The Importance of a Sewer Cleanout

Do you know how to locate your home’s sewer cleanout? For that matter, do you even know if you have one? Not every home has a sewer cleanout, so if you’re not sure, you should check. It’s not hard to find—just look for a circle in the ground outside your home that says “SEWER” on top. If you don’t have a sewer cleanout, it’s time to consider having one installed.

So, what is a sewer cleanout and why is it important? A sewer cleanout is an exterior pipe that provides access to the main sewer line so blockages can be removed as needed. In addition, a cleanout provides an outlet for sewage to escape in the event that the main line backs up.

If your home does have a sewer cleanout, one thing to check is the type of cap that covers the pipe opening. While cleanouts often have hard caps, in order for the pipe to function as an outlet, it needs to have a “soft” one. Known as a relief valve or “popper,” this type of cap has a valve that lifts up to allow sewage to escape from the pipe when a backup occurs.