What are drain cleanouts and why do you need them?

Many things tin can clog drains in your dwelling house. Roots, feminine hygiene products and even toys can brand their way downward the drain and cause a backup. Immigration the drain is easier for a plumber if your home has drain cleanouts.

What is a bleed cleanout?

A drain cleanout provides admission to your main sewer line and is located outside of your habitation in the forepart or back yard. Cleanouts typically go unnoticed until at that place is a problem. They look like capped pipes sticking a few inches above the footing.

When you have a backed up drain in your habitation, a plumber can run a special camera through the cleanouts and into your main sewer drain to locate the trouble. This is sometimes necessary if they have trouble immigration the blockage or if you experience frequent issues.

After the plumber knows the clog type and location, the plumber can cull the correct size of cutting bract to remove the blockage. He will run the camera through the bleed line again after the work is done to make sure the clog is completely gone.

But what if I don't accept a drain cleanout?

If you don't have bleed cleanouts, backups can nevertheless be removed merely information technology tin sometimes be more challenging. The plumber has two options in this situation: access the sewer line from the roof or from the toilet. Unfortunately, neither option is as constructive as going in through a cleanout.

Choice #one: Remove the clog from the roof

The sewer line tin be accessed from the roof, but it is difficult to get a photographic camera through considering of the many turns in the pipes. In most situations, the camera or drain equipment cannot accomplish the primary sewer line and the backup cannot be removed. Another problem is that it is more than dangerous. Information technology tin as well be chancy for plumbers, especially in winter or during bad weather. There are times when it is too unsafe for our plumbers to go along the roof.

Option #2: Remove toilet

If yous don't have cleanouts, removing the toilet may exist your only option. This increases the cost of labor and the risk of damage to the toilet itself. After the toilet is removed, the plumber can then utilise a drain machine to remove the clog. Withal, the clog may not be removed as thoroughly because the pipes beneath the toilet are smaller.

Both of these are less effective at removing clogs. You may continue to take problems and frequent backups because yous practise not know what caused the clog. Did the kids flush a toy car or are roots from the tree in your backyard growing into your pipes? A lot of times plumbers cannot warranty their work if they cannot clear the drain issues through cleanouts.

So what is the solution?

Every home is unique and several factors come into play when deciding whether or not to install cleanouts. TLC'southward licensed plumbers tin appraise your plumbing needs and help you decide if this option is a skilful fit for you. Equally a full general rule, cleanouts are a great option for the post-obit reasons:

Prevents frequent drain issues

You lot want to foreclose clogs instead of fix them later. With a drain cleanout, the plumber can tell you lot exactly what is causing the problem and give recommendations for avoiding them in the future. Other issues you are non aware of can be spotted early on, before they go emergencies.

Warranty

TLC provides a warranty on this type of work when a cleanout is present. You can residual assured that the job is done correctly.

Drain specific cleanouts

If a specific drain continues to requite you problems, yous may want to install a cleanout specific to that drain. Many new homes are already equipped with these; notwithstanding, about older homes are not. With bleed specific cleanouts, repairs become much easier.

May increase domicile resell value if buyers request a bleed inspection

Cleanouts make home inspections easier because of how easy it is to send a camera through the line. It gives the potential buyer peace of listen regarding the status of the plumbing. Information technology tin can likewise lower the cost of bleed repairs in the future.

What'due south the bottom line?

Bleed cleanouts brand information technology easier to prepare clogged pipes. It also makes it easier to identify problems in your drain line that runs from your home to the sewer or septic tank. You lot will know exactly what the trouble is and how to avoid it in the future. If you would like to learn more than, contact TLC Plumbing Company today.

Ralph Gutierrez

Ralph manages our drain department. He has been with TLC for 9 years and is a licensed plumber. Him and his team focus specifically on fixing clogged drains and drain issues for TLC customers.