Hello I really need help. We have a clogged pipe. I think it's the sewer line I really don't know. When we flush the toilet or actually any water run from our house goes straight to the basement. Pretty nasty smell. We called a plumber and he said its possibly a clogged sewer line so call the city first and get them to snake the line. I called and they came out but they said they don't remove the type of cleanout cap we have which is in the yard.

There is two problems with the cap. First the former owner covered the bottom of the cap with cement. When I was chipping away I revealed a small hole in the cap that was leaking water. Now as I'm trying to pound away at the bottom there is a puddle of water and I can't see. I need something to plug that hole so I can keep chipping away at the cement. The next problem is how do I get the cap off? I guess its brass surrounding the cap. I have been trying to remove it using a chisel but its very difficult. Even if its removed the knob on the cap is thin and the wrench has a hard time getting around it. What would be the easiest way to get it off? Can I pound it out with a hammer?

Now about the sewage going straight to the basement. Can a backed up sewer line do this or is it a busted pipe caused by the clog? Everything goes straight to the basement. There is nothing backing up in the sinks or toilets. When the city snakes the line will the cure this problem? I'm just asking cause I want to know if I still would have to call a plumber after the city snakes it. Thanks

Beat the uld brass cflean out cover off and replace it with a new one.(see image) You nmay purchase one at any plumbing supply house.

Unless the city snakes your sewer from your house to the street I'm afraid you'll be left with the same problem. You'll find your clog between the cleanout and the curb.
The solution would be to run a snake from the house cleanout out to the city raiser. Let ne know if it comes back with roots. Good luck, Tom

Thanks for responding. Well I don't think the city would snake it from the house since they only deal with the sewer line. The cleanout cap is in the backyard and the sewage is leaking out the back of the basement not to far from the cleanout cap. I'm thinking about just calling a plumber instead of pounding on the cleanout since you said you would have to snake from the house.

Will a plumber snake it all way to the sewer line? Also where would you start snaking it from the house? I wish I could do this myself but hey got to do what you got to do. Thanks for your help

Oh one more thing since to remedy the problem you have to snake from the house can I just leave the cleanout cap on in the yard? Thanks