Cleanout

A cleanout is a fitting with a removable cap or plug installed at strategic points in a drainage system—typically at grade, changes of direction, or the start of a long horizontal run. It gives access to the inside of the pipe so you can clear blockages with a snake or high-pressure jet without tearing into walls or digging up the yard.

Code requires cleanouts at the base of each vertical stack, at every change of direction of more than 45 degrees on a horizontal line (usually every 75–100 feet depending on jurisdiction), and at the junction of the building drain and sewer. You'll also find them at the inlet to septic systems and at catch basins. The cap must be accessible and removable; buried or cemented-in cleanouts don't count.

When you're called to a backup, the cleanout is your first stop. A clogged line between the house and the street often means you're snaking or jetting from the cleanout rather than pulling a toilet or vent. Missing or improperly installed cleanouts make every service call harder and cut into your profit. Always leave them exposed and clearly marked so the next tech (or the homeowner) can find them.