Ask Me Help Desk - Bury an old cleanout?

Bury an old cleanout?

Hello.

I just bought my first house, and one of the repairs made by the previous owner was to install a new sewer line leaving the house. There is a two foot by two foot hole cut into the concrete slab where the sewer line exits the foundation. This has been partially filled with soil. There is a plug sticking out from the ground, looks like it used to be a cleanout. The plug is one of those mechanical replacement plugs with the plastic wingnut.

I've had problems with insects, and it looks like this hole in the slab is the point of entry. I would like to fill this hole in with soil and concrete. I have a cleanout just outside the house on that line, easily accessible. There's also a cleanout in my vent stack nearby. Is it safe to bury the old cleanout and mechanical plug?

Yes. In my experience having to dig them up and locate them on a set of plans, them being buried is no problem at all. I would reference them ( get measurements to nearby objects ) so when you may need touse it, you won't spend an hour looking for it.

I would never recommend to cover up clean out. It is there for a reason. People pay lots of money to have new Clean Out installed. One day you will need it and you will be breaking up the concrete...

You can pour concrete to cover up the hole in the ground but you should cut off clean out extension level with the ground. If it is in busy area, you have to cover it with flat, cast bronze cover.

Moreover, wing nut is not proper way of covering clean out outlet. It is for rough-in test purposes only. You can buy Female adapter and flat screw-in plug for ABS / PVC pipe, or if it is Cast Iron get Blind End and attach it with No-Hub coupling.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

I would never recommend to cover up clean out. It is there for a reason. People pay lots of money to have new Clean Out installed. One day you will need it and you will be breaking up the concrete...

You can pour concrete to cover up the hole in the ground but you should cut off clean out extension level with the ground. If it is in busy area, you have to cover it with flat, cast bronze cover.

Moreover, wing nut is not proper way of covering clean out outlet. It is for rough-in test purposes only. You can buy Female adapter and flat screw-in plug for ABS / PVC pipe, or if it is Cast Iron get Blind End and attach it with No-Hub coupling.

That all seems valid. The plug itself is well below the slab; it's flush with the bottom of the hole (in the dirt). It's galvanized pipe and it's entirely buried, just the plug and the top edge of the pipe is visible. And with two easily accessible cleanouts within two feet on either side of this one, I'm not sure I'd miss it too much if it were buried.

I did not know that about that wingnut plug. This is starting to sound like an unfinished job by whichever plumber the previous owner used. Bummer this didn't show up in the inspector's report (guess he didn't open up the access cover on that wall).

So in its current state, can I bury it? Or should I replace that plug before doing so?

Something doesn't sound right here. Why would a plumber leave a clean out in the floor when there is one two foot away in the stack.

Also why put one inside when he knows one is going to be put outside.

Willing to bet that this was a floor drain that was removed to tie in new piping.

The plastic wing nut does not sound right for a compression type plug. Have you remove this plug. Best to open this thing to see what you have. Probably just some type of cap and not sealed very tight.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

Something doesn't sound right here. Why would a plumber leave a clean out in the floor when there is one two foot away in the stack.

Also why put one inside when he knows one is going to be put outside.

Willing to bet that this was a floor drain that was removed to tie in new piping.

The plastic wing nut does not sound right for a compression type plug. Have you remove this plug. Best to open this thing to see what you have. Probably just some type of cap and not sealed very tight.

You know, I think you're right. This probably was a floor drain. I'm guessing they changed quite a bit in this part of this house, particularly the plumbing.

I removed the plug and had a look. This definitely ties in with my main sewer line. The inside of the pipe is also threaded. Can't say how well it's sealed when the plug is on, so I'll try to find a proper cap for it at the hardware store.

Thanks for the help everyone. It's much appreciated.

By plastic wing nut do you mean a PVC clean out plug?
That is a big PVC threaded plug with a square nut on top.

Harold raised a good point: it may be an abandoned floor drain, maybe even toilet. Who knows. If you don't think you will need it in the future, get proper plug and cover it up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkstroud

By plastic wing nut do you mean a PVC clean out plug?
That is a big PVC threaded plug with a square nut on top.

No, by plastic wingnut I mean a plastic wingnut.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Milo Dolezal

Harold raised a good point: it may be an abandoned floor drain, maybe even toilet. Who knows. If you don't think you will need it in the future, get proper plug and cover it up.

Sounds like a plan. Thanks, guys.