Why You Need a Sewer Clean Out

A sewer clean out is an external access point of a plumbing system found outside near the exterior walls of a home. These capped pipes are unobtrusive, causing them to be unnoticeable, unless you’re looking for them specifically.

Having a clean out is beneficial for many reasons. For instance, looking at one can help you verify if you have a sewer drain clog. This is important, especially with sewer main clogs considered as plumbing emergencies.

A clean out can also make clearing a sewer drain clog easier and more affordable. Plumbers can use a drain-cleaning machine at the access point to clear it. The alternative involves running a machine through an internal fixture or through a roof vent.

The alternative options can be more difficult and costly, especially if you hire professional drain cleaners to do them.

With the likelihood of encountering plumbing emergencies, it’s a good idea to find out if you have a clean out, and to locate it ahead of time. These can make repairs easier during an emergency.

To locate a clean out, consider these steps:

Look for a Sewer Cap or Clean Out Cap

Look for a sewer cap or clean out cap in your front yard. Search under and behind the bushes close to the walls of your house.

Continue your search outside and look along the sides of your house, especially near your bathrooms.

If you can’t find a cap outside, look inside. Search near or behind toilets, for although rare, some homes may have clean outs installed inside.

Search for Other Clean Outs

Don’t stop looking for others once you’ve found a clean out. Homes may often have many of these access points, and it’s important to know all their locations.

Having a sewer clean out is important, especially when you have to deal with plumbing emergencies. With that said, find out if you have them and locate each of them before an emergency occurs.