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The location of your home’s sewer clean out is probably not the first thing that comes up in conversations unless your sewer is backing up. In fact, most homeowners don’t know if they have clean outs or where they are located until they are calling for help with a flooding toilet or bath filling with sewage or a flooding sink. These are all caused by a sewer back up and the first thing the best plumber will ask is do you have clean outs? 

What is a Sewer Clean Out? 

Waste is carried away from your home through a series of drainage pipes to a plumbing stack. From there, sewer runs away from your house to the city tap or to your septic system.  You may have noticed a white cap in your yard. Depending on where you live, there may be multiple caps around your property. That circular object made of PVC is a sewer clean out. Best plumber near me, Duncan Plumbing explains below why you need a clean out.

Do I Need A Sewer Clean Out?

When ever your main sewer line clogs, sewer clean outs create access for plumbers to roto root the line or clear the drain.  The Plumber will remove the cap and insert a cable or sewer machine to clean your sewer line. Once the sewer line is cleared, the plumber can use a camera to inspect the line via the clean out. A clean out prevents the plumber from having to get on the roof to clean your sewer line from the plumbing vent stack.

Where is the Sewer Clean Out?

Typically, your main sewer line out is located in the front yard. Likewise, your sewer clean out could be on the side of the house. With older homes, your sewer clean out could be in the back yard, leading out to the alley and out to the city tap.

However, there are usually smaller clean outs for various applications. For example, there might be a clean out on the wall just outside your kitchen sink. This clean out makes it easier for a Plumber to unclog the drain, rather than taking out the p-trap & snake your sewer underneath. Similarly, the laundry room clean out will be behind the washing machine on the wall. This will factor out the plumber having to get on the roof to run a sewer snake through the vent.

What is a Sewer Clean out

What If I Can’t Find a Clean Out?

Sometimes your sewer cleanout can go unused for decades. This will cause it to disappear under dirt and brush. An old cast iron clean out will rust and blend in with the elements. When a plumber comes for an emergency, he can attempt to locate the clean out by tapping the ground with a probe, a long metal rod that can penetrate the ground and detect the sewer pipe for leak detection.  However, that may not work. If that’s the case, the plumber will have to get his big sewer machine on the roof. This takes two plumbers, is dangerous & costs more.

Should I Install a Clean Out if I Don’t Have One?

If you want to save money, a clean out installation is highly recommended. The cost depends on the depth of the pipe and the accessibility for crews to excavate.  When you install a clean out, you ensure proper plumbing maintenance and have peace of mind before you have a plumbing problem or a major sewer back up. Sewer problems can lead to a whole home re pipe in the worst cases.  You want the best plumber to install your new clean out. Contact Duncan Plumbing Solutions , voted Best Plumber Waxahachie & Best Plumber Midlothian today!

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