Many homes have two clean-outs (see below). One is near the foundation of the house and the second is at or near the property line. First, check the clean-out next to the house to see if it has water in it. If it doesn't contain any water, then you know the blockage is somewhere in the house plumbing.
The two smaller ones are directional cleanouts (one goes upstream, other goes downstream; middle larger one is likely a backwater/check valve, and there should be a piece sticking up inside the pipe to pull up and remove the valve for cleaning.
Indoor cleanouts are often located near a bathroom, utility room, or garage floor drain. If this is the case, it should be easy to spot, as it's usually positioned directly next to the drain or just a few feet beside it. However, some cleanouts may be harder to spot and require access to your home's crawl space.
A lot of people think they don't have sewer cleanouts. But as I said, pretty much all homes do these days. It's more likely that your sewer cleanout is buried, often in a flower bed area. People cover up the cleanout because they think it's an eyesore.
Not in most homes. Ordinarily, you have one sewer line that is intended to primarily carry what's known as “black” water; water from the toilets into either the city sanitary sewer system or into your own septic tank.
SEWER LINES ARE ABOUT FOUR INCHES IN DIAMETER
Main sewer lines are smaller than most homeowners imagine. Building requirements typically require that they are at least three inches in diameter, and most sewer lines are only four inches across.
All the drains in your home lead to one main sewer line, which goes into the municipal system or to your septic tank system. Knowing the location of your sewer line is crucial, especially when issues arise involving clogs, backups or breaks.
Drain cleanouts are access points located throughout a home's drain line, usually near the basement wall. Each drain in the house typically has at least one drain cleanout, from which debris and clogged material can be removed.
A drain cleanout pipe is typically white or black and looks 3, 4, or 6 inches in diameter. Most caps are made of ABS plastic, though about 76 million homes in America still have cast iron sewage lines made with brass, cast iron, or copper plugs. Only plumbing professionals should use the drain cleanout.
On average sewer cleanout installation cost runs between $1,850- 3,500. This cost depends on several factors such as depths, or whether or not landscape or concrete will be removed, to create a proper workspace to access the sewer line.
Each horizontal drainage pipe shall be provided with a cleanout at its upper terminal, and each run of piping, that is more than 100 feet (30 480 mm) in total developed length, shall be provided with a cleanout for each 100 feet (30 480 mm), or fraction thereof, in length of such piping.
If you don't have drain cleanouts, backups can still be removed but it can sometimes be more challenging. The plumber has two options in this situation: access the sewer line from the roof or from the toilet. Unfortunately, neither option is as effective as going in through a cleanout.
Cleanouts. Toilets and cleanouts serve very different purposes within a plumbing system. Toilets need a dedicated waste line and proper venting to function efficiently. On the other hand, cleanouts provide access points for maintenance.
Sewer cleanouts are typically 6 inches to 3 feet deep.
Expert Recommendations for Sewer Line Cleaning
We recommend homeowners schedule sewer line cleaning every 18 to 24 months to prevent buildup and clogs. Regular cleanings help avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your plumbing system.
Neighbors often share sewer lines, leading to potential disputes or joint resolutions. Visible signs like multiple properties with sewer covers in close proximity or shared sewer bills might indicate that your sewer system is interconnected with others.
Dual cleanouts provide redundancy in case of blockages or accessibility issues. Two cleanouts allow for easier access to the sewer line from different directions. They facilitate simultaneous cleaning or inspection of different sections of the sewer line.
Check Your Clean-out
First, check the clean-out next to the house to see if it has water in it. If it doesn't contain any water, then you know the blockage is somewhere in the house plumbing.
Horizontal drainage pipes in buildings shall have cleanouts located at intervals of not more than 100 feet (30 480 mm).
How Often Do You Need to Clean Your Drains? As part of your plumbing maintenance routine, call your plumber to schedule professional cleaning service at least once a year. This service helps your home maintain clean lines and eliminates debris buildup that will lead to clogs as time passes.
There are some licenses you can earn based on the position you are interested in, such as the Unrestricted Drain Cleaners License; however, most states do not require a plumbing license to clean drains.
A standard home will usually only have one main drain that leads to the public drainage system.
Go to the city office directly or call them to see if they can tell you where the sewer line is located. Usually, they can show you where the line goes from your home to the city's main line. If you are unable to reach the city, see if there is an interactive underground utility map of your area online.
A cleanout shall be provided near the base of each vertical drain stack and located not less than 6 inches above the lowest flood level rim of the fixtures served on that level. If there are no fixtures served on that level, the cleanout shall be installed above the base of the stack.