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.
You'll recognize it as a 3-to-4-inch capped pipe with a square or round head. Since cleanouts aren't needed often, yours may be covered by bushes, underbrush, or grass. It may also be concealed in a box close to the ground with a metal cover, so keep your eye out for anything that may contain a pipe.
A sewer cleanout is generally, but not always located outside a bathroom. You'll recognize it as a black or white, three- to four-inch capped pipe. Since cleanouts aren't needed often, yours may be covered by bushes, underbrush, or grass.
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.
The national average rate for sewer cleaning prices ranges between $200 and $600, with most people paying around $250 for a main sewer line cleaning with minimal-to-no excavation to access the cleanout. This project's low cost is $150 for light-duty professional sewer cleaning with a snake.
The cost of drain cleaning averages about $241, but it can fall between $147 and $344, depending on the location and extent of your clog. There is nothing like a backed-up drain to derail your plans. Luckily, there are different solutions that will have you—and your pipes—back on the move in no time.
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.
Toilets Flush Slowly
You might find that your toilet doesn't fully flush or flushes very slowly and odd noises occur when you flush your toilet. These noises usually sound like gurgling or bubbling. Additionally, the water in your bathtub or shower takes much longer to drain than normal.
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.
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.
Check your water bill: The easiest way to check if you have a septic tank is to check your water bill. If there is a sewer charge listed on your bill, then you are connected to the municipal water system and don't have a septic tank.
Apply rust penetrant and vibration
Then soak the cleanout plug threads with rust penetrant. Next, smack opposite sides of the tee or wye fitting at the same time using two hammers. Rotate the double blows around the entire fitting. Then try using a pipe wrench again.
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.
Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years. Alternative systems with electrical float switches, pumps, or mechanical components should be inspected more often, generally once a year. A service contract is important since alternative systems have mechanized parts.
Find a clean-out plug located on a large drainpipe in areas such as your basement, crawlspace, garage or near the foundation of your house. Remove the plug with an adjustable wrench. Wastewater may drain out when you open the clean-out and when you break the clog.
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.
Sewer cleanouts are typically 6 inches to 3 feet deep.
Try this alternative using baking soda and boiling water: For an easy, natural way to clean your drain pipes, pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 2 cups of boiling water. Let the mixture work for about 30 minutes, then use a plunger to break up any clogs.
If you're dealing with a more stubborn or complicated blockage, you'll likely need a professional plumber. Their solutions can take a couple of hours or even a whole day to complete.
You will likely pay around $350 to $650 to have a plumber unclog a main sewer line unless you have complications like serious damage to the line.