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.
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 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 necessarily. It depends on how the cleanout connects to the sewer; whether any water is passing through the sewer at the time; and the volume of water that may be passing through the sewer at the time it is under observation.
Apply muscle and leverage
Slip one pipe wrench onto the fitting and the second one on the cleanout plug. Then give it all you've got. If the plug breaks loose, you're home free; go ahead and snake the line. But don't reuse the metal plug.
Start by removing any visible and solid obstructions from the drain, like hair or food particles. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Slowly pour the 2 cups of white vinegar down the drain over the baking soda. The mixture will create a fizzing reaction, which can help break down the gunk in the drain.
These may be made of ABS plastic, copper, cast iron, or bronze. The cleanout is located after where the drainage lines meet the main sewer line. It is usually in the form of a T- or Y-shaped pipe fitting, topped by a threaded plug and square nut possibly covered by a plastic cap.
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.
Strange Smells and Noises
Foul smells emanating from your sink, bathtub or floor drain indicate a main sewer line blockage. The clog leaves nowhere else for the waste causing the smell to go, leaving a lingering odor. In addition to strange smells, you might also notice a gurgling noise coming from your drains.
Depending on the job's difficulty, cleanout installation will cost the average homeowner between $650 – $2,000, with the highest cost reserved for those that require extensive digging and retrofitting.
Toilets need a dedicated waste line and proper venting to function efficiently. On the other hand, cleanouts provide access points for maintenance. Understanding this difference helps ensure that each component works as intended without causing plumbing problems.
Loosening a Stuck Cleanout Plug by Breaking it
Using a power drill with a 3/8-inch metal bit, drill a ring of holes within 1/4 inch of the edge of the plug. With a hammer and chisel, know out the center of the plug, then the pieces between the holes. Do not let the pieces fall down the main drain.
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.
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.
With a clogged basement drain, pouring Drano or similar products down your sewer drain can actually damage your pipes or the glue holding them together, causing more sewer system problems in the future.
Roto-Rooter's most popular service is clearing sewer lines using an auger strong enough to cut through tree roots. This service typically costs $400 to $600. Unclogging a branch line, or plumbing within the home, costs $350 to $500 on average. The technician uses a smaller auger to snake a drain in your home.
First, you can run hot water down the drain for 5 to 10 minutes to see if that helps break up the clog. If it doesn't, pour equal parts of vinegar and baking soda into a bowl and then pour that mixture down the drain. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then run hot water down the drain.
Often, these clogs can be fixed without contacting an emergency plumber in Austin. However, if the problem is the main sewer line, then it's a totally different situation. It's an emergency and it's not going to get better without professional help.
Sewer cleanouts are typically 6 inches to 3 feet deep.
You can drain the pipe, fill the partially blocked pipe with hot water, and use your forearm to feel the pipe. Alternatively, instead of using your forearm, you can opt for other tools like an infrared camera or a temperature gun if you're in a position to get one.
One option is to use a drain snake or auger to physically remove the clog. Another effective technique is to create a chemical reaction using baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by one cup of vinegar. Let the mixture sit for about 30 minutes, then flush with hot water.
If sewage or dirty water is coming out of your home's sewer line cleanout, or if there is water standing around the cleanout pipe, this confirms you have a main sewer line clog.