What Is a Sewer Cleanout and Where Is Mine?

Guides / Sewer Lines

What a cleanout does

A sewer cleanout is an access point into your main sewer line, usually a 3- or 4-inch pipe with a screw-on or push-in cap. It lets a technician feed a cable, jetter hose, or camera straight into the line without going through a toilet or the roof. It's the starting point for nearly every main sewer line cleaning.

Where to look

• Outside near the foundation — on the side of the house facing the street, often in a flower bed or near the downspout.
• In the yard — between the house and the street, sometimes at ground level under grass or gravel.
• In the basement or crawlspace — on the large pipe where it leaves the house, or in the floor near the water heater.
• In the garage — common in slab-on-grade homes.

Look for a round cap, often black or white plastic or a brass plug, marked "CO" in some cases.

Why it matters during a backup

If sewage is coming up a floor drain, a technician with cleanout access can usually relieve the line in minutes. Without it, we may need to pull a toilet first. Checking the cleanout for water also tells you whether the blockage is between the house and the street. See basement floor drain backups and whole-house backups.

Should you add one?

If you've had roots, recurring clogs, or plan regular hydro jetting, an exterior cleanout pays for itself quickly. It also makes a camera inspection faster and more complete. Read what sewer line cleaning costs.

Can't find yours? We'll locate it on your next visit anywhere in Colorado Springs or nearby towns. Request service.

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Local Help Near You

We handle this problem every week across the Pikes Peak region: Colorado Springs, Monument, Larkspur, Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Peyton, Woodland Park, Fountain, Manitou Springs, Security-Widefield, Falcon, Black Forest, Palmer Lake, Cimarron Hills, Stratmoor Hills.