Why It’s Important to Know Your Sewer Drain Cleanout’s Location

Your Sewer Drain Cleanout Is Critical During Flooding & Plumbing Emergencies

Every homeowner should maintain, inspect, and upgrade their plumbing system regularly to avoid emergencies, malfunctions, and general issues down the line. Plumbing problems can be frustrating, inconvenient, and expensive. Every home deserves clean water and efficient waste removal. However, plumbing systems without proper maintenance will naturally suffer from wear and tear. Eventually, corrosion and rust can cause faulty pipes, pipe leaks, or a defect with the sewer line cleanout.

This sewer line cleanout is one of the most pivotal components of your plumbing system. Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t know how to locate the sewer drain cleanout and are uninformed about its function. Today, Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Pomona Valley hopes to change this fact. We’re here to navigate you through the ins and outs of your main sewer line cleanout.

You’ll learn:

• How to find your main drain cleanout
• How to perform seasonal maintenance on it
• Tricks for keeping your drain cleanout in shipshape form
• And much more!

What’s the Purpose of a Sewer Cleanout?

Every plumbing system consists of pipes running in a stacked network. Sometimes, this stack of pipes suffers from clogs, buildup, and other issues. The sewer line cleanout is an access point to remove debris or buildup when clogs occur. It is usually a pipe segment with a removable cap that provides access to hydro jets and plumbing snakes.

Your sewer line cleanout makes it easy for professionals, like Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Pomona Valley, to locate, diagnose, and alleviate clogs and other piping issues. Plumbers would have to remove a toilet or build a trench in the yard to access piping if there wasn’t a cleanout pipe. The cleanout cap prevents sewage backflow and protects your home from harmful gases and foul smells. The cap’s primary function is to create a closed plumbing system – containing the gases naturally accumulated in plumbing pipes.

Where Is My Sewer Cleanout Located?

The precise location of a sewer cleanout varies from property to property. Nevertheless, there are many ways to narrow down possible locations. First off, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of what a sewer cleanout looks like. Your cleanout is usually around 4 inches in diameter with a screw cap and a square knob at the top. It’s often popping up from the ground between the foundation and the street.

The sewer cleanout will almost always be on the lateral sewer line (this is the piping connecting your plumbing city to the city’s system). As a property owner, you are responsible for plumbing issues that originate on your property – even if the problem spreads onto surrounding land.

Here are some specific locations for sewer line cleanouts:

Interior Sewer Line Cleanouts

Many properties have a sewer line cleanout in or around the bathroom/utility area. A bathroom cleanout is likely near the toilet and protruding slightly above ground or flush with the floor. A cleanout inside a garage or utility room will likely be near a drain. Wherever the cleanout may be, it should have a threaded plug or indentation at the top that can be easily twisted and opened with a pipe wrench.

Exterior Sewer Line Cleanouts

Sewer line cleanouts usually sit outside properties in regions with warm/temperate weather. They are almost always found outside of slab foundation properties. Unfortunately, thick vegetation, weeds, plants, or lawn ornaments can obscure outdoor cleanouts. Exterior cleanouts are also often hidden behind a metal or plastic box. To find an outdoor sewer line cleanout, we recommend inspecting the perimeter for a pipe protruding slightly above the ground with a cap at the end. You may also consider checking your home inspection blueprints for potential guidance.

Basement Sewer Line Cleanouts

Basement and crawl space cleanouts are common among older homes in cold-weather cities. These cleanouts are usually adjacent to the foundation wall and embedded in the floor. A helpful tip when searching for a basement cleanout is to follow a direct path from the vertical soil stack to the foundation wall. The basement cleanout should be in the vicinity.

The Importance of Finding Your Sewer Line Cleanout

Knowing your cleanout’s location can prove handy when you need to unclog your plumbing system in a hurry. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Pomona Valley, we can hurry to examine the situation. Our team will inject a snake camera into your cleanout to locate and diagnose underground clogs and other piping issues. We can deliver a cost-effective solution after diagnosing the problem. This solution may involve flushing the backup with a hydro jet, applying a pressure washer, or conducting another cutting-edge strategy.

Remembering where your sewer line cleanout is can help save you and your plumbing technician precious seconds when a major pipe leak or rupture occurs. It can be a lifesaver when renting property to tenants. We also recommend hiring a professional to clean your cleanout every 1-2 years. Taking a proactive approach can help you maintain your plumbing system and avoid clogging emergencies before they materialize.

We offer premium plumbing repairs, sewer line repairs, and seasonal maintenance. Our team is prepared and ready to keep your entire plumbing system in shipshape condition. We have the experience and expertise to avoid costly amateur mistakes. Our expert plumbers can also install a brand-new sewer line cleanout if your cleanout is old, deteriorated, or non-existent. A new cleanout can help you prevent costly plumbing scenarios in the future.

Want more information? Call for a complimentary consultation today! We’re ready to rush to the rescue and ensure your plumbing system is functioning properly!