Where does a kitchen sink cleanout have to be installed?
What is the correct location? In the horizontal pipe that goes to the vertical line (which is inside the wall)?
Insurance is asking for "ground level clean out". Where is that supposed to be located? Thanks a lot.

You can install a full-size cleanout almost anywhere under the kitchen sink... must be a full-size cleanout.. see images.

You can install an END CLEANOUT on the run of a wye fitting after the PTRAP, but the ptrap must also have a small cleanout or a union fitting on it so the trap can be cleaned out.

You can install a TEST TEE CLEANOUT inline after the PTRAP, but again the PTRAP must have a small cleanout on the bottom of the trap so that, for example, you can retrieve a ring that fell down the drain. A test tee cleanout can also be installed in the waste stack as shown in the bottom drawing on right... cleanout at PTRAP applies, too.

You can also install a UNION PTRAP in place of a regular PTRAP. Here, the union PTRAP doesn't require the additional small cleanout because the union acts as a full size cleanout and allows the PTRAP to be easily removed so you can remove rings, etc. when needed.

More questions? Just let us know, OK?

Mark

Ground level cleanout is a place you can access the main line from outside your house. Most of the time in my area its in the front flowerbed or yard. The main thing is its between the house and the street sewer or your septic tank depending on where u live and if you are hooked up to the city sewer system.

Desi...

Friendly was very clear about this being a kitchen sink cleanout at the ground level. However, if he made a mistake in his request as "ground level clean out" suggests then I would absolutely agree with your answer and appreciate your posting it... ;)

In my area, the main cleanout is always within 24" on the inside of the front foundation if city/town sewer. If on septic, the cleanout will usually be around back within the same 24" of inside foundation.

As you noted, some places have them on the outside as well!

Thanks...

Mark

Thanks for the replies!
However let me qualify my question somewhat better:
The situation:
Kitchen drain plugged, took the p trap off, it's clean.
I snaked into the 2" horizontal pipe on the right (see attached picture, it is black) with a drill mounted snake.
got about 6 feet deep then it stops. black soft goo on the tip of snake.
called the home insurance, they sent a plumber.
he snakes into the same pipe with a somewhat smaller diameter looking drill mount snake and only gets 2 feet deep.
i noticed his snake had no spirally head, just the snake bent and cut off.
he only gets 2 feet deep and declares "collapsed pipe, have to open the wall, but lets see if insurance covers"
insu. company calls back the next day and says: we deny claim because of missing ground level cleanout.

now my question(s) and thank you for any and all answers:
1. i have installed a cleanout 8 inches above floor on the washing machine drain, about 10 feet upstream from the kitchen sink.
should one snake from here? should ins. co. accept that as a ground level cleanout?
2. there is an old cleanout in the crawl space under the house along the horizontal drain pipe, hard to access and very old looking black pipe, probably has never been opened in 50 years. but ins. co. wont go down there anyways.
3. is the pipe collapsed like the plumber suggested or just clogged? why did i get in 6 feet and plumber only 2 feet? i dont think i went into the vent stack, it felt solid and the snake head was wet/gooey/black.
4. the horizontal pipe goes into the wall and (probably) into a short vertical down. should i open the wall and install a cleanout here? or on the 2" horizontal line? Or somewhere else?
Thanks I hope these Q's are not confusing. Basically I am trying to figure out where to put an easily accessible cleanout, I am not afraid to open the wall and get dirty..

f

Thanks mark!
What I don't understand:
What is the purpose of a test tee or wye cleanout in my horizontal line on the right if I can just take off the ptrap and snake in there?
Being able to run water while snaking?
Is that where is should put the cleanout or in the vertical stack in the wall?
Why does the home insurance insist on a ground level cleanout?

Thanks f

I posted an update to my question above. Thank you mark!

Hi Friendly...

In my area, code requires a "readily accessible" full-size cleanout to be installed under all kitchen sinks... may or may not be a requirement in your area. The idea is that you shouldn't need to remove the PTRAP to snake the drain line.

I think you need to call the insurance company and ask them exactly what they mean by "ground level cleanout". I can keep guessing and it could be way off so just give them a call and clear it up. I am curious to hear exactly what they want... please let me know when you find out, OK?

Mark

Thanks will do.I just went under the house in the crawl space to verify - and there is no branch end cleanout right by the stack. So I want to replace the vertical pipe stack that comes up in the wall right now and just have it go straight up through the kitchen cabinet floor. And have a cleanout access there. I suspect that my problem is there because the washer drains fine and its upstream on the main line so it must be clogged somewhere in this branch. Any tips how I can open those super old galv. Pipe threads? Is there an oil or something that I spray on the thread to make them start turning? Thanks for your help. This is invaluable.

Huge wrench, and/or heat helps sometimes... ;)

Aha thanks