- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Sewage cleanout is leaking in the yard
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:12 am
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:12 am
We've gotten a ton of rain in the Birmingham area lately. No really bad storms that knock out power and down trees where I live, and no real bad dumping inches of rain in a short amount of time type storms, but we've had measurable rain for what seems like every day for a couple of weeks.
Yesterday afternoon it was finally sunny, and I was out in the yard doing some cleanup I've been waiting on a dry day for. I noticed mushy toilet paper on the ground around the cleanout by my fence. I'm thinking either a cracked pipe, a loose cap, or a broken connection. Anyone ever experienced this? I'm not getting any backup into the house, which is good, but I'm going to need to tackle this soon. It was so swampy and smelly that I didn't feel like exploring the cause yesterday, but just curious if large amounts of rain would cause something like this or if I have something broken.
Yesterday afternoon it was finally sunny, and I was out in the yard doing some cleanup I've been waiting on a dry day for. I noticed mushy toilet paper on the ground around the cleanout by my fence. I'm thinking either a cracked pipe, a loose cap, or a broken connection. Anyone ever experienced this? I'm not getting any backup into the house, which is good, but I'm going to need to tackle this soon. It was so swampy and smelly that I didn't feel like exploring the cause yesterday, but just curious if large amounts of rain would cause something like this or if I have something broken.
4
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:37 am to TU Rob
I keep my clean out lid loose because ever since the city of BR redid the sewer system my line occasionally plugs- that way I don’t risk any backup into my house. It is easily blown out with one of these hooked up to my hose:
I think they misaligned something and build up occurs occasionally. Usually 1-3 times per year.
As to your situation, I dont know. Have you opened it to see if the line is empty? It could just be backup from their end of the system due to heavy rain.
I think they misaligned something and build up occurs occasionally. Usually 1-3 times per year.
As to your situation, I dont know. Have you opened it to see if the line is empty? It could just be backup from their end of the system due to heavy rain.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:39 am to TU Rob
You do mean sewage and not septic?
Rain shouldn't do anything to your end of a sewage to city. Rain can absolutely mess with a septic that is starting to experience problems.
Rain shouldn't do anything to your end of a sewage to city. Rain can absolutely mess with a septic that is starting to experience problems.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 9:42 am to TU Rob
It might have a popup valve on the cleanout
quote:
A sewer cleanout pop-up cap (such as the Jones Stephens Sewer Popper) is an outdoor pressure-relief device designed to prevent sewage from backing up into a home. It costs around $20 to $40 and automatically pushes or pops open during a clog, forcing overflowing wastewater to spill out into the yard instead of inside living areas.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 1:28 pm to TU Rob
If you have sewer clean out overflowing, something is stopping up. Probably some roots grown into a crack in the line. Leave the cap off so it won’t back up into the house until you can figure out what is wrong,
This post was edited on 7/27/26 at 10:30 pm
Posted on 7/27/26 at 1:31 pm to Spankum
we had slow draining in my FIL's house after he passed - roto rooter came out and found a root ball at the city end, and they came and cleared it - no cost other than the inspections
Posted on 7/27/26 at 2:09 pm to Turnblad85
quote:
You do mean sewage and not septic?
Rain shouldn't do anything to your end of a sewage to city. Rain can absolutely mess with a septic that is starting to experience problems.
Yes, we're the last house on our street connected to sewer. There is a storm drain that runs under my driveway, and the sewer pipe exits the rear of my house, takes a 45 degree turn and connects into that drain at the edge of my yard. The 4 or 5 to my left all have septic tanks.
I guess my question was more if the cap is loose or if there's a crack underground, would all the sopping wet soil have some TP come out. It isn't a ton, I just noticed a small spot maybe 2-3 feet around with a thin layer of mushy TP on the ground around the cleanout. It hasn't rained today so I'm hoping the sun and heat dry it out some this afternoon, and when I get home tonight I'm going to go see if the lid on the cleanout has come loose.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 7:19 pm to TU Rob
Busted cap. Easy fix but man it smells. I’m guessing the lawnmower or something caught it. I did have the guys that usually only do my front yard cut the back last week. I’d been out of town and asked if they could just mow back there.
Posted on 7/27/26 at 7:29 pm to TU Rob
its still not quite right. shite should be flowing down hill and without backing up and out of a cleanout (cap or not). Might have a bit of a restriction down the line.
I'd just let it ride though.
I'd just let it ride though.
Posted on 7/28/26 at 12:19 pm to Turnblad85
quote:
its still not quite right. shite should be flowing down hill and without backing up and out of a cleanout (cap or not). Might have a bit of a restriction down the line.
Yeah I get that. I think it is due to the hilly area I live in. Our driveway is downhill, and rain water washes down the driveway and into my backyard. It slopes gently down for about 2/3 of the yard, then flattens out near the back of my property. The cleanout sits right there where the yard begins to flatten out, so sometimes there is standing water in that area right after a rain. I think it is just a perfect storm of the yard not having time to dry out between the daily rain we've been getting, the cap being broken off, and whenever we do laundry or take a bath you're getting more constant flow than just a toilet flushing or a shower running. We've got a freestanding tub that holds probably 35 gallons and if my wife takes a bath, when it drains out it goes fast. It wasn't a ton of TP that I saw, probably from one sitting, and there hasn't been any more come out that I can tell in the last couple of days. She probably got out of the tub and let it drain, then went to use the toilet, and all of that flow together the TP would be floating along and get pushed out the top of the broken cleanout cap. I'm going to get my plumber to come run his camera and check for any other cracks and replace the cap for me. I wouldn't mind just getting the cap and replacing it, but peace of mind to know that is all that is broken is worth it.
Posted on 7/29/26 at 11:39 am to TU Rob
Honestly, I would try to recreate the situation under controlled conditions. Tonight when your wife takes a bath, have her keep the water in the tub. Then go outside and pull the clean out plug. While you are watching, have her release water from the tub and flush the toilet at the same time. Water should never flow out of a clean out plug.
If you have a large spot of mushy ground, something is backing up….if you let it get bad enough, it will back up into the house.
If you have a large spot of mushy ground, something is backing up….if you let it get bad enough, it will back up into the house.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News