber or contractor. We'll also go over how to find sewer cleanouts and clean out your drain. It's not the most desirable of homeowner tasks, but it can provide an easy access point, making it much easier to get into your plumbing system.

What Is The Purpose Of Sewer Cleanouts?

A sewer line cleanout is a pipe located outside your home that allows you easy access to the plumbing system. It often looks like a metal, white, black or gray PVC pipe sticking out of the ground, either in your yard or along an outside wall and capped with a threaded end.

Sewer cleanouts connect directly to a lateral sewer line that connects plumbing to your septic tank or the municipal sewage line. If the lateral line clogs, it can cause frequent toilet and drain clogs and sewage backup in your home.

A sewer cleanout, which is required by law in many states, can help with:

• Sewer upkeep: A cleanout also gives plumbers access to your home's plumbing much more easily. Without a sewer cleanout, plumbers would have to remove a toilet or access your roof to access your plumbing.
• Landscape preservation: In the case of a major clog, a sewer cleanout can keep your yard intact. It keeps a contractor from digging up your yard to access a clogged line.
• Keeping hazards away: You can also guard against common household hazards, such as waste water and toxic gasses. You don't deal with backups that could be dangerous.

How To Find Your Sewer Cleanout

You can find your sewer line cleanout by following the drain pipes located inside your home to the main sewage line, in the area around where the line meets your home’s foundation. You can recognize the sewer cleanout if it’s on a T- or Y-shaped pipe and covered with a plug and square nut, and sometimes a plastic cap.

Note that it might be tricky to find your sewer cleanout. Here's how to find sewer cleanouts: It might be accessible in the middle of the yard, but it might not be that obvious. Look by the sidewalk – you might see a cast iron cap on your home's perimeter, on your property deed or between your home and septic tank. You may be able to find it inside in an older property, such as in the basement, attic or crawlspace.

If you can't find your sewer cleanout, it might be buried. If it is, walk around the outside of your house and gently rake away a couple of inches of mulch, gravel or sod near your garage, bathroom or laundry room on an exterior wall.

If you can't find one, your home might not have a sewer cleanout, especially if you live in an older home. You could have one installed, which could make maintenance easier and reduce the cost and damage of a clog.

How Do You Know If Your Sewer Cleanout Is Clogged?

Here are some signs you need to check and unclog your sewer cleanout:

• Drainage is slower than usual.
• Unpleasant odors emit from your drain.
• Drains clog repeatedly.
• Gurgling drain lines.

You may need to check with a professional plumber to diagnose the problem if the symptoms are much more severe than these issues.

How To Clean Out Your Drain

Here's how to unclog your home’s drains using the sewer cleanout. Gather safety glasses, gloves, a pipe wrench and a plumbing snake, which you can find at a home improvement retailer.

1. Find your sewer line cleanout. Again, it might not be easy to find, so gently dig or rake outside to look for it.
2. Remove your cleanout’s cap. The cap may be plastic, so ensure you don't break it. Note that fluid may build up behind the cap.
3. Identify the blockage. Peer down the pipe to look for the offending blockage.
4. Insert the drain snake. The drain snake is a coiled steel wire with a handle. Push the snake into the clog and crank it to drive the snake into the blockage.
5. Catch the clog with the snake. Keep pushing the snake into the drain until it stops at the end. Continue spinning the handle or drum until you hit the clog or break through the gunk.
6. Remove the drain snake. Pull the drain snake out of the drain. You may pull the clog out with it. Run water to ensure you get the whole thing.
7. Continue snaking the drain as needed. Repeat as needed until you break through the clog.

How To Unclog Your Main Sewer Line Without A Cleanout

Luckily, you can still clean your main sewer line even if you don't have a cleanout. Here’s how to unclog a main sewer line without a cleanout.

Once a month, pour a mixture of vinegar and baking soda into all your home’s drains, chasing with very hot or boiling water, loosening any materials blocking your pipes. Let sit for 5 – 10 minutes before pouring more hot water to wash everything out. It'll create foam to flush the system. Repeat as necessary at the next closest drain.

If you want easier access to your sewer line, think about installing a sewer cleanout. If you need money to pay for it, consider a cash-out refinance.

Maintaining Your Plumbing Cleanout

You can maintain your plumbing cleanout and the other pipes in your home by following a few guidelines:

• Don’t pour grease down the drain.
• Pour hot or boiling water down all drains weekly.
• Clean pipes regularly with baking soda and vinegar.

Sewer Cleanout FAQs

Still have questions about your sewer cleanout? Check out our FAQs for more information.

Should I see water in my sewer cleanout?

You should not see water (or sewage) around the outside of the sewer cleanout cap or standing water inside the sewer cleanout. If you do, you have a blocked sewage drain. You can call a professional or snake your drain yourself.

Is the sewer cleanout inside or outside the house?

Most of the time, newer homes' sewer cleanouts exist outside the home. Older homes sometimes contain sewer cleanouts inside the house. You may find them in the basement, attic or crawlspace.

Can a sewer cleanout leak?

Yes, sewer cleanouts can leak under the cap, just like any other plumbing part. Know where the cleanouts in your home are located so you can check them regularly and maintain your sewer cleanouts as needed.

The Bottom Line

If you notice slower drainage, unpleasant odors, clogged drains and gurgling drain lines, you may need to check out your sewer cleanout. It's possible to do that using a drain snake, or if you don't have a cleanout, you can consider pouring in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to flush the system.

Ready to make home improvements like an accessible sewer cleanout? Get started today on an application for a cash-out refinance.