Add Cleanout to iron pipe sewer

My sewer cleanout is in a short crawlspace with less than 6 in. clearance to a furnace plenum so it's really not usable. The bell end with the brass cleanout (which is frozen into place) is on the end of the 'Y' from the toilet so there seems to be insufficient space to try to extend from the inside to make it more accessible.

When this line was rooted out about 20+ yrs ago and there were some roots in the line. I am not having problems at this time but the street is being reworked and if I need to replace the line it will be much, much cheaper to get a permit to do it before the street work is finished. I need a cleanout merely to scope the line to see if there is a problem developing. It's been recommended by a roto-rooter vendor to install a sewer line cleanout outside my house.

It all makes sense to me except....

Once I cut the line I see a high likelihood that roots can work their way between the rubber adapter hub and the pipe. I've dug and exposed the pipe and now just have to get up the nerve to actually cut it.

I envision roots worming their way under this rubber connection and into the line. The local D-I-Y store recommend "Plumber's Goop" placed on the rubber adapter (between ABS 'Y' and iron pipe) to help keep roots out. Will this work or is there something else to consider?

The rubber adapter comes with the usual screw clamp and I can imagine them rotting out in a couple of years. Is there something else I can buy to improve the longevity of this connection?

Finally, is there any usefulness in installing a 2nd cleanout to go upstream? The distance upstream would be about 8ft before it bumps into the end of the line & brass cleanout that is inaccessable. In between are 2 lines that come in from the top so I doubt anyone would be so lucky to have a snake go up into a blockage.

Any advise would be appreciated.
Jon

The drain cleaners should be able to cut the clean out off for a price or pull the toilet.
I would not add a clean out that goes up stream.
I would call a drain cleaner that will give a free video check.
The rubber couplings that are out there will last along time and that is all there is unless you want to pour a lead joint.
If that was my house I would just up grade the dain and never think of it again.
I think now is the time to do it when the city will let you do it at a lower price.

One of the big Rooter Companies will do a free video check of your main drain if you call and ask. It is company policy to do a free video check.

>I would call a drain cleaner that will give a free video check.

Unfortunately, that is not the case here. My neighbor called around and the best price he got was $175.

>The rubber couplings that are out there will last along time and that is all there is

OK, thanks. I really meant not the rubber but the steel hose clamps that tighten it down. I don't think they will last very long.

Thanks for the info, I'll certainly forget about adding an upstream cleanout.

jon

those clamps are stainless steel and will probably outlast all of us. I've dug them up after 20 years in the ground and they still worked fine.

Thanks, I didn't think they were stainless. Guess they sell better one due to the application.
jon

I don't know were you live but call Mr. Rooter if you have one around most will give a free video check and a free estimate. Most will check it free because they will hope you will have them do the work.

Jon229 Free Vidio Check??????????????????????

Can You post some names of companys that do this ??????

The only company that i know does it is Mr. Rooter, because i work for them.

If they come out to cable a main drain they will bring a camera if not bitch because every truck that does drains should have a camera on it. If you call for an estimate they should video and locate it for free. The guys that do drains know you cant give a good estimate if you don't know were the drain goes. I have seen a house that sat 15' off the street but the main drain was over a 100' long.

I know they are looking to keep ahead of the other big Rooter name, but also in the hope whom ever calls will use them. I just checked somebodies main drain the other day for free.

My neighbor was charged $175 for a video look-see. The city is redoing the water/sewer/street in the surrounding neighborhood. They sent everyone a letter suggesting we check our sewer line before they finish paving or else the fee would be much higher to dig into the street. I guess maybe the local rooter folks figure they have us over a barrel cause if it's normally free I don't know why they would be charging.

I understand there is a 'sleeving process' that can be done for a sewer line rather than digging it up and replacing it. Can that go down a 'Y' cleanout and if so must the cleanout line be the same diameter as the sewer line? My line is 4" but I see I can buy a 'Y' that is 4x4x2 or 4x4x3 instead of 4". Should I stick to 4" or can I go down in size? I'd sure be kicking myself if I could be sleeved but put in the wrong size cleanout.

Jon

I think it's always best to install the same size clean out as the line it serves. It sucks to try and pull a 6" root ball out of a 3" clean out.

drain

The only reason to give a free video check is with the expectation of finding a major problem, and most of the franchise operations are good at finding major problems, sometimes even when they do not exist. Around here camera inspections start at $300.00, which is why few companies do them during a sewer cleaning.

hj said:

The only reason to give a free video check is with the expectation of finding a major problem, and most of the franchise operations are good at finding major problems, sometimes even when they do not exist. Around here camera inspections start at $300.00, which is why few companies do them during a sewer cleaning.

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That is true, but the smart company will check it for free when they cable the main drain. The ones that call for a video check know they have a problem and are looking to get it fixed. I have been asked not to video the main drain because the customer does not want to know how bad it really is.

How can a drain cleaner know he has done a good job if he has not checked it with a camera? If the company is charging you more than $200 to cable a main drain they better drop a camera down it to make sure they did a good job.

If somebody is digging up a main drain for no reason other than fraud then they should not be doing this type of job and should be fired. Tricking somebody out of money because they think they can is wrong.

I have a little old lady that just wants to take a shower and not have it flood her basement ever again. Now i could charge her every year to cable her main drain or i could dig it up and fix it so she will not have this problem again. Well i think the smart money is replacing it so she does not have this problem again.

BAPlumber said:

I think it's always best to install the same size clean out as the line it serves. It sucks to try and pull a 6" root ball out of a 3" clean out.

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I'd like to thank everyone who replied for the helpful infomation and than Terry Love for hosting such a beneficial forum.

Rgds, Jon

patrick88 said:

That is true, but the smart company will check it for free when they cable the main drain. The ones that call for a video check know they have a problem and are looking to get it fixed. I have been asked not to video the main drain because the customer does not want to know how bad it really is.

How can a drain cleaner know he has done a good job if he has not checked it with a camera? If the company is charging you more than $200 to cable a main drain they better drop a camera down it to make sure they did a good job.

If somebody is digging up a main drain for no reason other than fraud then they should not be doing this type of job and should be fired. Tricking somebody out of money because they think they can is wrong.

I have a little old lady that just wants to take a shower and not have it flood her basement ever again. Now i could charge her every year to cable her main drain or i could dig it up and fix it so she will not have this problem again. Well i think the smart money is replacing it so she does not have this problem again.

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Like the little old lady here in San Diego that you(mr. rooter) tried to charge $30,000 to replace her sewer line? I'm sure you heard of this, it was on the news.

TomSV650 said:

Like the little old lady here in San Diego that you(mr. rooter) tried to charge $30,000 to replace her sewer line? I'm sure you heard of this, it was on the news.

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I did not know that i live in Mass and do not get that news. I never charge that much. I know other companies that have charged $12,000 for a 100' run. I was shocked.