Questions for those who dump in sewer cleanout

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by Wellibe

Only one cap. If I recall correctly, it is a one-way J-fitting.

If a one way is the direction toward the street or back toward the house? You can usually see it by shining a light down there. A J bend is more of a trap, I don't think that's what you have. It will be either a wye (sweep) (one way) or a two way tee, see pics. A sweep in the uphill direction may be problematic for dumping as the sewage will be forced to flow uphill first, a two way will work OK and a sweep in the downhill direction will work the best. (picture the sweep laying down with the curved part pointing up, I was not able to rotate the pic) Mine is a two way tee and works fine.

[L2D2]

You will have no problems. I dump 30 black and 60 grey this way on a regular basis.

[Argosy]

To me it actually makes sense long term to dump in the clean out. My 2 tanks are 150 gallons, I probably never dump more than 100 gallons, more gray water than black. If there is any blockage starting I figure it will be washed away with that much liquid at one time.

Originally Posted by bigb56

If a one way is the direction toward the street or back toward the house?

The rotated picture is how it would be oriented installed, the left side would face the street and right back to the house, pipe in the top would come out above ground.

[ratherberv]

Originally Posted by bigb56

With a 4" line, or even a 3" it will not back up into the house unless there is a blockage downstream like roots or a crushed pipe and if that happens you will soon have problems in the house. I dump mine full open in a cleanout about 10 feet from the house, the line is down maybe 2-2.5 feet at that point.
Is your new cleanout a one way, a two way with one cap or a two way with two caps(built with 2-one ways)? If the latter, choose the cap closest to the house.

I know OP has the one cap but just to clarify for anyone else that may have the two caps, use the cap away from the house, the one closest is sloped toward house so snake will turn that way. The one farthest is sloped away from the house and toward street.

[Wellibe]

Originally Posted by bigb56

If a one way is the direction toward the street or back toward the house? You can usually see it by shining a light down there. A J bend is more of a trap, I don't think that's what you have. It will be either a wye (sweep) (one way) or a two way tee, see pics. A sweep in the uphill direction may be problematic for dumping as the sewage will be forced to flow uphill first, a two way will work OK and a sweep in the downhill direction will work the best. (picture the sweep laying down with the curved part pointing up, I was not able to rotate the pic) Mine is a two way tee and works fine.

I pulled the cap and confirmed that it curves toward the street. It better - the whole reason it was put in was to allow access to clogs that are too far out to be reached from inside the house. Should work great for dumping.

[Old-Biscuit]

It is going into the Municipal Sewer System

Open your dump valve full and let it rip

You are not going to be dumping any more volume than what would be flowing from your house
*you could turn on ALL sinks/Showers/Drain full tubs and NOT impact the sewer line

4" pipe gravity flow is roughly 200 gpm

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by ratherberv

I know OP has the one cap but just to clarify for anyone else that may have the two caps, use the cap away from the house, the one closest is sloped toward house so snake will turn that way. The one farthest is sloped away from the house and toward street.

I disagree, this is the proper way to build a two way cleanout. Building it the way you describe leaves an inaccessible dead spot between the two.

[charliez]

Unless all the guys have been over late for Taco Tuesday, you can't over load that line.

[dabrooks]

I park at my friends house in Florida and use the sewer clean out all the time. The house was built in the 50s and has 3 inch sewer pipe. The bath tub is the lowest point in the house and probably only 12 to 15 inches higher than the clean out. The first time we dumped we did a black tank of clear water. He watched the tub and nothing backed up. We have been using it for 5 years now.

[ratherberv]

Originally Posted by bigb56

I disagree, this is the proper way to build a two way cleanout. Building it the way you describe leaves an inaccessible dead spot between the two.

I stand corrected, my apologies.

[Dutch Star Don]

When I installed my RV slab, the in-ground cleanout at the front of the house was only about 15' away. I ran 4" pipe from the cleanout to the side of my RV slab with water and power. We've been dumping them for over 30 years without issue.

[bigb56]

Originally Posted by ratherberv

I stand corrected, my apologies.

No need for apologies, I'm here to share in the knowledge so we can all learn

[Wellibe]

Originally Posted by dabrooks

I park at my friends house in Florida and use the sewer clean out all the time. The house was built in the 50s and has 3 inch sewer pipe. The bath tub is the lowest point in the house and probably only 12 to 15 inches higher than the clean out. The first time we dumped we did a black tank of clear water. He watched the tub and nothing backed up. We have been using it for 5 years now.

Great info. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[202235f]

We have 2 clean outs, one next to the house and one by the street. We have used both of them a lot with no problems.