Sewer cleanouts
How to Find Your Sewer Cleanout
Short answer: a sewer cleanout is a capped pipe, usually 3 to 4 inches wide, that sticks up from the ground or sits flush with it near the house, along the side yard or near the property line. Knowing where it is saves time and money when a line backs up.
Where to look
- Along the outside wall of the house
- Near the property line or sidewalk
- Under a small lid in a planter or lawn
- Near where the main drain leaves the house
If you cannot find one, the plumber can locate the line.
What a cleanout looks like
Most cleanouts are a short length of pipe with a screw-on cap or plug. The cap is often black, white or a faded green, and may be hidden under a plastic lid or buried in soil.
Learn what it is for on the sewer cleanout installation page.
Last updated October 2026.
How to find it
- Walk the outside of the house and look for a capped pipe near the wall, especially close to the bathrooms and kitchen.
- Find where the main sewer line likely leaves the house. A cleanout is often in line with it.
- Check the front yard, side yard and near the sidewalk or street.
- Look under planters, bark and lawn edges for a lid or a round cap flush with the ground.
- If you have house plans or earlier plumbing records, check them.
If you cannot find one
- It may be buried under soil, concrete or a patio.
- Older homes may have none at all.
- The plumber may work through a roof vent or a toilet instead, or can install a new cleanout.
A safety note
Do not open the cap if the line is backed up. Waste can come out under pressure. Leave it to the plumber.
Types of cleanouts you may find
- A round or square cap flush with the ground in the yard.
- A capped pipe sticking up beside the house.
- A cap on a pipe inside a garage, basement or crawl space.
- A cap on a pipe near the property line.
Some older homes have none at all.
How to open one safely
- Do not open a cleanout if the line is backing up and the water is near the top. Call a plumber.
- Wear gloves and eye protection.
- Use the right wrench and turn the cap slowly to release pressure.
- Step back. Water or gas may come out.
- Close it again when finished.
Do not put a hose or tool into the line yourself.
Once you have found it
Take a photo, mark the spot and tell your plumber. If you cannot find one, a plumber can add a new one. See sewer cleanout installation.
Common questions
Who owns the cleanout?
It is on your private sewer lateral, so it is yours. The public main under the street belongs to the city. See who is responsible.
Why does a plumber need the cleanout?
It gives direct access for a camera or jetting hose. Without it, they may have to pull a toilet.
Can I open the cleanout myself?
Only to look, and not when the line is backed up. Pressure and waste can come out.
Cannot find your cleanout?
Call and tell us about your property, and a local plumber will talk you through the next step.