How the Professionals Do It!
If your plumber is confusing you with all his technical jargon, especially when it comes to plumbing cleanout projects, let me help you to decipher it.
A cleanout plug is either cap or lid that is used to close off drain cleanout pipes. These terms can refer to any branch of a plumbing pipe which is used for cleaning or unclogging systems. These pipes are often located at basement floor drains, plumbing fixtures, and at times even at the main sewer pipe that leads out of a home or building. This cleanout plug helps to prevent debris and pests from gaining access, in addition to stopping any dangerous sewer gases and noxious fumes from backing into a home.
Homeowners will often come across cleanout plugs when trying to either repair a clogged basement drain or garage drain. Beneath these drain covers, there is a basic drainage pipe, in addition to a metal or plastic cap which can be found just to one side of the pipe. This cap is what covers the pipe cleanout, and stops wastewater from accessing the cleanout. Instead, the wastewater will pass straight into the standard sewage pipe.
When this pipe becomes clogged and the drain subsequently fails, a plumbing snake could be used to clear it. The shape of the drain pipe and integral trap, however, will often make this very difficult to feed a snake through. This means it will be easier to remove the cleanout plug and then insert the snake to clear the clog.
These plugs can be somewhat difficult to remove due to the variation in sizes and configurations. Some will only need a standard wrench or screwdriver, and others come with recessed heads or raised slots which will call for more specialized tools.
That is the end of my post, hopefully, it proved informative, and helped to clear up any confusion when it comes to plumbing cleanout jobs. If you wish to learn more about the services Kapa Plumbing & Drainage Service has to offer you, please call me at (240) 203-7967 if you live in or around the Gaithersburg, MD area.
