A sewer cleanout is a sealed access point into a property’s sewer drain, not the sewer pipe itself. Often called an inspection opening (IO), it allows a licensed plumber to inspect or clear the drain. Homeowners can locate it and keep it accessible, but should leave it sealed, especially during a suspected sewage backup.
How to identify and locate it
A cleanout usually has a round plastic or metal cap that is threaded or otherwise secured. The cap may have a raised square or shaped fitting for a plumber’s tool and may sit above, flush with or just below the surrounding surface.
Do not rely on appearance alone. An Overflow Relief Gully generally has a removable grate and provides an external overflow point; a grated stormwater drain is also not a sewer cleanout.
Check the property’s Sewer Service Diagram or drainage plan, if available, but treat marked positions as approximate. Then visually inspect accessible areas:
- near external walls and along the indicated drainage route
- beside garden beds, paths, paving and service areas
- in accessible garages or other areas where the drain passes through the building.
Do not assume the drain runs towards the street, and do not enter unsafe subfloor or confined spaces.
Soil, turf, mulch, paving or later landscaping may conceal an inspection opening. Move only lightweight, loose objects. Do not probe, excavate or break paving because electrical, gas, water or drainage services may be concealed below.
If you cannot find the opening, a licensed plumber can assess the drainage layout and use appropriate locating equipment. Properties vary, and an external access point may be buried, inaccessible or located elsewhere.
How it is used safely
A plumber may open the cleanout to access the drain with a CCTV camera, drain-clearing cable or high-pressure water jet. One opening may not provide access to every section of the drainage system.
Homeowners should only:
- record its location
- keep the area visible and accessible
- remove safe, movable objects obstructing access
- leave the cap sealed.
Do not pour waste into the opening or insert tools, hoses or chemicals. Opening or clearing a sewer drain can expose you to sewage and requires suitable equipment and expertise.
Do not loosen the cap if multiple fixtures are backing up, wastewater is appearing near the cap or gully, or sewage is present. Contaminated wastewater may escape when a blocked line is opened. Minimise water use where practical, keep people and pets away, and avoid contact with sewage.
If the access point is hidden or a backup is suspected, contact our licensed Sydney sewage plumbers rather than opening it or excavating around it.