How To Remove A Stuck Pvc Cleanout Plug

How to Remove a Stuck Cleanout Plug

Updated: November. 25, 2022

How to remove a stuck cleanout plug to become at a clog in a drain pipe

How to Remove a Stuck Cleanout Plug Family unit Handyman

A seasoned pro shows you how to remove a stuck cleanout plug to gain access to a stubborn clog in a drain line using pipe wrenches, heat and/or a hacksaw.

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Overview: Remove a stuck cleanout plug

Snaking a clog in a drain line isn't exactly neurosurgery. Only remove the cleanout plug and ram the snake down the line. But what if you tin't remove the plug?

"I see rusted-in cleanout plugs a lot in older homes with galvanized pipe," says master plumber Les Zell. He recommends investing no more than 30 minutes trying to free one. After that, get to Programme B: Cut out a whole section of pipe and supersede it with new plastic piping rather than beat yourself up and possibly break fittings.

"It's much cheaper for my customers if I simply hack out the old stuff rather than struggle with rusted connections for 2 hours," Les says.

Meet Our Cleanout Plug Removal Practiced: Les Zell

Les Zell has been a main plumber for 25 years and runs his ain plumbing business. His passion is solar heating.

Plumber "sense of humor"
"My all-time advice for removing a stuck cleanout plug is to apply liberal amounts of rust penetrant to the stuck cleanout fitting at least i calendar month before the line clogs up."

Stride ane: Remove the cleanout plug with finesse and force

Photo 1: Heat the cleanout plug and plumbing equipment

Clean away any cobwebs, and shield surrounding wood with a metal baking pan. Grab a soldering torch and employ merely enough heat to warm the cleanout plug and fitting. Don't get it cerise cherry.

Photo 2: Apply rust penetrant and vibration

Soak the cleanout plug threads with rust penetrant. And then smack opposite sides of the tee or wye plumbing fixtures at the same time using two hammers. Rotate the double blows effectually the entire fitting. And then endeavour using a pipe wrench again.

Photo 3: Apply muscle and leverage

Sideslip one pipe wrench onto the fitting and the second ane on the cleanout plug. Then give it all you've got. If the plug breaks loose, you're habitation gratuitous.

Start cleanout plug removal by applying gentle heat to the cleanout plug and fitting to soften the old pipe dope (Photograph one). If that doesn't work, look for the pipage to cool, apply rust penetrant, and then employ double hammer blows around the plumbing fixtures (Photo 2). The vibrations from the shocks break up the corrosion and allow the rust penetrant to practice its piece of work. If the plug unscrews, get ahead and snake the line. Simply don't reuse the metallic plug. Purchase a plastic plug and coat the threads with Teflon paste before installing. Then snug it up with a slip articulation pliers (not the pipage wrench).

Step 2: Remove the cleanout plug with a hacksaw

Photograph 4: Cut out the old section

Use a reciprocating saw and a metallic-cutting blade to cut out the fittings and the piping leading to and from the cleanout wye or tee.

Photo 5: Replace the cleanout plug and fitting

Slide the mission couplings onto the old pipe and skid in the new plastic fitting and repair couplings. Tighten the worm-drive clamps. So wrap Teflon tape around the new plug and screw it into the adapter.

If the stuck cleanout plug won't budge, saw off the former department (Photograph 4) and replace information technology with new parts. Once it's gratuitous, use the onetime fitting equally a cutting guide to gum up a replacement wye, stub pipes and a new cleanout adapter (Photo 5). Don't mess around with steel replacement parts. Go right to black ABS or white PVC plastic fittings and pipes and join them with rubber mission couplings. Slide both couplers onto the old piping. Concur the new pipe in identify and slide the vertical coupler into place and snug it up. And so connect the horizontal coupler. Tighten both to the proper torque.

Les's Cut Tip
Saw through the horizontal piping, but exit nearly ane/4 in. of the pipage uncut. And so saw off the vertical pipe. The horizontal "tab" prevents the vertical pipe from wiggling while you saw. Then finish the cut on the horizontal pipage.

Required Tools for this Project

Accept the necessary tools for this DIY project lined up before you lot beginning—you'll salvage fourth dimension and frustration.

Proceed a burn down extinguisher handy.

Required Materials for this Project

Avert terminal-infinitesimal shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time. Here'due south a listing.

Originally Published: Nov 25, 2022