Cleanout terms

Cleanout
A capped fitting that opens into a drain or sewer pipe for cleaning and inspection.
Two-way cleanout
A fitting that lets a cable go either toward the house or toward the street.
Lateral
The private sewer pipe from the house to the public main.
Branch cleanout
A smaller cleanout on an individual drain line, often behind an access panel or under a sink.

How to look for your cleanout

  1. Walk the side of the house nearest the bathrooms.Main cleanouts are often within a few feet of the foundation, roughly in line with where bathrooms and the kitchen sit.
  2. Check between the house and the street.Some lots have a cleanout near the front walk, in a planter or near the property line. It may be a pipe stub with a cap or a small round lid flush with the ground.
  3. Look under plants and mulch.Decades of landscaping can bury a cleanout. A probe or careful digging along the likely sewer path may find it.
  4. Check inside.Some homes have a cleanout in a garage, laundry area or behind a panel. Older homes may not have an accessible one at all.

When there is no cleanout

Some 1950s and 1960s Placentia homes were built without an outdoor cleanout, or the original one was paved over. Without it, a plumber usually reaches the main by pulling a toilet and running the cable through the floor flange, or by going down a roof vent. Both work, but they add steps and are harder to do well when the line is full.

Adding a two-way cleanout outside is a common upgrade after a main line clog, because it makes every future cleaning or camera inspection simpler. It involves cutting into the sewer pipe, so ask whether a permit is needed and check with the City of Placentia.

Keep your cleanout usable

  • Make sure the cap is present and tight; a missing cap lets dirt, debris and rainwater into the sewer
  • Do not bury it under new concrete, pavers or deep mulch
  • Keep a photo of its location for future plumbers
  • Tell lawn and landscape crews where it is so mowers and trenchers avoid it
  • Replace a cracked cap promptly

What to ask about your cleanout

  1. Is this cleanout on the main line or only a branch?
  2. Which direction does it allow you to cable?
  3. Would adding a two-way cleanout make future work easier here?
  4. Would that work need a permit?

Common questions

Can I run my own cable through the cleanout?

For a clear line, a homeowner can rent equipment, but sewer machines can injure hands and arms and can get stuck in a damaged pipe. For a backed-up main, it is safer to call a licensed plumber.

Why is water sitting in my cleanout when I open it?

If the line is clear, a small amount of water can sit in the fitting. If the pipe is full to the cap, there is a blockage downstream toward the street.

Who owns the cleanout near the sidewalk?

That depends on where the city draws the line between private lateral and public sewer. Check with the City of Placentia for your address.

General information for Placentia, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.