Learn How to Locate Your Clean Out Valve

If your pipes get clogged, you’ll need to open your clean out valve. You’ll need to know how to locate your clean out valve so the plumber can check out the pipes and see if the sewer line is clear or plugged up. That’s why we’re committed to teaching Charlotte how to do simple plumbing tasks like locating your clean out valve.

What is a Clean Out Valve?

Your clean out valve is a white cap that can be opened to give you or a plumber access to the inside of the pipes leading from your house to the sewer main line. The valve is around 3 to 4 inches in diameter and will be made of plastic or metal. Most clean out valves are white plastic.

When Will I Need to Locate My Clean Out Valve?

Think about how hard it is to get to the plumbing in your home. Most of the plumbing pipes are inside walls, in your basement or crawl space, under dirt or concrete, or under the road in front of your home. If one of your pipes gets backed up, you won’t be able to find out where the blockage is located without getting access to the inside of your pipes. Plumbers clear out clogged pipes by opening the clean out valve and using heavy equipment to snake out or hydrojet out the blockage.

How to Locate a Clean Out Valve

Follow these instructions to find your clean out valve:

• Look for the manhole that sits over the sewer line in the street in front of your house. You may need to ask the city to send someone out to show you which manhole indicates the connection to your sewer main line for your home.
• Stand in front of that manhole in the street. Now face your home and start walking towards your home in a straight line.  Your clean out valve is somewhere between that manhole and your home. Search the ground as you walk, looking for that white or metal round cap.
• If you aren’t able to see the clean out valve (it may be buried under grass or dirt, or be located in your flower bed), venture into your crawl space or basement and look for a pipe that is coming from a bathroom in your house. Follow this pipe until you figure out where that pipe goes into the wall that would be at the front of your house (facing the street). Return outside and poke around in the grass and dirt in front of the house around the area where you saw the pipe go into the wall.

Once you find your clean out valve, make sure to mark the area or make it clear where it is so you can find it easily the next time.

Charlotte Clogged Pipes

Do you have a backed up pipe here in Charlotte? If your pipes are clogged or are not draining properly, let ER Services come to your rescue. We’ve got over 20 years of experience dealing with clogged Charlotte pipes.

We’re open 24/7, 365 days a year, so we can help you with your problem day or night, right when you need us.

Need Charlotte Plumbing Services?

Are you interested in more information about plumbing contractors? Following our instructions but feel like you still don't really get how to locate your clean out valve?

Looking to clear a clogged drain?

E.R. Services is open 24/7, 365 days a year. You don’t need to take time off work or wait until the morning because we never charge extra for nights or weekends. Just give us a call at 704-269-1066 or use our online contact form.

Learn more about Charlotte drain cleaning/drain clearing here.

Charlotte Plumbing Services at Your Service

Serving the Charlotte metro area, including Charlotte suburbs. Looking for Charlotte plumbing services? Ballantyne plumbing services? We’ll get the job done now and the job done right. 30+ years experience, fully staffed and committed to customer satisfaction.

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Article Summary

Quick question & answer: What is the best way to locate my clean out valve?

The best way to locate your clean out valve is to look for the manhole that sits over the sewer line in the street in front of your house. Face your home from the manhole and search the ground between it and your home in a straight line for a white or metal round cap on the ground.