Why Is It Important to Have a Clean Out Drain In My Yard?

Why Is It Important To Have A Clean Out Drain?

This article will give you some basic facts that every homeowner should know about clean out pipes. If you don’t know what a clean out pipe looks like or what it is used for, so we will demystify that for you here.

What is a Sewer Clean Out Pipe?

Your home has a network of drains, which all come together into one main drain line, that leads out of your home into a sewer line, which runs underground from your home out to the main public sewer line at the street, or to a septic tank system in your yard.

A clean out pipe gives a plumber access to that sewer line to, as the term might imply, clean out the sewer line if a blockage forms. This access is sometimes referred to as a cleanout, clean-out, drain clean out, sewer clean out, or clean out pipe. All those terms mean the same thing.

If installed correctly, your sewer line should have a cleanout, ideally located in your yard, between the home and the street or septic tank. If your home is set back far from the street, you may need more than one cleanout along the path of the sewer line.

What does a drain cleanout look like?

In newer homes, a drain clean out is usually a 4″ white PVC pipe, with a white cap, protruding from your lawn. In some older homes, especially with a cast iron sewer line, there may or may not be a cast iron clean out in your yard.

Where is the drain clean out located?

In more recent construction, the clean out is usually be located in the yard. Occasionally the clean out can be found in the garage, basement, or even in the crawlspace of your home. In some older homes, especially with a cast iron sewer line, there may or may not be a cast iron plumbing vent in your yard. If there is not a clean out pipe in any of these locations, accessing your sewer line might be possible from the plumbing vent pipe on the roof.

Why do I need a clean out pipe?

Over time, grease and debris can build up in your sewer line, forming clogs which prevent proper flow of your wastewater. Tree roots growing into your sewer line can also cause problems. When a blockage happens, you may find that one or more of your toilets aren’t flushing well, or water may back up into your tub or sinks, etc. When you have more than one drain that is having trouble, that is often an indicator of a clog in your sewer line.

Clean out drains allow easy access to evaluate and address blockages within your sewer line. If you do not have a clean out, it is often necessary to access the sewer line by removing a toilet and feeding the auger through that toilet drain pipe. Of course, after the clog is removed, your toilet will need to be carefully reset. All of this is a much more cumbersome, time-consuming, and therefore, costlier, task than simply twisting off the cap of the drain clean out to access your sewer line, as designed.

Should I relocate my clean out or add a new clean out pipe?

If your clean out is difficult to access, as in the case of some that are installed in a tight crawlspace, there may not be room enough for the auger equipment to reach the sewer clean out, to clear out the drain line blockage. In cases like these, we recommend having a professional plumber install a new clean out for your sewer line, to facilitate easier clog removal in the future.

How can I prevent future clogs?

Hydrojetting, which acts as an interior pressure washing, of sorts, can be used to clear a stubborn clog, in some cases, as well as used for routine maintenance to clean your drain lines of any built-up grease and grime. This will ensure your wastewater continues flowing freely to the sewer or septic tank. You don’t have to wait for a clog to occur to schedule a hydrojetting service. Having your drains professionally cleaned is a smart decision.

Additionally, one way to prevent tree roots from growing into your sewer line is to be aware of where your sewer line is located, in order to avoid planting trees and shrubs too closely to the sewer line, as the roots will, by nature, always be seeking a source of water.

Also, remember that only toilet paper and human waste are to be flushed. There are several items commonly considered safe to flush, but which, in fact, are not. To learn more about what can and cannot be flushed down the toilet, watch this brief, helpful video about clogged sewer lines.

Cooking grease and oils, coffee grounds, and more, are best discarded in the trash, rather than poured down the sink. Garbage disposals are a great convenience in the kitchen but can also give us a false assurance that anything can be sent down the kitchen sink. For tips on what should and should not be poured into your kitchen sink, watch this helpful video about the “do’s and don’ts” of garbage disposals.

At Pipe Wrench Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we offer plumbing services that can help you prevent or repair clogged sewer lines. Recurring clogs, drains backing up, or toilets that won’t flush, can be an indicator that your sewer line is clogged. We offer a $99 drain opening special, which includes a FREE camera inspection to identify the root cause of your clogged drain.

If the camera inspection shows that your sewer line is damaged beyond repair, we offer partial and complete sewer line replacement, as well.

Call today and we’ll send a plumber to clear your clogged drain today! Same Day Service Guaranteed, or the Visit is FREE!