Building drain cleanout access port questions and answers.

This article series explains how to locate & use plumbing drain cleanouts: this article describes cleanouts used to access and clear clogged building drain pipes.

FAQs on Finding & Using Plumbing Drain Cleanouts

These questions and answers about plumbing drain cleanout or access points for cleaning and un-blocking drains were posted originally at DRAIN CLEANOUTS - you will want to review the advice given there.

On 2018-05-08 by (mod) - reasons for locating cleanouts at more than one spot

Kathy:

There are good reasons for locating cleanouts at more than one spot - giving the plumber or owner a better chance at reaching a blockage to clear it.

An outdoor cleanout is often provided as well to give access to one or more points in a long sewer line between the building and the main sewer or septic septic tank. But just as you wouldn't enjoy opening that basement cleanout, you'd not want to open the outdoor one either if drains are backedup high in the building.

If you are concerned that your sewer line is filled with waste above the basement cleanout, leave that cleanout closed (as you would ) and access the main drain at a higher and safe location. THat might involve removing a toilet to get into the drain sytem.

On 2018-05-08 by kathy t

my home was "remodeled" before I bought it. When the original owners installed a second floor bathroom they put the cleanout 5' above the basement floor.

If I open the cleanout to snake (I have a serious clog)....the main stack will empty all over the basement floor. It is a HIGH house...there will be lots of sewage.

Shouldn't that cleanout be OUTSIDE the house?

On 2017-12-28 by (mod) - contractor used an existing cleanout to hook up a new drain,

James

That might be OK but hopefully the plumber also made a new cleanout access point too - else it'll be extra work when the drain next needs service.

Also, adding a new fixture needs more than a drain connection - the fixture drain also needs to be vented.

On 2017-08-01 by James

my contractor used Clean out as the new drain, is this OK (new sink was deeper and was below existing drain pipe) ?

On 2017-06-19 by Gary

Can you use a clean out to drain other waste water

On 2016-11-03 by Chuck

I have a small old apartment bldg.(1917) where 3 bathrooms are stacked overtop of each other.
The sink drains are stopped up and rotted to the point that the whole vertical run needs to be replaced.

Would it be acceptable to run the new drain on the outside of the brick building. Insulated and possibly heat traced.
this would save me having to tear down 3 tiled walls where I'm sure I cannot find replacement tiles.

And also save the tenants an annoying remodel job and disruption as all three are units are occupied.
It is on a side of the building that is not easily visible from the street

On 2016-10-07 by Judy

Mound pipe has an inch of dirt whic h was sent from the pumping station. Safely how can this be corrected without a 30k bill ?

On 2016-09-25 by Paul

Can I put a clean out in my basement for my vent pipe.

On 2016-09-02 by (mod) - fix a hard-to-access drain cleanout

Dennis:

Probably fine; certainly there are outdoor cleanouts on plumbing drains.

On 2016-09-01 by Dennis

My clean out is located inside back corner of the kitchen cabinets and it is very hard to get to. I had a clog used a snake to try and un clog it. It then started to leak.

I will have to do some pluming, is it ok to turn the clean out around where I would then have access to it from the outside.

On 2016-05-20 by Jim

It does not appear that we have a plumber's clean out trap/vent. House built 7 yrs ago on slab. Noticed odors coming from downstairs shower drain...covered with plate.

Had a sewer backup that went throughput 1st floor floors when we came home. Plumber said he couldnt find one. Now kitchen sink drains and dispisal smell awful despite using natural products. If the plumber cant find one, what do we do?

On 2016-04-22 by (mod) - connect new sink to old cleanout?

Steve,

I would be tempted to do that too, but keep in mind that you need to be able to access the cleanout when the drain is clogged.

Otherwise, if your sink is properly vented and trapped it's probably going to work fine.

On 2016-04-22 by steve

I am adding a outdoor sink, can I run the drain into a nearby clean-out,

On 2016-04-05 by (mod) - someone put rocks into the plumbing vent and clogged our drains

For heavens' sake what a ridiculous and mean thing to do.

The vent system has to be un-blocked or not only will drains smell but ultimately clogging from the poor drainage could result in blocked drains and sewage backups, or it could cause siphonage of water out of the plumbing traps, then allow smelly and explosive methane gas into the building.

After cutting out enough plumbing vent lines to get rid of the rocks (they may all be stuck pretty high in the system if the vent system has a bend or elbow near the top), ask your plumber about installing an open-mesh screen on the vent top.

"Hardware cloth" is 1/4" wide open galvanized wire mesh that might be ok if permanently affixed. That'll keep the rocks out.

On 2016-04-05 by Mariann Vierra

Someone went on top of the roof n put rocks in the plumbing line toilets sinks

On 2016-01-13 by Mod - fixing a slow sink drain

Mart,

see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

On 2016-01-13 by mart

slow drain kitchen sink

Question: main outlet drain pipe is blocked

(July 12, 2012) Chris said:

the kitchen drain pipe is blocked .ive removed and cleaned the inside pipes but the main outlet drain pipe is blocked

Reply:

You need to find the main building drain cleanout and check that the drain is clear from there, or clear it.

Question: can I hook up the toilet to the existing cleanup pipe?

(Dec 29, 2012) Stevo said:

I am making a bathroom in my basement, can I hook up the toilet to the existing cleanup pipe?

Reply:

Steveo. Yes if local codes permit. If the toilet is higher than the existing drain line so that it can drain to it by gravity, you drain directoy to the main line.

If the main drain is above the toilet base you'd need either a powered up-flush toilet or more likely a sewage ejector pump that receives waste from the toilet and, using a small float-operated grinder pump, forces wastewater up to the main drain.

Question: drain is clogged and the top to the trap can not be opened

(Jan 15, 2013) salmontimsalmontim@yahoo. said:

I have a house built in the early 1950s with a dry well to handle the kitchen sink grey water. the piping is black iron and their is a large iron trap in the basement..(9" dia cylinder, 14" hight) the drain is clogged and the top to the trap can not be opened... any suggestions?

Reply:

Salmon, a plumber will either open the drain cap for you or in the worst case will cut out and remove and then replace the main trap.

You need to be able to access this port for drain cleaning. Sometimes we can defer that trouble and cost by finding a nearby drain cleanout access that can be opened and used.

Question: how often a drain line should be routed out?

(Feb 26, 2014) Anonymous said:

How often should a 4in building drain pipe be rodeo

Reply:

Anon I think you are asking how often a drain line should be routed out? When it's blocked is the answer.

But if you find that clearing a drain does not produce a lasting repair I suspect other problems such as root invasion or improper slope, or scale and corrosion build-up.

Question: plumbing snake stuck in drain pipe

(June 12, 2014) Anonymous said:
86314
got a snake stuck in pipe

Reply:

Anon,
You're not the first. I've had that issue too. Try rotating the snake in a direction that would make the spring wind rather than unwind. Then with tension achieved, release it and wind backwards.

Question: kitchen drain is clogged for the first time.

12/27/2014 Jimmy said:
My kitchen drain is clogged for the first time. When I removed the cap off of my clean out it looks like the contractor plugged the pipe with foam insulation. Can I just cut out his foam so I can access the rest of the line.

Reply:

Jimmy, finding foam in a drain cleanout is odd - perhaps someone squirted foam there as a "temporary" seal pending installing of a proper plug or cap. I would carefully remove the foam, with the hope - or fantasy - that some idiot didn't squirt foam way down into the piping system.

...

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• CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• DRAIN & SEWER PIPING - home

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