What is a main sewer cleanout and where is it?

What it looks like and where it is

ATL311 says the cleanout is a direct access point to the sewer drain. In homes built within the last 45 years, cleanouts are usually near the front of the house where the drain exits, sometimes under a basement floor, and they can also be outside the home, covered by a few centimeters of soil (ATL311).

Gwinnett County describes a cleanout with a plastic cap that may reach the ground surface or sit under a plastic box level with the ground (Gwinnett County).

There may be more than one

Gwinnett County says there may be two or more cleanouts on a sewer lateral: one at the right-of-way that the county maintains, and one closer to the home that belongs to the homeowner (Gwinnett County). The county's standards require a cleanout at the right-of-way (Gwinnett County).

Taking care of it

Gwinnett County suggests locating your cleanout and making sure the cap is in good condition (Gwinnett County). A broken cap lets rainwater and debris into the line. Don't plant shrubs or trees with deep roots close to the line (Gwinnett County).

Sewage coming out of it

ATL311 lists waste overflowing from a sewer cleanout as an outside sewage spill, and asks Atlanta customers to call 404-546-0311 (ATL311). A backup at your cleanout can also mean a clog in your own line; see main sewer line clogs.

Common questions

Can I open the cleanout myself?

If the line is backed up, sewage can be under pressure behind the cap. Leave it to the plumber.

Whose job is the line past the cleanout?

In Atlanta, ATL311 says the entire sewer service lateral is the property owner's responsibility (ATL311). See who is responsible for the sewer line.