Clean out pipe location.

[Bomarsh]

Have Hibiscus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .

[retiredguy123]

Walk around the neighborhood to see if other houses have a visible cleanout. If so, yours will be in approximately the same location. Also, many cleanups are located within about 10 feet from the house and close to the corner of the garage.

[villagetinker]

You may be able to call 811 (call before you dig) to see if they can trace the drain lines. I have seen many times where the clean out is buried by landscaping. Once you find it, have your plumber raise it so it is easy to find. I know ours is about 2 feet away from the house on the garage side, as this drain line is shared with the neighbor on that side. Which reminds me look at your neighbors on each side and see if you can see their clean out, the one closest to your house should be the shared connection.

[retiredguy123]

You may be able to call 811 (call before you dig) to see if they can trace the drain lines. I have seen many times where the clean out is buried by landscaping. Once you find it, have your plumber raise it so it is easy to find. I know ours is about 2 feet away from the house on the garage side, as this drain line is shared with the neighbor on that side. Which reminds me look at your neighbors on each side and see if you can see their clean out, the one closest to your house should be the shared connection.
Are you sure that sanitary drain pipes are shared? I always assumed that each house had it's own 4-inch drain pipe that connected to the sanitary manhole in the street. But, if the drain is shared, a neighbor could create a sewer backup in your house. This could create a legal and insurance nightmare.

[villagetinker]

I know ours are shared to a tap line that goes to the street as I can see access caps for each house and the separate cleanout ports. Now this is in the village of Pinellas (vintage 2013) and no idea if this is normal for all locations in the villages.

[retiredguy123]

I know ours are shared to a tap line that goes to the street as I can see access caps for each house and the separate cleanout ports. Now this is in the village of Pinellas (vintage 2013) and no idea if this is normal for all locations in the villages.
It could be that the tap line is located between the front lot line and the street. In that case, if the tap line was clogged, the county would be responsible to unclog it. But, if your neighbor's sewage is flowing through a pipe located on your property, you would be responsible to unclog it. Hopefully, the tap line is designed so that it cannot cause a sewer backup in your house.

[nn0wheremann]

Have Hibicus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .
I was told to look by side of garage in front of the kitchen window. I have not done this yet, but that is what they said.

[dewilson58]

Have Hibicus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .

Opposite side from the clean water meter.

Clean in one side, dirty out the other side of the house.

[Wondering]

Have Hibicus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .
Clean outs are usually on the opposite side of the house from the garage. A third to a half way up THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. . White pipe with square NOTCH AT TOP TO PUT A PIPE WRENCH ON IT.

[dewilson58]

Clean outs are usually on the opposite side of the house from the garage. A third to a half way up THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE. . White pipe with square NOTCH AT TOP TO PUT A PIPE WRENCH ON IT.

There is no relationship between clean-outs locations and garage.
Clean-outs are determined prior to determination of house floor plan.

[Old Bob]

Have Hibicus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .

Mine was built in 2001. It is right outside the house, straight out from the guest bathroom.

[Range Rider]

Have Hibicus model home, can not locate the sewer clean out cap. Full baths each side of home, if facing front what side and approx. location for search ? Built 2001 Polo Ridge .

We also live in Polo Ridge and our house was built in 2001. Our sewer clean out is in the front of the house in our landscape about 1 to 2 feet from the house and when facing it is on your left.

[Risuli]

We also live in Polo Ridge and our house was built in 2001. Our sewer clean out is in the front of the house in our landscape about 1 to 2 feet from the house and when facing it is on your left.

Same here with a home built in 2002 in Briar Meadow.

Now, not to hijack this thread but, I have a slightly different question. Do the sewer clean out pipes contain a back flow prevention valve?

The reason I ask is that earlier this year a work crew was on my street and I was informed they were doing "sewer clean outs". This apparently involved either air or water injected under pressure which cause my toilets to spray water out of the bowls. This happened to a number of neighbors I spoke with. It would seem that if there were back flow prevention valves this wouldn't happen. Further, no back flow valve could mean sewage could back up into the home. Should I be concerned?

[retiredguy123]

Same here with a home built in 2002 in Briar Meadow.

Now, not to hijack this thread but, I have a slightly different question. Do the sewer clean out pipes contain a back flow prevention valve?

The reason I ask is that earlier this year a work crew was on my street and I was informed they were doing "sewer clean outs". This apparently involved either air or water injected under pressure which cause my toilets to spray water out of the bowls. This happened to a number of neighbors I spoke with. It would seem that if there were back flow prevention valves this wouldn't happen. Further, no back flow valve could mean sewage could back up into the home. Should I be concerned?
Your sanitary sewer system has no backflow prevention valve on your property. If it did, it would need to be accessible, and not buried underground. The crew was probably cleaning out the sewer pipes from the manholes in the street. They use devices to prevent backflow while they are cleaning the system, but sometimes, this is not 100 percent effective.

[Risuli]

Your sanitary sewer system has no backflow prevention valve on your property. If it did, it would need to be accessible, and not buried underground. The crew was probably cleaning out the sewer pipes from the manholes in the street. They use devices to prevent backflow while they are cleaning the system, but sometimes, this is not 100 percent effective.

Interesting. The sewer backflow prevention valve in my former (up North) home was located in the sewer clean out access and could be replaced from there if need be. I haven't attempted to open my clean out access here which is located about 2 feet from the front of my home. I would have thought such a valve would be a requirement to prevent flooding of sewage into the home.

[retiredguy123]

Interesting. The sewer backflow prevention valve in my former (up North) home was located in the sewer clean out access and could be replaced from there if need be. I haven't attempted to open my clean out access here which is located about 2 feet from the front of my home. I would have thought such a valve would be a requirement to prevent flooding of sewage into the home.
From the Florida code. I suspect that your house up North may have had a basement?

714.1 Sewage backflow.

Where plumbing fixtures are installed on a floor with a finished floor elevation below the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer, such fixtures shall be protected by a backwater valve installed in the building drain, or horizontal branch serving such fixtures. Plumbing fixtures installed on a floor with a finished floor elevation above the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer shall not discharge through a backwater valve.

Exception: In existing buildings, fixtures above the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer shall not be prohibited from discharging through a backwater valve.

[Rainger99]

What is a clean out pipe?

Is it something that should be cleaned out or maintained on a regular schedule? Or is it there for when the sewage pipes back up and I call a plumber?

[retiredguy123]

What is a clean out pipe?

Is it something that should be cleaned out or maintained on a regular schedule? Or is it there for when the sewage pipes back up and I call a plumber?
The cleanout pipe is for use by a plumber when you have a clogged drain pipe. However, some plumbers will remove a toilet to access the drain instead of using the cleanout in the front yard. This is because the cleanout is often buried under the surface and it cannot be found. Also, some clogs are located upstream of the cleanout.

[Risuli]

From the Florida code. I suspect that your house up North may have had a basement?

714.1 Sewage backflow.

Where plumbing fixtures are installed on a floor with a finished floor elevation below the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer, such fixtures shall be protected by a backwater valve installed in the building drain, or horizontal branch serving such fixtures. Plumbing fixtures installed on a floor with a finished floor elevation above the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer shall not discharge through a backwater valve.

Exception: In existing buildings, fixtures above the elevation of the manhole cover of the next upstream manhole in the public sewer shall not be prohibited from discharging through a backwater valve.

Ahh, I see. Yes, in the "up North" home the clean out/back flow valve was located in the basement. So, from your post I guess the idea is you don't need a back flow prevention valve if the sewer manhole is below the home floor elevation as the sewage SHOULD back up via the manhole before entering the home. Thx.

[Rainger99]

The cleanout pipe is for use by a plumber when you have a clogged drain pipe. However, some plumbers will remove a toilet to access the drain instead of using the cleanout in the front yard. This is because the cleanout is often buried under the surface and it cannot be found. Also, some clogs are located upstream of the cleanout.

Thanks for clarifying that!