How Do I Find My Septic Tank Cleanout?

Septic tank cleanouts provide direct access to your septic system, making it easier to clear clogged pipes and fix other septic problems—without having to tear up your yard and dig into your septic tank. So, where is your septic tank cleanout located? Well, it varies. If you’re having trouble locating yours, the following steps can help you track it down.

What Is a Septic Tank Cleanout?

You might be familiar with some parts of your septic system (like your septic tank and drain field), but do you know what a septic tank cleanout is? In short, a septic tank cleanout (also known as a sewer cleanout) is a pipe that sits outside your home and connects your house and your septic system. 

Cleanouts provide an escape route for waste in your septic system, which can help prevent flooding in your home. Your plumber or septic pro may need to access the cleanout if your pipes are clogged or if sewage is backing up in your home. They may also need to open your cleanout while performing a septic tank pumping.

When You Might Need to Access Your Septic Tank Cleanout

You might decide to open your septic tank cleanout if you have a stubborn clog that won’t go away. Assuming you’ve already tried other tactics (like plunging, pouring boiling water down your blocked drain, and using a baking soda mixture), you can try to remove the cleanout cap and clear the main sewer line clog yourself.

How to Find Your Septic Tank Cleanout

Ideally, you’ll never have to locate or open your septic tank cleanout without professional assistance. But if you’re the DIY type and want to try resolving your plumbing problems without a pro, you’ll need to know where to find your cleanout. Here’s how to do that. 

Know What to Look For

Before you start searching for your septic tank cleanout, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. Generally, cleanouts are made from black, white, or gray PVC piping. However, if you have an older house, your cleanout might be metal. In either case, it should have a removable threaded plug on the end.

Walk to Your Septic Tank

To find your cleanout, start by heading to your septic tank. Not sure where yours is? You can find your septic tank by tracing the sewer lines from your home into your yard, looking for dips or dents in your lawn, or pulling up your county records.

Look Along the Ground

Next, walk from your tank toward your home and keep an eye on the ground. Your cleanout will likely be sticking out of the ground within a few feet of the outside of your home. You may need to clear out leaves, bushes, or landscaping over the septic tank that might be blocking it.

Can’t find it? You may need to reach out to a plumber or septic tank company for help.

Taking Care of Your Septic System

If you take good care of your septic tank, it can last up to 30 years. To keep your tank functioning properly, you’ll want to have it inspected annually and pumped every three to five years.

It’s also important to be careful about what you put down your toilets and drains. In short, toilet paper and human waste are the only things that should go into your septic system. You should never flush things like baby wipes, diapers, cat litter, or cigarette butts because they can back up your septic system. Never dump harsh chemicals—like ammonia, bleach, insect killers, and gasoline—down the drain because they can damage the tank.

Septic Tank Cleaning Frequency

According to data from Angi customers, most homeowners (32.9%) have a pro clean their septic tank every one to four years. However, 24.5% of homeowners don’t know how often they get their septic tank cleaned. We recommend getting your septic tank cleaned every three to five years to avoid sewage backup, slow water draining in your home, and bad smells throughout your property. If you don’t know the last time you got your system cleaned, reach out to a septic company ASAP.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Unclogging your septic tank cleanout is generally fine to do on your own, but it’s best to defer to an expert for more serious septic issues and repairs. If you think that there’s something wrong with your septic tank or another part of your septic system, get in touch with a local septic tank cleaner who can diagnose and fix the issue.

On average, septic tank repairs cost anywhere from $630 to $2,970. If a pro uncovers a major problem, you may need a septic system replacement, which typically costs between $3,460 and $11,360.